Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-05-09


he made by that tribunal between the citizens Of .
Territory upon the subject Why gentlemen Of the
minority you cannot help yourselves Jhatls no
concession to u.s. There is no necessity fer putting
that in the platform, because take it for grantee
that you are all lawabiding citizens Every genie
man here from non-slaveholding State IS law.
abiding citizen; and If he be SO, why we KNOW t'as
when there is a decision of the Supreme Court even
adverse to his views he viii submit to it. ~,
There is no solution of the question. That does
not settle the uncertainty, anxiety that exists IN
the popular mind of the South, for tell you 1t does
exist there; tell you, whether You believe u or
not that among the whole masses Ut the people OF
the South there is widespread distrust OF the
soundness even Of our Democratic brethren OF the
Northern States. do not entertain it, but tell
YOU that this popular sovereignty doctrine has lea
to distrust of our Northern allies 1t does not exist
with me. 1t does not exist with those OF us who
know them But this popular sovereignty doctrine,
which we think leads to the same result as the VIII
mot Proviso has engendered dstrust in the popular
mind. We ask you, therefore, if there has to be
any surrender of what you regard as principle to
make that concession to us?
You say that this is judicial question. We say
that it is not But if it be judicial question, it is
immateral to You how The platform is made because
all YOU will have to say is This is judicial ques'
ton; the majority Of the Convention were of one
opinion; may entertain my own opinion upon the
question; let the Supreme Court settle it." :
And now, gentlemen of the convention in closing
what have to say, we have been actively engaged
for three days-day and night-n investigating the
question The precise nature Of the platform agreed
upon /, as Chairman of the Committee could not
know until the final vote was taken this morning.
have had time, Therefore, to prepare an address
to this Convention because knew not what was
to report; but, like every true Democrat am al
ways ready to say something in behalf Of the prin-
ciples which maintain. These remarks have been
desul:ory, unconnected and undigcstcd, because,
from the nature of the case they could not be 9th
erwise. But have endeavored to present to you
the views which we took upon this question. 1t
has been done in no captious spirit We have no
other purpose but to have vexed question settled,
and to put the Democratic party, where it always
stands on clear, unclouded platform, so that he
who runs may read its principles and not double
faced one-one face to the North and one face to the
South. We know that you Of the North have been
called "Donghfaces," and We sympathize with you.
Now, say do not let your opponents have any ex-
cuse for it. Let us make platform about which
there can be no doubt, SO that every man, North
and South may stand side by side on all issues con-
nectcd with slavery, and advocate the same princ-
pies. That is all We ask. All we demand at your
hands is that there shall he equivocation and no
doubt in the popular mind to what our principles
are. do not come from the Southwestern States
"hc'e tiSiC II Ho'S iSSN"5 ui'oH eh'o euUJSSt, "uS
give us here clear PLATFORM platform Of princi-
pies, according to this report-and every Democrat
North and South will rally beneath the Democratic
flag, if they stand upon principle and not infu
enced by considerations of men. In closing, gentle
men, beg leave to tender you my respectful and
grateful Acknowledgements for the patience and kind
ness with which you have listened TO me, and shall
hear it in remembrance to the latest hour of my
life.
Mr.. Avery was frequently interrupted by the
loudest demonstration of applause-the President
appealing to the members of the convention to pre-
silence and threatening to have the galleries
cleared.
Mr. Payne of Ohio, followed in support of the
minority report offered by him. lie argued that
the doctrine Of non-intervention and of popular
sovereignty were fully endorsed by the whole De-
mocracy Of the country; that the Northern Demo-
cracy could not sustain themselves if the doctrine
Of popular sovereignty were repudiated, but they
would stand by the decision of the Supreme Court
whatever it might be.
Mr.. Butler, of Mass, spoke in support of his
amendment He was satisfied with the old plat
form. Our space will not admit of these speeches
The convention adjourned till 4 p. m.