The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-07-02

The following IL Mr.. Douglas letter 10 the
Committee, accepting the nomination for the
Presidency
GENTLEMEN In accordance with the YER
bal assurance which / gave you when you
placed In my hands the authentic evidence of
my nomination for the Presidency by the Ma
tional Conven tioG of the Democratic party, l
now send you my formal acceptance.
Upon careful examinati tion of the platform
of principles adopted at Charleston and re-
affirmed at Baltimore, with an additional re-
solution which is in perfect harmony with the
others, l find il to be a faithful embodiment of
the time-honored principles OF the Democratic
party, as the same were proclaimed and un-
derstood by all parties in the Presidential
contests of iSis, 1882 and 1856. Upon looking
10 TO the proceedings of the Convention also,
find that the nomination was made with great
nnanimity, in the presence ard with the con-
currence of more than two-thirds of the whole
number of delegates, and in exact accordance
with the long es established uSages of the party.
My inflexible purpose not TO be a candidate
nor accept the nomination in any contingency,
except as the regular nomi nee of the National
Democ ratio party, and in that case only upon
conditions that the usages as well as the prin-
ciples of the party should be strictly adhered
to, had been proclaimed for a long time and
become well known to the country. 1hese
conditions having all been complied with by
the free and voluntary action of the Democra-
tic masses and their faithful representatives,
without any agency, interference or procure
ment on my part feel bound in honor and
duty to accept the nomination.
In taking this step, am not unmindful OF
the responsibilities it itimposes but WIN a firm
reliance on Divine Providence, l have faith
that the people will comprehend, the true na-
| ture of the issue involved and eventually
mainta the right. The peace of the country
and the perpetuity of the Union have been
| put IN jeopardy by attempts to interfere with
and con troll the domestic affairs OF the people
| in the Territories, through the agency of the
| Federal Government. Ii the power and duty
of Federal in reference be conceded, tive hos
| tile parties must be the inevitable result. The
| one inflaming the passions and ambition of
the North, and the other OF the South, and
| each struggling TO use the Federal power aud
authority for the aggrandizement OF its own
| section at the expense of the equal rights OF
| the other and in derogation of those fuDda-
| mental principles of self government which
| were firmly es tabished in this country by the
| American Revolution as the basis of our en-
tire Republican system.
| During the memorable period in our politi-
| cal history, when the advocates of Federal iB
| tervention upon the subject of slavery in the
| Territories had we'll nigh preclpItated the
| country into revolution, the Northern inter-
| veutionists demanding the Wimot proviso for
| the prohibition of slavery, and the Southern
| Interventionists then few in number and
| without single representative IN eltner
| House of Congress, Insisting upon Congres-
sional legislation TOR the protection of slavery,
| in opposition to the wishes OF the people IN
| either case it will be remembered that it re-
| quired all the WISDOM power and influence of
| Il Clay and IA Webster and Cass, supported
| by conservative and patriotic men-Whig and
| Democrat-of that day. to devise and carry
! out line of policy which would restore peace
| to The country and stability to the Union
| The essential living principle of that policy,
| as applied in the legislation of 1850, was and
now Is a-interreation by OngreSS acith Sturery
| in The Territories. The fair application of this
| just and equit table principle restored har-
| mony and fraternity 10 4 distracted country.
| II we now depart from the wise and Just
policy which produced these happy results
! and permit the country To be again distracted,
| If Lot precipitated into revolution by a Sec
| tioual cOntes between pro-savery and anti
| slavery Interventionists, where shall we look
| Cass to pilot the ship of State over the break
! ers into the haven OF peace and safety! The
| Federal Union must be preserved. The Con-
| stituton must be maintained inviolate in all
| its parts. Every right guaranteed by the Con-
| stitution must be protected by law III all cases
| where legislation is necessary 10 its enjoy
| ment. The judicial authority, as provided IN
| the Constitution, must be sustained, and its
| decisions implicitly obeyed and faithfully ex-
| ecuted. The laws must be admins tered and
| the constitutional authorities upheld, and all
| unlawful resistance suppressed.
These things must all be done with flrmness,
in partiality ana fidelity, If we expect TO enjoy
and transmit, unImpaIred, 10 our posterlty
| that blessed inheritance which we have re-
| ceiyed III trust from the patriots and sages of
the Revolution.
| With sincere thanks for the kind and agree
able manner in which you have made known
to me the ac tion of the Convention, have the
honor TO be, very respectfully, your friend
and fellow citizen, S. A. DOUGLAS.