The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-06-06
Etem he W. o. Della.
Letter from Mr.. elidell on National
Politics


Dear Siy---The members Of the State
Democratic Convention having been called, by
the State Central Executive Committee to re-
assemble at Baton Rouge, to receive the re-
port Of their delegates TO the late Charleston
Convention, and take such action as may be
deemed necessary and proper, hope that it
viii not be considered intrusive on my part TO
submit few brief suggestions as TO the
course to be pursued BY the Democracy OF
Louisiana at this critical moment, when not
only the organization Of the great National
Democratic party, but the very existence OF
the URion is endangered. Had / no other
motive for now addressing you, it would SUI
fice that fsdesire to place on record my full,
unqualified and emphatic approval Of the &C
ton Of the Louisiana delegation at Charles
ton to identify my political existence with
theirs to share all their responsibilities TO
receive, IN common with them, the indOrse-
ment and justification which ] know they
merit and am confident they will receive
from Interpretation, to submit with Difference
TO the implied Convention or,if be disap-
pointed IN this just censure which a fail
ure TO sustain them would convey.
Although | had not the honor to be mem
Der OF our delegation, was at Charleston du-
ring the sitting OF the Convention, had daily
communication with our delegates, and, while
on no occasion present at their deliberations had
tull and free conversations with most Of them
on the questions pending before the Conven-
ton. have not the presumption to suppose
that my counsels exercised any influence on
then actions their high characters, sound
Judgment, independent position, political and
social, forbid such an idea but say with
PRIDE and pleasure that found entire sympa-
thy and almost perfect coincidence in the
views We mutually entertained and expressed.
They VIII render you full account Of their
stewardship md give you details Of the pro-
ceedlngs at Charleston, into which the limits
OF an ordinary letter will not permit me 70 en-
ter. But there are few salient points, neces-
sary for the proper understanding OF the po-
sitlon IN which our delegates found them
selves, TO which will allude. Experience
has demonstrated that the organic basis Of rep
resentation in National Conventions is essen
tally false, and that it does not secure fair
index oil Democratic principles OF offer hir
probability Of the selection OF candidates, ac-
eeptahle TO the States by whose votes in the
electoral colleges their election can only lie ef-
tccted, States hopelesSly abolitionized, such
as Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Vermont Michigan and Wisconsin, neutral
lze the votes Of South Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and
Arkansas. This injustice must be remedied
by the adoption Of some more equitable basis
Of representation. or the slave States must
hereafter refuse to enter into National Con-
yenton. II, besides the votes as cast at pres
emit an additional vote were given to each
State for every Democratic Senator and Rep
,Aagf -.
gress, this objection would be, 10 a great de
gree, removed But TINS inherent difficulty
in the basis Of representation was greatly az
gravated by the unscrupulous manner in
which the majority composed almost entirely
of delegates from States not TO be relied on
for electoral votes, exercised their power. The
first manifestation Of this disposition was in the
adoption of a rule, without precedent in any
previous Convention, by which the majority
were enabled to exert absolute authority in
all the States where the oppoSers Of a second
| platform and the friends Of Judge Douglas
had the ascendency; thus sitting in the dele
! cations Of New York, Ohio and Indiana at
least twenty-five votes, that would otherwise
4 have been cast Cor the resolutions reported by
| seventeen States, and for another candidate
/ than Douglas, while Pennsylvania and New
/ jersey, the only other States that can be re-
| lied on for Democratic votes in the Presiden-
/ tial election were deprived ofthe power to give
a unit vote. The untairness was more fla
grant in the case Of New Jersey, whose dele
| gates had been recommended not to divide
| their votes, for when the distinguished Chair
man of the Convention decided that the rule
authorized the majority to control the entire
| vote, his decision was overuled on an appeal
by majority of four, while, il New jersey
! had been allowed to vote on this question, the
| Chair would have been sustained.
/ Seventeen States adopted a platform Of
| principles which they submitted to the Con-
/ vention. These States cast one hundred and
/ twenty seven electoral votes every one of which
| might be relied on for our nominees in No
/ vember, had this platform been adopted with
candidates who could honestly and honorably
stand upon it. Pennsylvania and New Jer-
sey, the only free States, CaliloTnia and Orc
gan exeented uplsa- l-.hAse ~-ppoft We can r5ri-
fideutiy rely in the Presidential contest were
not represented IN the committee on resolu-
tons. because the persons selected for that
purpose did not choose to carry out what
they well knew 10 be the wishes of their re-
spectiye delegations. Had they been proper
" represented in the committee the majority
report with immaterial notifications, would
have had the unanimous support OF the nine
teen States whose electoral votes NAV be
counted on in November. The delegations
Of eight States, as You know, retired when
the majority of the Convention refused to
adopt resolutions which they considered in
dispensable to their safety Having thus
retired they awaited the further action of the
Convention, in the hope rather than the
expectation that reflection would induce the
majority to retrace their steps and present to
the retiring States platform which they could
accept with honor. Had this been done, the
retiring delegations would have resumed their
seats, as they then had and unquestiona-
bly, still have the right to do. The adjourn
ment TO Baltimore leaves everything precisely
in the same state in which it would have been
had it been only to the next day, and not for
SIX weeks.
What, then, should our State Convention
do +? can not better answer than by refer
ring you to an address on the subject, signed
by number Of Senators and Representatives,
and of which send you copy, recommend.
ing it to the careful consideration OF the Con-
veIaion with this qualification only, that
think our delegates should meet at Richmond,
and adjourn over TO day subsequent to that
fixed for the meeting Of the Convention at Bal
timore This, believe, was the intention Of
the signers Of the address, although it is not
clearly 50 expressed. Ii certainly was mine.
We have this day received the news of the
nomination made by the Black Republican
Convention at Chicago had supposed that
Mr.. Seward would certainly have been their
candidate for the Presidency, and had the
Charleston Convention resulted in the harmo-
NOUS adoption Of a sound platform and the
nomination Of a man pledged to carry out its
principles, would have preferred that direct
issue should have been presented TO the peo-
pie of the free States by the nomination Of
Mr.. Seward. That issue would, in my opia-
ion, have been, shall the Union be preserved
or DESTROYED? Mr.. Lincoln may be, and
probably is as hostile to the institution Of
slavery as Mr.. Seward, but his record on that
subject which have not yet had the OPP
portunity to examine, is comparatively OBJ
scure and incomplete, and his election, es-
pecially if the contest be complicated by any
division in our own ranks, would not present
as absolute and unmistakahle test Of North
ern sentiment as that of Seward.
In conclusion, permit me to avail myself of
this opportunity of returning my heartfelt
thanks to the Convention for the signal honor
conferred on me at their previous meeting in
March. shall ever treasure il as the proud
est recollection of my life. What may re-
main Of that life shall be devoted to the eff
fort to prove myself worthy Of the confidence
of Louisiana, and OF that Democracy Of which
| have ever been, in veal or in woe, in sun
shine or storm. and unfiinching, and, trust
not an inefficient supporter.
Very faithfully and respectfully
Your friend and servant
JOHN SLIDELL-
- - -
DIED,
At ttR residence Of A. w. Ramsey, near
Salem High School, Green county, Mississippi,