Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-07-31
curing with those Of South Carolina, adopted the fol


ted States by sectional party with views adverse to the
institution Of domestic slavery it exists in the slave.
holding States and Territories or OF one who Is opposed
to the grant Of the protection claimed in the foregoing
resolution would threaten destruction OF the ENDS
for which the Constitution formed as to justify the
savehodng States in taking counsel together for their
separate protection and safety"
That Of Alabama after also endorsing fully the South
Carolina programme, added the following;
sod Be Il further resolved That in the absence OF
any preparation for systematic cooperation Of the
Southern States in resisting the aggreons OF their enc
miles, Alabama acting for herself has soemnly declared
that under circumstances will she submit TO the foul
domination Of sectional Northern party and has provided
for the call Of a convention in the event OF the triumph
of such faction in the approaching Presidential election
and TO maintain the position thus deliberately assumed
has appropriated the of 100000 for the military
| contingencies rhieh such course may involve.
According Senator Iverson above quoted, the De-
mocracy of Georgia concur and in Louisiana and Flor-
da asounquestiOnaby the disaectiOn to the Union
widespread 1t remains for the people those States TO
say at the baotbox whether they will sustain the lead
ers who have placed them in this reasonable attitude to-
wards the Union.
Let it be constantly borne in mind that Mr.. Yancey
vaunngy declared in his letter to Mr. Slaughter that
this movement would "ISFLUENcE PARTIES, LEGISLA-
TURES, AND STATESMEN" To show ful6llment Of
this design we append resolutions of various Democrat
c conventions held preparatory to the pending Presi-
dental struggle.
At meeting held in Montgomery Ala, on the Esd Of
April 1882 have the following assertion of the South
Carolina doctrine Of secession and of purpose to act
upon it in the contingency to accomplish which the eff
forts Of Mr. Yancey and his coadutors earnestly
directed:
"Rssoiued That the great fundamental article of the
creed of the Democratic party the perfect equality of
Of the Sovereign States in rights and privileges mmuni
ties aud honors and the indispensable complement to
such preamble this is the right of each State to
nul the compact of confederation whenever it shall SOL
EMMY deem the incompatible with its liberty or
| honor
Resored That the citizens Of the Southern States
entitled the ampest protection Of their property of
all kinds in the States and Territories Of the United
States aud upon the high seas and that the failure Of the
Federal Government to give such protection will justify
the Southern States in throwing oil such government
Resolved That we have read with amazement and in
dgnaton the declarations made by leading Northern De-
mOcratic Senator's in the Senate Of the United States
that not man will be found in the North support the
claim of the South TO protection Of the government and
against an Of the Territorial Legislature either abo
shing slavery destroying it by hostile legislation
Aud in reply we here proclaim our uuaerable deter
mination demand this protection from the govern
ment and that when plain constitutional rights
violated and find protection in this government
will use our best endeavors to withdraw from that gov
eminent the powers which it perverts to our injury.
This was re-affirmed by Convention in Auburn the
9Th May following, which nominated a candidate for
Congress- and by the State Convention in January which
appointed delegates to Charleston. The Democratic
State Convention of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, March
9th 1860, adopted the following, reported by ExGOver
nor Mouton, delegate to Charleston
40 That in case of the election of President the
avowed principles of the Black Republican Party,
concur in the opinion that Louisiana should meet in
means Of future protection"
By the Democratic State Convention Of Texas at
Galveston, April, 1860;
" Resolved, That in becoming a member of the con-
ederacy Texas parted with portion OF her sovereign
IT, but merely changed the agent through whom she
should exercise Of the powers appertainng TO It,
That should those powers be used at any time to her in
Jury or wrong or should the Government fail exer-
else the powers which are delegated in good faith, for
the maintenance of her rights aud the rights of her peo
pie or should the compact which she has entered into
with the other States through the bad faith OF any Of
them, fail to accomplish the object for which it
formed in any Of these cases, in which she alone
Judge for herself the State Of Texas possesses the full
right as sovereign State, TO annu the compact, TO
woke the powers she had delegated to the government
Of the United States to withdraw from the cOnfederaey,
and 10 her place among the powers Of the earh
| as a sovereign, independent nation.
ssolved That regard with great aversion the
tura efforts OF sectional party the North to carry
on an "rrepressibe conflict" against the institution of
slavery and whenever that party shall succeed in eectng
a President upon their platform, deem it to be the
duty Of the people of the State of Texas to hold them
selves in readiness to cooperate with sister States of
the South in Convention, 70 take into consideration such
measures as may be necessary for protection or to
secure Of the eonederaoy that protection of their
rights which they can no longer hope for in it."
IN
), 1852 reaiirmed January, 1860:
Re,olyed That in the event of the election ofa Black
Republican candidate the Presidency by the SURFACES
of one portion of the Union only rule the whole
United States upon the avowed purpose of that organ
zation Mississippi will regard it declaration Of hos
tly and will hold herself in readiness cooperate
with her sister States of the South in whatever measure
they may deem necessary for the maintenance of their
rights as co-eQual members Of the contederacy."
1t was in view of the Charleston Convention and the
importance Of bringing the public mind up the issue
there intended Ito be made that Senator Clay, of Ala
bama, wrote letter from Washington on the I'd OF Janu-
ary 1860, which promptly published to his cOnsdu
euts of which the followed il. an extract
"Why. YOU would ask, do not Southern Democrats
and Americans unite their patriot of either
nartv and save us from the dishonor and humiliation
with which we are menaced? The reply Of either side
probably would be, it would demoralze aud, perhaps,
disorganize party. But, would reOin, would you
sacrifice the South the alar of your party? Can you
not sink the partizan in the patriot when the enemy is
at our gates:
"Why may not address the same question to the le-
gislaors of Alabama to her people, and to the entire
southern peopleY We are confronted by mpacablc and
powerful foes whose herald aud leader declares we
must meet them everywhere in "irrecOnciabe conflict"
They are now struggling with us, hand to hand in the
C.pol for the control Of the Treasury the Army the
| Navy the Post 0ice-all the materials for upon
the South. They hang in embatted array upon
tire Northern boundary Their emissaries are in our
midst preparing torches for the ncendary and daggers
/ for the assassin. We cannot il we would, avoid the
conflict" they threaten. We have been besieged and
barrssed by them for many years-have suffered sorey
from their ravages and sought reparaton but only
future peace justice, domestic tranquility and security
for our persons and property We have sought these
by argument by persuasion by entreaty but in vain
| VIM then, dsfsr preparation for the last argument
ofnatiots? rs too late to Uhst he swOrd WhsR the
| trumpet sounds to drdV IT,
In addition to all the facts we have given, establishing
beyond Question deliberate purpose, supported by
systematic pan,of action well digested and zealously
pursued to break up the Union aud revoutonze the gov
eminent it scarcely admits Of doubt that there were
members of Congress at its last session. who had resolved
to keep that body unorganized until its functions should
cease for want and thus afford prete1 for
declaring the government end and for proclamng
a Southern Republic. This charge was substantially
made by the True Delta Democratic psper New Or
leans, as followsg
"Such pestlent and vulgar demagogues as Senator's
Green and Sldel were kept the instruments of the
Executive to eeconeer against such results when indie
pendent and honorable men, like Miles Taylor, were
brought forward and the Pughs and Moores of Alabama
and the Bonhams Boyces and Ketts of South Carolina