The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-07-18
Gen. Lanes letter of Accoptance.
BArGmoRE, Juae %, 1860.

Convention, to inform you that you have
this day been nominated by ii as the eandi-
date of the Democratic party for the Office
of Vice President of the United States, anI
in their behalf to request You to accept the
same. ] beg leave at the same time to en-
close you a copy of the resolutions adopted
by the Convention as the political platform
on which the party stands.
have the honor to be very respectfully
yours,
(signedD CALEB CUSHING, President
WAsHNGTOS, June 80, 1860.
Hon. Calc5 Gushing, President:
HAVE the honor to acknowledge the re-
ceipt Of the communication yod make in be-
half Of the National Democratic Convention,
at which YOU inform me that on the 23d
was unanimously nominated by that body for
the office Of Vice President Of the United
States, with the request that | should accept
the nomination. The platform adopted, and
of which you enclose me a copy, meets with
my hearty approval, as it cmbodies what
have been contending for as the only means
of stopping sectional agitation by securing to
all equality and constitutional rights, the de-
NAL of which has led to the present unhap-
py condition Of public affairs. Compromise
Of constitutional principles are ever danger
Gus, and am reioiccd that the true Democ-
racy has seen fit to plant a firm foot on the
rock of truth, and to give the people an op-
portunity to vindicate their love Of Justice and
fraternal regard for each others rights. Nom
intervention on the subject Of slavery, NAV
cmphatically say, is the cardinal maxim Of
the Democracy; non-iutcveution BY Con-
gress and non-intervention by Territorial Leg
islatures, is fully stated in the platform alop-
ted. In vain should we declare the former,
without insisting upon the later, because to
permit Territorial legislature TO prohibit
such slavery, or by unfricndy legislation to
inyalilate property, woull be granting
powers TO the creature or aren't which
it is admitted do not appertain to the prnci-
pie or power that creates; besides which, it
would be fastening an element Of agitation
in the Territories that must necessarily ex-
teDl to Congress, and the people Of al the
States, the right Of every ,.iizrn 10 eater he
common Territory with whatever property
he legally possesses, it necessarily devolycs
upon the Federal Government the duty to
protect this right Of citizen whenever an
wherever assailed or iufringel. The Domo-
cratic party honestly meets this agi,a,ins
question which is threatening to destroy and
sever this brotherhood of States II does
not propose to icgislatc for the extension Of
slavery, nor for its restriction, but to each
State and to every citi2cn, all our forGl,llers
proposed to give, viz perfect equality Of CON-
s;itutional rights, and then TO submit to the
people the kind of institution best fitted to
their requirements in their constitutional linn
its, and declaring as fundamental maxim
that the people Of Territory can only cs-
tahIish or prohibit slavery when they come
to form a constitution predatory to their al
mission into the Union. If happily our
principles shall prevail, an era Of peace anl
harmony will be restored to our DISTRACTED
country, anil no more shall we be troubled
with the agitation Of this lan3erou' qu,s.
lion, because it will be removed from the
territorial legislatures a, from the hans Of
Congress, when. we shall be free 10 turn our
attention to more useful issues the motives
IF our growth in national greatness. Oar
Union must be preserved, bat this can only
De done by maintaining the Constitution in
;iolate in all its provisions and guarantee
The Judicial authority, as provided by the
)onstitu ion, must be maintained and its de-
.isions implicitly obcycd, as well in regard
% the rights of property in the territories as
n all other matters.
Hoping for success, and trusting in the
ruth anl justice Of the principles Of our
,arty, and in that Divine Providence that
las watched over US and made rs one Of the
,rcat nations Of the earth, and that we may
continue to merit Divine protection, cheer
ally accept the nomination so unanimously
conferred on me, and cordially endorse the
,latfom adopted by the Convention.
l have the honor to be, sir, with much re-
pect, your friend and obedicnt servant,
JOSEPH LANE.