Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-07-18
WEDENsDAY. JrLT 10 1850

. <. :. !.
GEN. LANES ACCEPTANCE OF THE NoMI-:
NATION FOR THE VICE PRESIDENCY ~ Il.
DExocRAric NATIONAL CONVENTION,
BALrnioRE, June Is, 1850. "a
Hon. JosepA Lane: ~ '55.
SlR: am directed by vote Of the National Dem.
ocratic Convention inform you that you have been
this day unanimously nominated by it as the candI-
date Of the democratic party for the Office Of Vice
President of the United States, and in their behalf
request you to accept the same. =
beg leave at the same time to enclose to you
COPY Of the resolutions adopted by the Convention
as the political platform on which the party stands.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
G. GUSHING, President
WASHINGTON, june 30, 1860.
Hon. Caleb Gushing, President of the Democratic
National Convention.
SIR Ihave the honor to acknowledge the receipt OF
the communication you make in behalf of the Demo-
cratic National Convention in which you inform me
that on the 23d inst, / was unanimously nomlna
ted 5y that party for the office of Vice President OF
the United States with the request that shall ac-
cept the nomination.
The platform adopted, and of which you enclose
me copy meets with my hearty approval, as it
embodies what have been contending for as the
only means of stopping sectional agitation-by Sc
curing to all equality and constitutional rights, the
denial of which has led to the present unhappy con-
dtion of public affairs
Compromises of constitutional principles are ever
dangerous and l am rejoced that the true democra-
cy has seen fit to plant firm foot on the rock Of
TRUTH and to give the people an opportunity to vim
dictate their love Of justice and aternal regard for
each others rights.
Non intervention on the subject of slavery, may
emphatically say, is the cardinal maxim of the de-
Observation-Disclosures by Congress, and non
intervention by Territorial Legislatures, as is fully
stated in the first resolution Of the adopted PLATFORM
In vain should we declare the former, without in
ssting upon the latter; because to permit Terrific
rial Legislatures to prohibit establish slavery,
by unfriendly legislation to invalidate property,
would be granting powers to the creature or agent
which, 1t is admitted do not appertain to the prin-
cipal or the power that creates; besides which it
would be fostering an element of agitation in the
Territories that must necessarily extend to Congress
and the people of all the States.
II the constitution establishes the right of every
citizen to enter the territory with whatever
property he legally possesses it necessarily devoves
the federal government the duty to protect this
right of the citizen whenever and wherever assaled
or infringed. The democratic party honestly meets
this ugitating question which is threatening to sever
and destroy this brotherhood of States 1t does not
propose to lcgisate for the extension of slavery
for its restriction but to give to each State and to
every citizen all that our forefathers proposed to
give, namely perfect equality Of rights, and then
to commit to the people, to climate and to soil the
determination to the kind of institution best fitted
to their requirements in their constitutional limits
and declaring, as fundamental MAXIM that the
people of Territory only establish or prohibit
slavery when they come to form constitution pre-
paratory to their admission as State into the
Union.
If happily, our principles shall prevail, era Of
peace and harmony will be restored to distract
ed country, and no more shall we be troubled with
the agitation of this dangerous question: because it
will be removed as well from the Territorial legisa-
lures as from the halls of Congress-when we shall
be free to turn our attention to useful issues
promotive Of our growth in national greatness.
Our Union must be preserved But this can only
be done by maintaining the constitution nviolate in
all its provisions and guarantees The judicial au-
thority, as provided by the constitution, must be
maintained, and its decisions implicitly obeyed as
well regard to the rights of property in the Ter
rtories as in all other matters.
Hoping for success and trusting in the truth and
justice of the principles of our party, and in that
Divine Providence that has watched over us and
made us one of the great nations Of the earth, and
that We may continue to merit Divine protection,
cheerfully accept the nomination so unanimously
conferred me. and cordially endorse the platform
adopted by the Convention.
l have the honor to be, sir, with much respect
your friend and obedient servant,
JOSEPH LANE.