Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-09-12
Ihs SfaRSafe.
LETTER IRON HON. Jas. s. GREEN.

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CASroS, No., August Is, 1850.
10 r Northcutt. K Hootoa, q Others, ,Aerieo, Mo-;
GENTLExEN. Since my return home have re-
ceiyed your letter inviting me to address the people
on the political issues Of the day, and am sorry to
say, in reply. that the state Of my health and nu-
,nerous engagements win prevent my naming a time
shall certainly do so before the November election
:. In the mean time, in order to prevent all misap-
prehensions with regard to my real position, will
take the liberty Of making brief statement on the
general subject s
Like all true friends of our country, exceedingly
regret the division Of the Democratic party, but 1t
is perfectly useless TO waste time and strength in
impracticable regrets and it would be equally I'M
profitable to go back and heap censure upon the
different parties tothe division. deem it my duty
rather to take the subject up exactly as 1 find it
pending before the country, and shape my action
Just as patriotism requires to produce beneficial re-
suits instead of stirring up excitement and ifeel
ing by attributing the separation of the Convention
to the one side the otherto the cause or to the
results necessarily produced thereby.
: From. my intercourse and acquaintance with the
friends of Douglas and Breckinridge in this State,
/ am satisfied there are true patriots and SOUND
Democrats supporting each of these Candidates LOT
the Presidency. 1t would therefore, be the helsnt
of folly and the injustice to speak o. Suc1
citizens in terms of re2roach and abuse. Whilst
shall support Breckenridge, it shall be my purpose
to respect the predictions of others, and present
for candid consideration the motives and reasons by
which am Influenced
The Democratic National Convention divided into
two parts each of which has presented candidate,
but neither of them can claim to have been nomi-
mated in the regular way according to the rules,
usages and customs of the party. Neither received
two-thirds of the Electoral College, which was re-
quisite to constitute nomination Douglas never
received more than 1914 votes, while sos was the
whole number, and twothrds of that is, of course,
202. And of the 1914 votes which were cast for
Douglas many of them spurious, illegal votes,
brought into the Convention merely for the purpose
of increasing his apparent vote. shall not stop to
enumerate the spurious votes together with the cvi
dence of their irregularity, for the simple reason
that the highest vote he received including all
the bogus ones, lacked 20i votes of making nomi
nation by the rule of the Convention. Hence it
cannot be contended that he received the nomina-
nation at Baltimore. The mere fact that Douglas
received the majority of the votes does not amount
to anything. Other aspirants have obtained large
majorities in National Conventions heretofore, and
yet not for that reason declared the nominees
] need only name Van Buren, and Cass in 1874.
The fact is there be no safety OF conservatism
in such Conventions without the two-thirdS rule;
and when it is destroyed, National Conventions
cease. If majority could nominate, then twelve
States wholly in the power Of the black Republl-
cans, and without single Democratic electoral vote
could force upon the party the most Objectionable
candidate they chose to present But the propriety
of the rule and its observance this year in the
case of Mr.. Douglas are incontestable truths which
cannot be for moment doubted And what is the
claim of a nominee worth when seriously and so
generally controyerted in this case? 1t is not to
be denied that q large majority in nearly every
Democratic State in the Union utterly repudate the
idea that Douglas has been nominated. They are
rs intelligent and we are bound to believe as honest
49, H. L. Al L.
judge and determine for themselves They will not
support him, and hence the whole moral force of
nomination is completely lost, whether they are
right or wrong in their judgment. They must and
will cast ve-sixths Of all the Democratic Electoral
votes for President and surely every true man and
patriot win treat them with the consideration due
to brethren They deny the nomination and all
obligation to support Douglas and, therefore, the
whole moral force and efficacy of this socalled 1omi
nation gone forever. Itsurely will not be claim
ed, or even thought of by the most enthusiastic,
that the pretended nomination Of Douglas will
induce the Democrats, to whom / refer, to extend
their support under such circumstances. mol Its
charm is destroyed-its potency gone. The facts
of the case have dispelled all doubt. What, then,
remains to be done? Shall we quietly submit to
the election Of black Republican, without an ef-
fort to prevent it or shall we indulge in crmna-
ton and recrimnation, and destroy the Democratic
party? or shall we shape our course so as to take
revenge on. any democrat with whom we differg
For myself ! say neither. If we have no regular
nominee, We have time to concentrate public senti-
ment in Missouri, and believe, in the nation, on
an available, true, and worthy candidate, under
whose banner we car rally and rescue the party
and the Union from the dangers and calamties that
now threaten us In my opinion, John c. Breckin-
ridge is the proper man. Already the Democratic
sentiment in nearly all the Democratic States, has
been concentrated on him. and surely Missouri will
not separate from her Democratic sisters, and throw
her vote away, and thereby increase the chances
and hopes of the Republican party Such course
would be suicidal If We can succeed in elec,ing
any Democrat it can only be Breckenridge under the
existing state of things. 1t is a fact we'll known
that he is the choice Of the Democracy in every
Southern State and also in several Northern States
while the fact is equally well known that Douglas
has so embittered The feelings Of thousands of Dem
ocfats, North and South that they will not support
him. Whether that feeling towards Douglas is
right or wrong is not the question. We must take
things as we find them and know them to exist,
and then shape our course to the best advantage.
This prejudice to Douglas is so strong in different
parts of the Union that il Missouri should be
induced 10 vote for him, her vote would be thrown
away and lost. But | am well satisfied that the
Of our State will stand by her true prin
ciples, and vote for Breckpridge who not only rep
resents her principles but who has the only chance
Of success against Lincoln. When availability and
coincidence Of political opinions both unite in the
same person, we cannot possibly hesitate in our
course. We will stand by our principles, and ac-
eept the best opportunity to give them success
The political sentiments of the Democracy of Mis-
souri have been repeatedly declared and pre-
tends that Douglas entertains the same opinions
the subject Of slavery. The contrary is true. His
opinions on that subject are directly in conflict with
ours. And yet, strange to say, some of his ad-
rers are not only his apoogists. but undertake to
prove tne propriety Of his opinions 1t seems to me
.pas sncn persons permit their ardent zeal to drive
few words will explain the grave errors Of Judge
Douglas. '''o'' y ousuee
In the first place, he holds that slavery md Tho
right to hold slaves depend entirely nnor ,ha III
laws Of States, and cannot go an inch beyond An
the republicans in the United States hoid IT, an
doctrine But the Supreme Court has expressly de-.