Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1860-09-22
nc Al.
IRTFEHEKOM hon. JbHN }. MIIIsla
NeRroLKH Aud. 81 1s

e NeRHo1K8 Aug. 81. 1855
MY DeSF ISir:--I have DELAYED until gov
any reply sp your letter Of l 1tflinst becSSuse
1 !, wished 81 know what w6:lld BIZ the cour:se of
the two Glventions lately heldat Charlcsstds-
ieand ssfunton. H'Wds possible, tkot,Sii 4
confess; hasdly probable, Shat ele chanc3a of
some OF tas Presidential candidates migEs be
: '''''''''ifefi ~ their 4prpeeGsingsI You s7aTe
doubtless len thatino arrisigeuSsnt was u !
by which Ske two parties ilightibe uniteG
You asIssf 1 think Mrlss Bre4 4kinridge Jan
be electedS{s The result offpolitscal electis,ns
are atwayssimong the mos$ uncertain thistgs
in the worSs But sec kttle reason to ax
pect his elsstion. 75 Ei9a
SIR. BreS5kinridgs WAS, fearE put up tabe
beaisa Ito he eieetsd ;;tts and to mike estEe
also, ehe effse;lt ltof any Degfocratlc eompet5or
Men are jlstly presumed sp intend the psSb-
able conseslences of theft owh acts. Che
Democratic party, in no Ntftherh, and scqSce-
ly any SoIfs55lGrn State, isistroIs enough to
divide its stte, without defeat. Those, t3gn,
that counsE the division, raust ittend alsq:3he
defeat. !: If
OF couIsh do not suppose that all Wflo
'concurTed ssl tile nomination of MIR. BrccSin-
ridge, or az that are now .BuppSTting it, Cad
this purpoA or expectation IFefer to ttfsse
who went IS the Conventisn at Eharlcsto:k To
insist upoIAew tests of Isemo9ratic fide4ty,
and new S1nditions of DainocrAtic mem&sr-
ship which, fthey mtst havg kn4wn woultsbe
refused; tSithose who, alteady EimpatienE of
the Unionaseek to induce 9csuit Is which lsay
persuade oilers to becomeSns restive as thEai-
selves; to ile men who desiting that tlssre
should be kothing eonlmots to die Nortl8srn
and the S4sthern States, IRE JEALOUS of Che
organizatiqI of the DemoGSatic Eparty, wlase
nationaineas is living renoaclt of their Aae-
tarism, andEghose success sEoul$ be the FL
ure of thoai projects. aIE
That thtsse were, and sfe, shch mensift
would be '9aak to doubt. ~, contrary to t!EEair
efforts and hsishes, Mr. Bfrckinridge shCSld
be elected, ,shis election woHld greatly emEs;r7
ass them. sIt would more Severely task tfsoir
ingenuity 81 devise other tpnditlons of mSn-
bership in Che Democratics party, and in Che
Union, stilf3more cxactin& in their own ga
ture and t9ill more certain t0kbG rcjectSds
What insllced the secession of so may
members f fes3Sm the C6nvenSon at Gharlcsesn2
Could it h{Ye been only tlB with to preYshti
the nominaMon of Douglas What mGsnsi
were SO liksly to secure it'll A i'd how cGsld
they bette1SPrevent it, than By femaininaffaj
the Convo,g6on WhileatheyE stayed, Siis
nominatioIfSould not haves2been affected, :Sx-
'copt by thes5 own conversian. We're thcsao,
much afraiSEof being persymdc& to bec2sne
his supporEsts, that they c6tId e[cape his ess5r-
Ger, only bslsevcring in twEasin the nemocl.3siG
party, and sltting as they yEfhinKs the UfassH
itself in pfHl Il
Did theywithdraw because Of the unSiE
lingness oiIale ConvcntioGIto ada to the Dsh-
ocratic cre&4 new articlesi idcclafDg the aafy
of CongresSFto protect, wlfrn necessary, 9s;l-
very in ths9Eerritories !sSuppose it Nsare
even proSsr that thisE acknowledgements
should hav2i been made ;ss-was any ac3!Il
wrong dontsby that Conyehtion. Sin withh5I
ing it. WsS the Constitution aElegal, coRsts
tutional bo;st, authorized to make laws, 81
to shane cider the toreign..or domestic po.:SS Il
of the unis4d states2 NIsly not the fediSssyilE
authorities discharge their appropriate dut8isi
under the Bbnstitution, even though an f:s
official assek.bly like the (harlcSton ConTSl5
tion. shoulSlhesitate to favor them witlists
opinion as s the nature abd extent of tls5 81!
