Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-08-24
SQUATTER SOVEREIGNTY.

Senate, over his competitor, Mr.. Lincoln,
to the position maintained throughout
that canvass, that no matter what was
the decision of the Supreme Court, the
Legislature Of Territory could lawfully
exclude slavery therefrom by unfriendly
legislation, he resolved to engraft his
heresy of squatter sovereignty, of which
this was an exemplifcation, upon the
creed of the Democratic party; and he
declared in his Dorr letter that on this
condition only would he accept the nomi-
nation of the Convention for the Presi-
dency. Thus one man undertook to lay
down the platform of an entire party, and
to place out of the pale Of that party its
own President; all but two of its Sena-
tors all but some half dozen of its
Representatives in Congress to brand
as anti-Democratic the platforms and the
men of nearly every State where the par
ty was in possession of the government
Is it to be wondered at that the South
became alarmed; and that it lost its con-
fidence in him who once was by them
trusted and admired ?
1t must be remembered, too, that the
resistance to Mr.. Douglas nomination
was not confined to the Southern States
1t was widespread throughout all the
States, and was predominant in Oregon,
California, Pennsylvania, and New Jer-
sey-States whose votes, with an almost
united South, were essential to success
in the coming election. 1t was also pre-
dominant in Massachusetts,.
Under such circumstances were bis
claims vehemontly urged for the Presi-
dency. The press, telegraph, and every
art of management was used to secure
the election of delegates favorable to his
nomination. The maxim of the immor-
tai jackson was reversed, and The man
was made to seek the Presidency, not the
Presidency the man.
THE CHARLESTON CONVENTION.
Heretofore, the delegates chosen by
the Democracy Of the United States met
in National Conventions as brothers, to
consult together in spirit Of harmony
and concession-to lay down the princi-
pies of the party, and to nominate can
didates for the Presidency and Vice Pre-
sidency, not Objectionable Gin numbers)
to any respectable portion of the party,
and therefore likely to receive its united
and harmonious support. For this pur-
pose, was the two-third rule adopted in
the FIRST National Democratic Convention
that was ever held in this country and
actuated by the motives which begot it
the Democracy have repeatedly in Ma,
tional Conventions, whenever q respecta
bic opposition presented itself, refused t.
nominate some Of its ablest statesmen
and by the nomination of others less OBJ
jectionable, have marched on to victory
and the development and enforcement o
their principles. 1t viii be recollecteC
that Mr. Van Buren, received q consid
cradle majority at the Democratic Ma
tional Convention in 1874, yet no on,
then contended that he, therefore, wa
} entitled to the nomination. On the con
trary, the Convention, regarding the op
position Of the minority to his nomina
ton as entitled to consideration and re
} spect, refused to nominate him, but nom
mated Mr.. Polk, against whom Their
was no objection, and under his banner
: the Democratic party achieved one of it
greatest triumphs 1t was this principle
Of harmony and concession, of respec
and consideration for the opinions anc
views Of the minority, which bound tn,
Democracy together with bands of steel
and made them invincible on the day o
battle. 1t was the talismanic motto un
der which We marched to vic.ory-thC
secret and the keystone to our success
Far different was the spirit display
ed at Charleston and Baltimore by Tho
friends of Mr.. Douglas. They came t.
nominate him, or break up the Conycn
ton. Many of their prominent mer
boldly and openly avowed the purpose
"Rule or ruin" was their motto. They
met the opinions and views Of the seven
teen reliable Democratic States, almost
united in opposition to the nomination Oh
Mr.. Douglas, with insult and derision.
The Democratic States we're welded tc
no one man. They had their fayorites,
but they put forth no claim that even ono
of them should be nominated. They
were willing to take any one Of the Illus
trious and distinguished statesmen Of our
party, except Mr.. Douglas. He had
made himself obnoxious to them for the
reasons already mentioned, and they
asked that be should not be thrust down
their throats. Was the request an unu-
sual one Our history as party shows
that it was not. Was the request an I'M
reasonable one? Who will say 50, when
they reflect that upon the States which
made it, chiefly devolved the task Of elect
| ing the nominees Of the Convention p
Yet the Douglas delegates not only turn
cd deaf ear to this request, but in the
most higb-handed and reckless manner,
with sacriligious hands, tore down the
landmarks Of the party, and trampled
upon Democratic comfy and usages, in
order to foist that one man upon the Con-
vention. With any other democrat they
could have had harmony and union, and
presented to-day the spectacle Of uni
ted and inyincible party. We put it to
the conscience and the judgment Of every
honest man, Are Mcy not guilty of set
ting up this one man as paramount to the
union Of the States? Are they not gull
ty Of having divided tho partyl Did
they not thus take " the first, fatal and
irrcyocablc stride towards disunion Of the