The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-07-17
GEN. LANES ACCEPTANCE

General Lane has written letter, accepting the
nomination for the Vice-Presdency by the Con
vention at Baltimore. He says:
Compromises of constitutional principles are
ever dangerous, and [ rejoiced that the true
Democracy has seen fit to plant firm foot ON the
rock OF TRUTH and to give the people opportunity
to vndicate their love of justice and fraterna
regard for each others rights
Non intervention on the subject of slavery,
may emphatically say, is the cardinal maxim OF
the Democracy-non-inte by Congress and
non-intervention by Territorial Legislatures as is
fully stated in the first resolution of the adopted
platform. In vain should we declare the former
without insisting upon the latter, because, tc
permit Territorial Legislatures to prohibit or establish
slavery, OF by unfriendy legislation invalidate
property would be granting powers to the creature
OF agent, which, it is admitted, do not appertan
to the principal, the power that creates; besides
which, 1t would be fostering element fagtation
in the Territory that must necessarily extend tc
Congress and the people of all the States.
Ii the Constitution establishes the right of every
citizen to enter the common Territory with whatever
property he legally possesses it necessarily deyoves
on the Federal Government the duty to protect
this right Of the citizen whenever or whereve,
assailed or infinged The Democratic party
honorably meets this agitatug question, which is
threatening to sever and destroy this brotherhood
OF States. 1t does not propose to legslate for the
extension of slavery, for its restriction but to
give to each State and to every citizen all that
forefathers proposed give namely perfect equality
Of rights, and then to commit to the people, tC
climate and to soil, the determination as to the
kind of institutions best fitted their requirements
in their constitutional limits and declaring, as a
fundamental maxim, that the people of Territory
only establish or prohibit slavery when they
come to form constitution, preparatory to their
admission as State into the Union.
Ii, happily, our principles shall prevail era
of peace and harmony will be restored to our
distracted country, and shall we be troubled
with the agitation Of this dangerous question
because it will be removed as we'll from the
Territorial Legislatures as from the halls of Congress
when we shall ne free to turn our attention to
more useful issues, promotive Of our growth ii,
national greatness.
Our Union must be preserved but this can only
be done by maintaining the Constitution inviolate
in all its provisions and guarantees The judicial
authority, as provided by the Constitution must
well in regard to the rights of property in the
Territories as in all other matters. Hoping for
success, and trusting in the truth and justice of
the principles Of our party, and in that Divine
Providence that has watched over US, and made
one Of the great nations of the earth, and that
may continue to merit Divine protection
cheerully accept the nomination 50 unanimously
conferred on me- and cordially endorse the platform
adopted by the Convention.
| have the honor to be- sir, with much respect
your friend and obcdicnt servant,
JOSEPH LANE.