Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-08-22


were uncompromsing and defiant. VIM L. YAM
lsicey had left his Richmond Convention, under the
safe care and guard of R. Barnwell Rhett, and come
to Baltimore to complete the disruption Of the Ma
tona Democracy He was boldly met at the thres-
hold of the Convention and told that he might en-
ter as friend but would not be admitted as an
avowed enemy.
The course of the seceders was carefully consid-
cred. Their seats were contested by other dele
gates who were the representatives of the people of
their States. They had been appointed under. the
resolution of the Convention at Charleston to sup
ply the vacancies occasioned by secession The
contestants claimed that they had been regularly
appointed and produced their credentials. They
Were willing to act in friendly concert with the ma
tional Democracy. The Convention in the exercise
of undonbted right, after considering every case
made its decision. fully concurred in that dccis
ion, with two exceptions. 1t was right and just
Upon the refusal of the national Conventiorsto re-
ceve the Alabama and Louisiana seceders fifteen Of
the delegates from North Carolina left the Conven
ton. shall not pretend to pass judgment upon
! this action That is question between them and
! their constituents. | will do them the Justice to
| say that they acted from honest and patriotic mo-
tives W. w.. Holden, Esq, and j. w. B. Wat
| son. Esq, alone remained with me in the national
/ Convention Mr. Holden took a bold and deci-
| ded stand against the scceders; but when the
party became completely divided he thought his
duty to his political friends at home required him to
! act no further. He wished to act the part of
| peace maker, and he yielded his personal feelings
to his sense of public duty to the party at home
fully concurrcd with him as TO the he ought
! to pursue.
! may have acted wrong, but felt was right
and after long and patient deliberation still enter
, tain the same opinion. l knew the responsibility
of my position in being opposed by such large ma
orty of my associate delegates, but determined to
follow what conceived to be the path Of duty, re-
| CARELESS of personal consequences.
| remained in the Convention originally constitu-
ted by the national Democratic party, and which
still contained than two thirds of the delegates
| had no authority from my constituents to repre-
! sent them in any other Convention. If had seced
/ ed should have returned home, my delegated
! powers would have been ended, and | would not
| have assumed the authority TO represent you in a
Convention to which you had not sent me
assisted in the completion of the platform and
! in the nominations Of Douglas and johnson, accord
! ing to the rules and usages of the party. If the
| platform contains anything wrong. then have not
understood Democratic principles; and if the candi
dates are not worthy of their position. then the
! highest intellect, the most incorruptibe public vir-
tue and constant and seli.sacricng devotion to the
constitutional rights of every section of the country,
not sufficient to win the confidence Of The Amer
! lean people.
! Fellow citizens my duties as your delegate are
| Consider them calmly and dspassionatcly, without
partality or prejudice. Do the justice which
every of you, under similar circumstances,
would claim, and then will cheerfuy submit to
the judgment of my constituents and countrymen
As one of your fellow citizens, would have few
words to say. The national Democratic party, al
though weakened, is not yet DESTROYED. Its friends
have decreased and its foes have multiplied, but
still the "ol6 guards" are on the field Of battle,
ready and determined to make one more brave stand
for the Constitution and the Union. The next
Presidential contest is by far the most important
that has ever occurred in the history of the
country, upon it depends the destiny of the
ton. 1t will decide whether the Union shall con-
tinuc to bless our people with peace happiness,
and prosperity, .>unon curse the land with the
horrd anarchy of faternal STRIFE destroy the her.
agc of our fathers and blast forever the hopes of
patriots and the friends ofHSedom throughout the
world IL y
= The foes have to meet in this great struggle
are the fanatics at the North and the dxunionss at
, the South 1t becomes us now to choose which
party will follow. As for myself. have already
enlisted in the old Democratic party led on by
J Douglas and Johnson This is the only party
which can successfully encounter the black Repub-
lcans If we can only defeat them now their pow
or is forever broken. and the country is saved The
! Secessionsts have quit our ranks, and thus made
fearful odds against us, but still hope that their
vative men of the South, and kind Providence
will guide safely through the terrible crisis that
X now threatens the republic
, \ am proud of the leaders whom I follow For
! ten years Stephen A. Douglas has been the great
champion of the constitutional rights of the South.
lie has fearlessly defended them while surrounded
by Infatuated mObS who were klndng the fires
! of his blazing effsies, and with sublime moral
and physical courage he has breasted the waves OF
/ fanaticisn and broken their power. In the Senate
and on the stump he has fought more than hun
/ dred battles for the South and never struck one
! blow against her. He has not been placed in his
present position by any inordinate ambition. Twice
has he yielded his claims to the Presidency to pre-
serve the harmony of his party, and he nubly Of
fered himself again at Baltimore as a sacrifice to
preserve its principles. Will republics always be
ungrateful? lie is now the nominee of the nation
al Democratic party, having received more than
tro-thirds of the votes of the electoral college, and
all the votes cast in the regular convention. Can
it be possible that the Democratic party will forget
all of its well established rules and usages and suf
fer itself to be led to ruin by disappointing faction?
cannot and aeW not support Breckinrilge. My
fealty TO the Democratic party for5idS it. lie is
ly the regular nominee of the South Carolina con-
vention at Richmond. The seceders' convention at
Baltimore had no authority from the people to make
a nomination. Breckenridge is only the nominee of
mere faction and the leader of party with which
can never have any sympathy or fellowship. How,
then, any Democrat who has any regard for
party organization support such an unauthorized
and irregular nomination?
The secession party is not the Democratic party.
1t is neW born party. 1t sprung from the heated
brain of VIM L. Yancey and the first words it lisped
were discord, revolution, disunion 1t was graded
in St. Andrews Hall, at Charleston it was fed upon
notification and sectionalisn and so rapid was its
growth and pretensons that in few weeks at Balt-
it claimed to be the national Democratic party
supposing that if it had the giants name it would
possess the giants strength. The first trial of its
power was to attempt to surprise and sack the old
Democratic citadel 1t succeeded in calling off some
of the forces, and in breaking down some of the
walls and bastions, but the strong towers of prinei
pie still are standing and defy its power.
The seceders become indignant at being called the
followers Of Yancey. They certainly his COM