obligationsIs Did this moAesty,. or reticeiee5
demand so Grave retribatatiop as thes:9e::
struction oEfthe Democratic party and prtsSr
bly,of the sssnion? I feaTsthatsoue of tl:i iae:
gentlemen Sielded toa transient 6elusion, Sat
thev were Abt mere coneflve te reconfn4z z!6
= s.itobleIscandidate forf the fPresideREaf
Office. but alconvention of the soyercign Stitsses
ordainipg Reconstruction off sgovunment. i /
Bnt I cassnot forget athhose33who are i 1Iw
pressing tlFs demand, are fle very men Ttot
six wears a;sb, left me to saind .tlonc, unSsp4
noried bylIs single Southern democrat, GID
MAINTAINING 81 the principle they are obssG
ding uponi Ehe country, noS thatit is cniE 9
theory andA phantom IfreflSed to arfssli
what shG5sad to be existfSg legislation sE7}F IS 1
the protectssn of slavery II the Territoriess ri
Kansas ana Nebraska; I1t thbse of ttss,n
who were Zen in Gongre@, eFeu amenSsa
the KansaSs Nebraska bill, ,for tie purpose slf
providing atat no law, or Regulation, piolSs'1s
itina or 9r{scctinq slavery Ii thoss Terrftofaa
,,r;or ,Sr,S to 1880. should be fevivsd or putin
ffa-ce f-o nndT the operatioa of that bill. Aaf
tbey then opposed it to Eg the auty of tf
,;forial leeslaturcs, and ofHC Congress, to Isss
laws o,iyinsssguch protectiea, Why did tasY
cot cot ont bv sspealing and apnulHsg those ts7is
we we're alreatS in force2 il they deny taet
INV socb l5ts really existaaj why then w!sEiT
necessary nor IL provide that they 4llould nos'e
,,ey;ved or fSlb in force /? If they reply tses
- ,..s don sonlv to tlllay the appsehe henstonsat
Nv ~ "1 Da,,o,sstic s,,ppofteTS Of Tie biz, ff
tbe fire North shy did they thas z
.l. sns sment to tiiossopinibns of No
aLu 5aSoocI IS4s Of which tfsey 1Sw comp
et,.+; eba ST. i, ne duty Of Confess protect
very b.. - ~ Aid even moro riley now ips
- SoSo;slGs il als., bound to Repeal and s1as
1 .lSS IN Iea3 e legsl the sts
MI. nu. ~. rnmenfs. SitliE sliding proteca
e.sOn e.s,, siaSeA If they tttsughtso. six y fs5
a.e ,vby sA they strike dfomI fhe hiEnEaS
Nsb,asslta slI the clause aIch Eequlred k
to eRbmis Their iaS e e
Congress fsa revision, ttlakthe5E En,esns Is M q.
npied. if dssapproyed ny eid tneSs Igssz s
niit it out their own pofcr .st ! kllS~, :, =
,eialiy. whss1l unttiendly asglslsIlon q
Territorial lzI Iov vernpent M 60 Li{
supery isl i tsssand correctio1Ia
IF the sws they now 5oidt, enel y Is s.
seems, areEsb be the baslsSf aRsM ~
narty. been enter aIIst rs ~
half the Is they now eS :, S9s, ,Ss.la5
and Tn;sch measure =