Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-08-24
rhe platforms.

We publish this morning the platform adopted by
the convention that nominated BREcknRDaE knd
Lane also the platform adopted ia January last by
our Democratic State Convention. We invite to
them the attention Of our readers Mr. DouGuAs and
his followers are in the habit Of denouncina the
platform upon which Mr. BREckfxRrDaE stands as
demanding protection, as endeavoring to force
slavery upon those who do not wish it, as favorine
slave code, andas viOlatve of the old Democratic doc
trine Of nOn-ntervention. 1t will he seen by read.
ing the platform that it is the second resolution that
exeites the wrath of the DOUGLAS men. Tennessee
Democrats, whether you favor Mr.. DoccI.s or Mr.
BREckRElnoE, read that second resolution aud then
turn to the fourth resolution Of your State Conven
ton that sent your delegates to Charleston and Bal
tmore and say conscientiously whether there is auy
greater demand for protection, any greater effort t.
force slavery on those who do not wish it. any
greater favoritism of slave code, any greater VIC.
lation Of nOnntervention in that second resolution
adopted at Baltimore than there is in the fourth
adopted at Nashville. Is not the Nashville resoIu
ton which was voted for by the entire Tennessee
Democracy, DOUGLAS men and BRECKINR1DcE men
much stronger than the one adopted by the friends
Of BREcKNRIDGE and LANE at Baltimore? The BALI
more resolution simply declares the duty of the Fed
eral government to protect the rights of persons
AoTtheTn and Southern and of property, Of euers
character in the Territories, and wherever else its
constitutional authority extends.
The Tennessee resolution declares the duty Of the
Federal Government to protect the rights of the
saUs o'cner, and further says it cannot tOod this
duty 1Cithom Isolation Of the Constitution. Every
unprecedented man must admit that the Tennessee
resolution is much more imperative than that of the
Baltimore Convention We further refer DOUGLAS
men who helped to make the Tennessee platform to
its second resolution and respectfully ask how they
can pretend to support Judge DOUGLAS Squatter
Sovereignty in the face of that resolution 1t is the
custom of Judge DOUGLAS to insist that the DREI
SCoTT decision as to the powers of Territorial
Legislature is not binding because the point not
necessarily raised in the case and therefore he re-
ects it as a decision. The Tennessee State COnven-
ton determined that this mere lawyers bubble
should not avail. Hence they took care to say:
THAT the Uielos expressed by the Supreme Court OF
the United States in the decision of the of bred
Scott are in opinion true and clear exposition
of the powers reposed in Congress upon the subject
of the Territories ofthe United States, and the rights
guaranteed to the residents in the Territories.
The State Convention did not stop to consider
whether those views" were in technical terms "a
decision" All that was immateriaL The Conven-
ton meant to say and did say that in the opinion Of
the Democracy of Tennessee the Uie'uS there express
ed were "a true and clear exposition of the powers
reposed in Congress upon the subject of the Terri
tories of the United States and the rights guaranteed
to the residents in the Territories" Is there any
DOUGLAS man who will say that the views expressed
in the DRED SCoTT decision favor Squatter Sover-
eighty? We presume not. We also invite the at
tenton of the DOUGLAS men of Tennessee to the fifth
resolution of the Tennessee platform which they
helped to make. They will that it approves
generally Of the administration of JAMES BUCHANAN
and solemnly declares she deserves and receives
our tribute of admiration for his clear and lucid
exposition of the true doctrine of the Constitution
and laws of our Union and for his firmness in re-
buking seditiOn and treason This resolution it
will be borne in mind was adopted in January last,
long after the struggle between Mr.. BUCHANAN and
Mr.. DOUGLAS on the Lecompton constitution. But
we ask you to revert TO Mr. BUCHANAN's Inaugural,
and you will their find "a clear and lucid exposition
of the true doctrine of the Constitution and laws of
Union for which he deserved and received the tri-
in convention assembled. He said
"a difference of opinion has arisen in regard to the
point of time when the people of Territory shall de-
eide this question Slavery for themselves. 1t
has ever been my individual opinion that under the
Nebraska-KansaS act, the appropriate period will
be l0hen the number Of actual residents in the Terrific
ry shall justify the formation Of Constitution with
a view TO its admission State into the Union"
The DOUGLAS leaders attempt to svoii the force of
the Tennessee platform by referring to the conclu
ding paragraph of the resolution expressive of a
preference for Gov. JOHNSON:
If another shall be preferred by the Charleston
Convention and lcho cordially ind0rSes the Cincinnati
whether he reside North South, we will
yield him our hearty support"
This, the DOUGLAS men insist, binds us to the
support of their candidate. We deny it. Judge
DOUGLAS was not nominated by the delegates to
the Charleston Convention, but by fraction of
them, aided by certain bogus delegates from Ala
Dama and other States. Only three of the twenty
four delegates from Tennessee aided in or approved
Of his nomination. Judge DOUGLAS does not indorse
The Cincinnati Platform understood and construed
by the Tennessee Democracy in 1856, and as under
stood and construed by the Tennessee Democracy
n their convention in 1860. Judge DOUGLAS says he
ndOrses the Cincinnati Platform, but it is with the
Squatter Sovereignty construction. This the Ten
lessee Democracy repudiate LINCOLN processes
he greatest devotion to the Constitution but it is
With the Black Republican construction.