The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-09-04

CONVENTION AT THE MARYLAND INSTITUTE.
1854 votes were cast for President, to which
must be added I vote from Minnesota, 3 votes
from Delaware, and 8 votes from South Carolina,
who took no part in the nomination of Mr. Doug
las, and who before either Convention adjourned
endorsed the action of the Maryland Institute
Convention, making in all III votes.
This number has been since largely increased
by the endorsement of delegates after the adjourn
ment of the Conventions, who took no part in the
proceedings of either, or who, having taken part
in the Douglas Convention, have since repudiated
its action.
Thus neither Convention. has presented candi-
date nominated by two-thrds of the votes of the
to the support of the Democracy, as the embodi-
ment of its principles, and as endorsed by the
weight and influence of the party?
The committee to whom we have referred charge
that we are the dsuniOn party, and therefore not
entitled to support. Let us consider the platforms
Of the two Conventions, and make some inquiries
into the antecedents of its candidates and sup
porters.
PLATFORMS OF THE TWO CONVENTIONS IN RE-
GARD TO SLAVERY.
The platform of the Maryland Institute Con-
vention, endorsed at Charleston by seventeen sove
reign States, is as follows:
"Frst. That the government of Territory organ
lied by act of Congress is prov isOnal and tempo
United States have an equal right to settle with their
property in the Territory without their rights either
of person or property, being destroyed impaired by
Congressional or Territorial Legislation.
'SecOnd That il is the duty of the Federal Govern
men in all its departments protect when necessary
the rights of persons and property in the Territories
and wherever else its constitutional authority extends
"Third. That when the settlers in a Territory hav
ADEQUATE form a tai
the right of sovereignty commences; and being con-
summGted by admission into the Union, they stand
an equal footing with the people of other States; and
the State thus organized ought to be admitted into the
Federal Union whether its Constitution prohibits or
recognizes the institution of slavery"
That of the Front Street Theatre Conven ton,
douglas is as follows:
"ResoIped That We the Democracy of the Union in
convention assembled, hereby declare our affirmation
of the resolutions unanimously adopted and declared
as platform Of principles by the Democratic Conven-
ton at Cincinnati, in the year 1856 believing that De-
moeratie principles Interchangeable in their
when applied to the same suhect-matter.
ResolUed That it is in accordance with the in
depreciation of the Cincinnati Platform that during the
existence of Territorial governments the measure of
restriction, whatever it may be- imposed by the Fede-
raj Constitution the powers of Territorial legis
aature the subject of domestic relations as the
has been shall hereafter be finally determined
by the Supreme Court of the United States should be
respected by all good citizens and enforced with
promptness and fidelity by every branch of the Federal
Government"
Referring to our platform, the Douglas Commit
fee say that "nothing could be more vague and
unsatisfactory than these resolutions; they deal in
'truisms of the tamest significance, or rather, as
the controversy then stood, of no significance at
all 1t may be we'll to pause here and point at
tention to the fact that this Douglas Committee
shrink from the task of taking issue with these
resolutions, and that they thus virtually admit that
they contain no doctrine to condemn Let the
Douglas speakers in the North who have been
ringing the charge of "slave code," "slave code"
take notice of the virtual admission of their Ex-
ecutlve COMMITTEE that the resolutions contain no
such doctrine.
The committee were wise in not attacking
platform which defes assault
EXPOSITION OF THE PLATFORM OF THE Ma
TIONAL DEMOCRACY.
The first resolution emphatically declares that
''the government of Territory organized BY an
act OF Congress is provisional and temporary"
thereby rebutting the conclusions that such Ter
rltory can frame any permanent institutions whatey
er, or can establish, during its territorial existence
any fundamental law whatever. 1t is an inchoate
and imperfect government, instituted for brief
perlod-the creature of Congress. This resolution
In connection with the third resolution, which de-
cares that "when the settlers in a Territory hav-
ing an adequate population, form State constitu
ton, the right OF sovereignty commences; and be-
ing contaminated by admission into the Union,
they stand on an equal footing with the people of
other States; and the State thus organized ought
to be admitted into the Federal Union, whether its
constitution prohibits recognizes the institution
OF slavery, is entirely consistent with the Kan
sas-Nebraska act. That the government of Ter
ntory Is provisional and temporary, that it is the
creature of Congress- the history of the Territories
conclusively establishes. Congress has ALWAYS
either reserved the veto power over the acts of
Territorial Legislature, conferred it upon the
Governor OF the Territory, appointed by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate
But, as in the Cincinnati platform, the third
resolution emphatcally declares that when the
people come to form their permanent institutions;
when they come to lay down their fundamental
law, which shall govern not only the people, but
their legislative bodies and their judicial tribunals
then they are to decide for themselves whether
slavery shall be an institution or not amongst them
Is the second resolution inconsistent with the first
and third! lt is in these words: that at is the
duty OF the Federal Government in all its DEPART
ments, to protect, when necessary, the rights of
persons and property in the Territories and wher
ever else its constitutional authority extends
Why is government instituted at all? Is it TO
raise armies! Is il to create naVies? Is it to es
tablish postal system? Is it to collect revenue?
Is 1t to build up magnificent capitol, adorned
with works of art and extensive and beautifully
arranged grounds, and imposing edi6ces of granite
and marble? Is it instituted to raise 500 600 600
In order to eKpend ito bring annually together,
at tae national capitol, Senators and Representa- |