Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-07-07
To Hon. STEPHEN 4. DOUGLAS.
The following is Mr. Douglas letter accepting the
,,or,S,,ot;o1 for tho preSidency.

10 lion. STEPHEN a. DOUGLAS.
The following is Mr. Douglas letter accepting the
nomination for the Presidency:
.. WASHINGTON, June 81, 1860.
GENTLEMEN In accordance with the verbal assu-
rance which | gave when you placed in my hands
the authentic evidence of my nomination for the
Presidency by the National Convention of the Dem
ocratc party l now send you my formal acceptance.
Upon careful examination of the platform of prin-
cpes adopted at Charleston and affirmed ut Baltl-
more with an additional resolution which is IN per-
feet harmony with the others. find it to be faith
full embodiment of the time-honored principles of
the Democratic party, as the same were proclaimed
and understood by all parties in the Presidential
contests of 1S4S 1852, and 1856 Upon looking
into the proceedings of the convention, also, ind
that the nomination made with great unanlmlty
in the presence and with the concurrence of more
than two thirds of the whole Humber of delegates,
and in exact accordance with the long established
usages of the party.
Nv tnflexble purpose not to be candidate, nor
accept the nomination in any contingency except as
the regular nominee of the national Democratic
party and in that only upon the condition that
the usages as well as the principles of the party
should be strictly adhered to, had been proclaimed
for long time and become well known to the coun-
try. These conditions having been complied with
by the free and voluntary action of the Democratic
masses and their faithful representatives without
any agency, interference or procurement on my
part feel bound in honor and duty to accept the
nomination.
In taking this step am not unn nGful of the re-
sponsibities il imposes; but with firm reliance
on Divine Providence | have faith that the people
will comprehend the true nature of the issues in
volved and eventually maintain the right. The
peace of the country and the perpetuity of the
Union have been put in jeopardy by attempts to in
terfere with and control the domestic affairs of the
people in the Territories through the agency of the
federal government If the power and duty of fed
eral interference be conceded two hostile sectional
parties must be the inevitable result-the one IN
flaming the passions and ambition Of the North and
the other of the South; and each struggling to use
the federal power and authority for the aggrandZe
ment of its own section at the expense of the equal
rights of the other, and in derogaton of those fun
damental principles of selfgovernment which were
firmly established in this country by the American
revolution as the basis of our entire republican
system.
During memorable period in our political bis
tory when the advocates of federal intervention up
on the subject of slavery in the Territories had we'll
nigh appropriated the country into revolution"
the northern interventionSts, demanding the Will
mot proviso for the prohibition of slavery, and the
southern interventOnists, then few in number and
without single representative in either house of
Congress, insisting upon Congressional legislation
for the protection of slavery in opposition to the
wishes of the people in either case it will be re-
membered that it required all the wisdom power
and influence of Clay, and Webster, and CasS
supported by the conservative and patriotic men,
Wing and Democratic 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 ap-
piled in the legislation of 1850, was and now is
Ton-interUentiOn By Congress Nth slarery in the
Territories. The fair application of this just and
equitable principle restored harmony and fraternity
to distracted country.
FIVE now depart from that wise and Just policy
which produced those happy results and permit the
country to be again distracted, if not prccpitated
into revolution, by sectional contest between
pro-slayery and anti-slavery nerventionists where
shall we look for another Clay another Webster or
another Cass to pilot the ship of State over the
breakers into the haven of peace and safety?
The federal Union must be preserved The Con-
stitution must be maintained inviolate in all its
parts Every right guaranteed by the Constitution
must be protected by law in all where legsla-
ton is necessary to its enjoyment The judicial au-
thority, as provided in the Constitution must be
sustained and its decision implicitly obeyed and
faithfully executed. The laws must be administered
and the constituted authorities upheld and all un-
lawful resistance suppressed.
These things must all be done with firmness i'm
Partially, and fidelity, if expect to enjoy and
transmit unimpaired to our posterity, the blessed
inheritance which we have received in trust from
the patriots and Sages of the revolution
With sincere thanks for the kind and agreeable
manner in which you have made known to me the
aet'on OF the convention, have the honor to be-
Very respectfully,
Your friend and fellow-citzen,