Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-05-22
WASHINGTON CRY, May ., 1860.

WASHINGTON CRY, May ., 1860.
tientlemcn-Your letter of the 9TH inst. has
lust reached Inc. The limited time allowed Tor
action, induces me to comply with yonr request
for n prompt answer, and | shall ende"vor To
make it equally candid
Isympathizc fully in your approximations for
the future of our country. 1t cannot be dis
cuiscd that both the safety of the South, and the
integrity of the Union arc seriously threatened.
1t ismy honest conviction that the Issue depends
upon the action Of the Southern people ut this
important ~juncture. y. .irm, wise and unlal-
teIing policy on the part of the South, Will
give security to her own rights, and peace and
quiet to the Union. Any other course will
be equally fatal to the preservation of the one
and the maintenance Of the other. Like your
selves have looked to the National Democrat
ic party, as the only political organization in
which the sound constitutional clements Of the
whole country could be brought into united,
cordial cooperation. With this conviction, |
witnessed the proceedings of the late Charles
ton convention with intense anxiety, and deep
ly regretted the causes which led to its disrup-
ton.
In considering tie proper course how to be
pursued, we should understand distinctly the
reason Of the failure OF that convention 10 asrec
upon a platform and candidate for the support
oil the Democratic party. If the differences
which led TO the results ut Charleston are im-
material aud uniInportant, then there is no
cause Tor trouble or apprehension. The pub.
lie mini should promptly pronounce them to
be 50, and they should he dismissed from our
thoughts ~; unworthy Of further consideration
Are the people Of Georgia prepared to pro-
nolncc this Judgment: The answer To this
inquiry involves. in my opinion, the future dies.
tiny Of the South. There were TWO points oil
difference at Charleston, which produced the
disruption Of the convcntion: LIST. The plat
form Of the party OH the subject Of slavery
2nd. The nomination Of Il proper candidate for
the Presidency.
The fifteen Southern States, in common with
the Two Democratic States Of the Pacific,
agreed upon i platform, which recognized the
equality Of the Southern States, and the right
of their citizens to 90 with their property into
the common territories Of the misunderstanding
for them and their property the same protec'
ton which the Constitution and laws OF the
land extended 10 their brethren Of the non
Slarci,o!ding States aud their property-no-
thing more. l.othing less. The seventeen States
which with perfect unanilnity agreed upon this
platform are all Of them certain Democratic
States. The candidates 10 bc nominated by
the Democratic party for President and Vice
President must receive their votes 10 give them
the slightest prospect Of success. The remain
ing sixteen States. by viytue Of their superior
numbers in the Convention, refused TO rccOg-
nizc these principles. They did not assert BY
the platform they adopted antagoniStic princl-
pies 10 those agreed upon by the Southern
and Democratic States. Their policy was
to leave the question al open issue, so
far as any declaration Of principles was
conccrncd-but 10 give Il practical con.
struction to their platforin-by the nomination
of Il candidate whose chief claim TO the nolnl-
natisn grew ont Of his known hostility to the
doctrine for which the Southern and Demo.
cratic Suites commended. The seventeen Demo-
cratic States were prepared to unite upon any
true and worthy man for the Presidency.
There was on their part no disposition what
ever to force upon their brethren Of the other
States n candidate unacceptable 10 them. The
issue. on their part, was for principle and sue.
cess. involving mn consideration Of mere pei
sural advancement Of Il iavOrlle catdidalc.
The sixteen Opposition states, OIL the other
hand, not only refused to unite upon the plat
form offered to them by their brethren OF the
Democratic States. but struggled to force upon
the party the nomination o! Judge Douglas,
against the stern and united voice OF every GER
tain Democratic State in the Union. ven
turc to assert that such Il spectacle was
never before presented IL the history Gt par
" conventions. The States were As nearly
equally divided rs it was possible for them 10
be-on one side was every Democratic State,
and on the other, all the Opposition States
and the latter, who were not certain OF giving
4 single vote for the candidates that might be
nominated, insisted upon making both a plat
form and Il candidate for the Democratic States
to elect. There certainly could not be a more
unjust distribution Of responsibility and duty.
Such was the condition of things at Charles
ton. Tic delegation from Georgia would not
consent 10 the contamination OF the threatened
policy of the numerical majority oil the Con-
~vcnlion. In common with the delegates from
seven other Southern States, they withdrew
from the body. Their action should be sus.
tained by The Democracy Of the State. They
were true and loyal to the trust rcpoSed IN
them, and deserve the cordial approval and re-
newell confidence Of their constituents. II
they had returned from Charleston, leaving to
the people Of Georgia, The humiliating terms Of
surrender which the majority Of the Convcn-
tion sought to put upon them in the platform
and candidate proposed, the people would have
received their report in sorrow, and spurned
their candidate with indignation.
1t is due 10 the Democracy Of the sixteen
States, which | have designated as opposition
States, to say, that use the term 'Oppositon
States" in no spirit of disreSpect, but simply
intend to designate them as States, in which,
unfortunately Tor the country, the Democratic
party is in Il minority. In many of their dele
CATIONS at Charleston, there were large mlnorl.
ties. who condemned the course and policy oil
their colleagues ms wrong in principle and I'M
lust to their brethren of the South. This was
particularly the case in Pennsylvania and other
States, To whose votes, i'll connection with the
certain Democratic States, we lnok with the
greatest confidence for The election 81 orr
candidates.
The trntlI is that the sound democracy OF the
North are determined 10 stand by The South IN
this horr Of trial, il the South will only he
true and faithful TO herself. The unwise de-
claralinn oil Il lrw Southern men. i'll favor OF
the nomination of Mr. Douglas rs 4 matter OF
policy and cypcr|iencr, has contributed III no
small degree to the present unhappy state 0t
things. These exceptional cases have, unlOr-
t%unatclv, been mistaken IN some quarters Tor
public opinion and will account for the other.
wise nnacconntab!e persistence with which the
friends Of Mr.. Douglas press his nomination
against the earnest protest of a united South.
have thus briefly alluded to the difficulties
in the Charleston Convention, and the causes
which! produced them, as proper matter Tor con:
sidcratiun in determining upon the course OF
action, which the Democracy Of Georgia ought
now to pursue. As the time is short before the
rc-asscnlbling Of the Convention at Baltimore,
I would suggest the propricty Of an Immediate
call, by the State Executive Committee Tor the
March Convention to re-aSScmble. 1t affords
the best opportunity at our command Tor asccr-
tanning the Democratic S @9vh"n . 81 ,nG sI"'f {
would urge upon that Convention 10 give the
action Of oar delegates at Charleston Their COR
dial approval, ard authorize them IN eo-oper1'
" IL. ,1,lnr,.oco F thOSc States with