Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-07-11

NJ
MN a TURNER, ksos Of the county Of Fayette, was
one Of the Delegates from the Memphis district to
the recent Baltimore Convention he declined to
act with the majority Of the Tennessee Delegation
when they withdrew from that body; but was sub
seqnently constrained to do so, however. but re.
fused to cooperate with any other Convention.
The last Memphis Appeal contained card from
this gentleman, addressed to those whom he
represented at Baltimore, setting forth the rea-
sons which dictated his course We copy Sc
much Of the card as is necessary to proper
understanding Of his position, and commend it
to the careful consideration of those Democrats
Who like Mr.. TURNER, have heretofore favored the
election Of STEPHEv A. DOUGLAS:
sit is known to all who know me that have been
a warm admirer of the Hon. Stephen A. Douglas,
and / am still and have in me nothing that could
prompt nee to say aught sgsinsthim.
"Sdll notwithstanding my opinion, many, and a
majority of the Southern Democracy, according 70
the demonstrations reported at the Charleston Cen
vention and also what and witnessed at the ad-
journed baltimore Convention, convinced me that
my foYorite was not the choice of the majority of
the Southern Democracy, and that in my opinion his
friends would not and could not support him unless
he had received the nomination in accordance with
the ussges and customs Of the National Democratic
party.
II feHlallSu convention at Baltimore tlil L
was satisfied that there was no chance to heal the
breach created at Charleston-tl according TO the
best lights before me- there were not in the conven
ton at Baltimore sufficient electoral votes accord
ing the twO-thirds rule adopted at Charleston to
make any nomination and retain the nationality
of the partyuntil was convinced that the friends
of my favorite, Mr.. Douglas, were determined, at
all hazards 20 nominate him. at the sacrifice
of the nationality Of the Democratic party, and
against the win of majority of the Southern De-
mocracy, also minority of the Northern De-
mocracy, for he was not their first choice.
g l did not go into the other convention holding
that was only accredited TO the Baltimore conven-
ton, and so soon as my withdrawal took place. Just
then my delegated authority ceased, and was moth
ing more than any other individual; and had gone
/ into its deliberations my acts would have bound
myself and not my constituency,
Htrust vet that this breach may be healed in some
manner recOnciled. and our strength preserved. If
there is, however, reconciliation and no concert
of action / shall myself support the Breckenridge
and Lane ticket-frst because know they are I'M
exceptional men, sound and worthy ;second, because
they stand upon platform conceded by all to be un
questionably Southern rights, and sound upon the
issues TO be canvassed in the coming contest fan
as the Southern view of them goes third, because
1 believe in less than eight years that party will
! gather its whole strength, North and South, they
| claiming nothing but constitutional rights
fourth, because that ticket now stands before the
people Of The South, held up by the North as sec
/ tional and Southern out-andout, and holding, as
do, if sectional it is forced upon and the issue is
TO come, am for the South at all hazards and to the
last extremity preferring to be crushed in defens
of my rights rather than purchase a compromise al
ly, with the utmost respect for the opinions of al
others, that right in my course, respectfully
submit my actions to my constituency.
W. H. TURNER.