Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-07-03
BY TELEGRAPH.
Dsnalas, Letter 81 Aeeeplnnes

WASHINGTON June 9Th, 1860
GESTLExES .-In accordance with the verbal a,
surance which gave you when you placed in m
hands the authentic evidence Of the nomination ia
the Presidency by the National Convention OF til
Democratic party, now send you my formal az
ceptance
Upon a careful examination of the platform q
principles adopted at Charleston, and reafirmed 4
Baltimore, with additional resolution which ia h
perfect harmony with the others, find it 10 be
faithful embodiment Of the time-honored principle
1 OF The Democratic party. as the same were oro
claimed and understood by all parties in the Presi
Dental contests of 1885, 1851 end 1856.
Upon looking into the proceeding of the Coryen
ton also ind that the nomination was made, " nj
great ananimitys in the presence and with the con
currence Of ilore than two-thirds OF the whpl,
number Of delegates and in exact concordance viii
the ong-estabiIshei usages OF the party Nv in
flexible purpose not to be candidate n0r to accept
/ the nomination. under any contingency sxt.ept 4,
the regular h0niInee Of lhe National Democraht
party. and, IN that case, only upon the condition
that the usages well the principles of the mar
ty should be strictly adhered TO- had been proclaim
ed for a long time, and became well known TO the
country. These conditions having all been compIied
with 0y the free and voluntary action of the
Democratic masses and their faithful representa-.
tFes, without any agency, interference or prOcur-
ment on my part, / feel bound IN honor ami drty 10
accept the nomination.
In taking :his step lam not nnmindful of the re-
sponsibliues it imposes but with firm reliance in
Divine Providence, have faith that the people will
comprehend the true nature of the issues involved
and eventually maintain the right. Tae peace Of
the country and the perpetuatOn of the Union have
been IN jeopardy BY the attempts to interfere with
and control the domestic affairs Of the people in the
Territories, through the agency of the Federal Gov
eminent. II the power and the duty of Federal
interference Is to be conceded two hostile sectional
parties must be the inevitable result-the one in
flaming the passions and ambition of the North and
no nfh poff na &nrrfk l.
the Federal power and authority for the agranize-
ment Of is own section at the expense OF the equal
rights eft the other and in derogatIon of those fna
mental principles principles OF self government
which were firmly established N this country BY the
American revolution, as the basis Of an entire re-
publican system.
During the memorable peri0d OF our political
history when the advocates OF Federal interven-
ton upon the subject of slavery in the Territories
had well nigh preeeptated the country into revOlu-
uOn the Northern interventionists demanding the
Wllmot proviso for the prohibition OF slavery and
Southern interventionists, then few in number and
without q single representative in either House of
Congress, insisting upon Congressional legislation
for the protection of slavery in opposition to the
wishes of the people. In either case il will be re-
membered that it required all the wisdom. power
and influence of Clay and Webster ard Cass
supported by the conservative and patriotic men of
the Wing and Democratic parties Of that day to de-
wise and carry out line of policy which would re-
The essential living principle of that policy as an
piled in the legislation Of 1858 was and now is nom
intervention by Congress with slavery in the Terri
tories The far application Os this Just and equit-
Die principle restored harmony and fraternity To
distracted country.
If we now depart from the wise and lust poll
which produced these happy results and perm {
the country to be again distracted if not precip
tated into revolution by sectional contest b,
tween prO-slavery and anti-savery intervenionists
where shall we look for another Clay, another.
Webster, another Cass pilot the ship of State owe
the breakers, into haven of peace and safety The
Federal Union must be preserved. The COnstitu- |
ton must be maintained inYioate in all It's parts
everything guaranteed by the Constitution must be /
protected by law. In all cases where legislation ia
to its enforcement the Judicial authority
as provided in the Constitution must be sustained
and its decisions implicitly obeyed and faithfully
executed the laws must be administered and the I
constituted authorities upheld and all unlawful re-
'istanee to these things must be met with firmness
and fidelity, if we expect to enjoy and
transmit unimpaired TO our poSterjty tat blessed
Inheritance which we have received in trust from
ne patriots and sages OF the Revolution.
With sincere thanks for the kind and agreeable
manner IN which you have made known tO me the
Iction Of the Convention. have the honor to be.
cry respectfully, your friend and fellow-cisizen
STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS