The Yazoo Democrat., 1860-05-26
1nDREss TO THE NATIONAL DEMOCRACY.

ADDRESS TO THE NATIONAL DEMOCRACY
The undersigned, members of the National
Democratic party, supporters Of its princi'
pies, aud deeply anxious, by promoting its
harmony, to preserve unimpaired the eff
cheney Of its organization, desire to joiu
in Counsel with their Democratic brethren
throughout the United States.
The proceedings of the Convention re
Gently assembled at Charleston have devel
oped a diversion of opinion between the
delegations of the different States in rela
ton to the principles which form the basis
of our Union. The National Democratic
Platform adopted at Cincinnati in 1856,
met the cordial approval Of all who believe
these United States to be, what their very
name imports, union of States equal, SOW
ereign, and endowed in all respects with
equal rights. This approval was based on
what seemed to US to be the plain meaning
of the resolutions embraced in that plat
form.
During the four years, however, which
have since interviewed, it has become pain,
fully apparent that the construction deemed
by US SO manifestly right is controverted by
many members Of our party; that other
principles are supposed to 6nd countenance
in that platform-principles, iu our judg
ment, subversive of the true history of the
Government and of the Constitution to
which our Union owes its birth, and on
whose preservation its permanent existence
depends.
What is the history of the recent Con
vention at Charleston?
Seventeen States, forming majority Of
the whole, adopted with remarkable dnanim
ity platform of principles so worded as tc
avoid the possibility of misconstruction-
principles deemed political axioms by all
who uphold the equal rights of the States
as the very basis of the Confederacy. Many
delegates from the remaining sixteen States
concurred in opinion with the majority, con,
spicuous amongst whom we're delegates from
Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The States which adopted this platform
give electoral votes whlcL can be relied on
with absolute certainty in favor of Demo
cratic nominees, and we'll grounded conf
dence is entertained Of "a like result In Penn.
syvania aud New Jersey These seventeen
States, united with Pennsylvania alone
comprise majority of the entire electoral
vote of the United States, able to elect the
Democratic nominee against the combined
opposition of the remaining States.
This platform was deliberately rejected
by combination, composed of small frac
ton of the delegation from the seventeen
Democratic States and very large majority
of the delegates of the remaining sixteen
States and resolution YVES adopted in its
stead simply re>afirming the principles Of
the Cincinnati platform, without explana.
tion or Interpretation of its disputed mean,
ing This was done with the openly avowed
purpose of enabling the Democratic party
to wage battle with some chance of success,
in certain Northern and Western Suites by
presenting to its people az its doctrines
principles openly and expressly repudiated
by majority of the Democratic States dele,
cations, aud by a majority approaching
unanmity of the Democratic electoral votes
of the UniJn.
The delegations of eight States, together
with portion Of that Of Delaware, faithful
adherents of our party and firm supporters
Of its principles, wer' thus, by sheer force
of votes cast by delegates from States that
VII certainly vote for the Republican can,
didates, compelled to withdraw from the
Convention, because, in the aDgu ,ge of q
distinguished delegate, they felt " that il
was burning imputation upon the honor
and patriotism of the party. that, claiming
to be national, and claiming to have princi
Piles for its guide, it should acknowledge for
its declaration of faith a creed upon which
are placed two distinctly opposite interpreta
tions by its own a1vocates."
We cannot refrain from expressing our
admiration and approval of this lofty mani.
festation of adherence to principle, rising
superior to all considerations OF expediency
to all trammels Of party, and looking with
a single eye to the defence of the constitu
tional rights of the States.
The delegations of other Democratic States,
however, (including few delegates from
the seeding States not less faithful in
devotion to principles, were more hopeful oil
obtaining from their brethren SOME satisfae
tory recognition of sound principles, and
decided on remaining in the Convention,
after distinctly declaring, however, their de
termination also to withdraw if their just
expectations should be disappointed.
1t is thus apparent that there was almost
entire unanimity Of principle in,the deloga,
tions of the only States on which absolute
reliance can be placed for Democratic elec
toral votes, whilst there existed diversity Of
opinion as to the line of policy best calcu
lated to secure the triumph of those princi.
pies. Nor is it matter of surprise that in
a conjecture SO unexpected and anomalous,
when, in the enunciation of Democratic
principles, the voice Of Virginia was over.
borne by that of Ohio, and Louisiana and
Arkansas were forced to succumb to Ver-
mont aud Michigan, there should be excited
feelings, divided couusels, and disCordant
action.
In the subsequent proceedings of the
Convention, however, we think that distinct