Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-08-08
Resignation Of an Elector.


DR.. T. W Keen, of Rockingham, Democratic
Nector for the sixth District, has resigned his posi-
ton as such The Winston Sentinel calls for Con-
petion of the District to be held at Winston on the
9th of September. We subjoin DR.. Keens letter:
DIR. T. W. KEEN'S LETTER
To the Democracy Of the 9Th Congressional district
r. STAcYvnLE, N. c., July Ii, 1860.
When received the nomination for Elector on
the Democratic ticket, felt that an acceptance on
nv part would involve heavy personal sacrifice
that was little able to bear, but the unanimity
with which it was given without any solicitation on
my part gave me the strongest assurance that mi
nor differences could not divide in this district,
and placed me under obligations that l could not
lightly consider, nor willingly decline. | therefore
accepted the nomination in advance OF the n0mina-
ton for President and Vice President with full
and expressed determination to support the noml-
nee of the Democratic Convention. had my choice,
and most if not all, the members of the Conven-
ton knew that it was Stephen A. Douglas, of Hi
nols; they knew that preferred him not for ability
alone, but that endorsed his principles But my
preference for him subordinate to the interest
and success of the Democratic party, and | there
fore hestated not to declare that if the chosen Rep
resentatives of the Democracy in the National Con-
vention selected another, l would cheerfuly give
him up and exert my humble abilities in favor of
their choice. The National Convention has assem-
bled and closed its labors You have seen its pro-
ceedings; the result of its deliberations is known
to you Stephen A. Douglaa, Of Illinois, and Hers
chel V. johnson, of Georgia, were nominated for
President and Vice President but before these nom
nations were made large majority of the Southern
Delegates and few of the Northern, constituting
in all about one-thrd of the whole National dele
CATION, withdrew from the Convention anG nomi-
- n Sc
dent and Joseph Lane, of Oregon, for Vice Presi-
dent Nearly the whole of the North Carolina dele
cation, including the delegates from this District,
were with the seceders, and aided in making the
latter nomination. Were l to continue to occupy
the position which you have assigned me, the duty
would devolve on me of saying whether | wo1d
accept the nominations made by the National Demo
cratic Convention or those made by the seceders
with our immediate representatives this | should
not hesitate for moment to do were I acting in an
individual capacity. would not hesitate to declare
that Stephen A. Douglas and Herschel V. johnson,
stand the choice of the National Democracy on
platform national in Its character and just to all
tons of this confederacy, and should therefore
ceve the votes of all good national men for the Off
ces to which they have been nominated, but acting
as your servant and mindful of your rights and
privileges, resign to you NY position as candi-
date for Eector the Democratic ticket and leave
you free and uncmbarrassed to take such un-
der the circumstances as you may deem right and
proper.
l cannot close this communication without ex-
pressing the hope, that divided as we are at pre-
sent that our strength may yet be so united, that
Lincoln and Hamiin at the North, and Bell and Ev-
erctt at the South shall gain nothing by dissen-
sions, and that Democratic principles may still be
sustained, and the Union preserved
And now permit me to return you my sincere
| e..
sonally, and assure you that shall ever cherish,
with the focdest recollection, the personal friend
ship of many Democrats, with whom fear, in the
Presidential contest shall be compelled to differ.
Respectfully yours, &C.,
T. W. KEEN