Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-05-05

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which the conventions of TIE Democracy of
The United States were agreed first to be
funded, and assented to by the several
Southern States. The report and detcrmina-
ton of the committee on platforms became
and was henceforwa-d is the platform of the
Democracy of the United States, and this
convention had no duty 10 perform in reia-
ton thereto, but to receive, confirm and pub
lish The same, and cause it to be carried into
effect wherever in the respective States the
Democracy were able to enforce their DEGREES
at the ballot-bOx.
The undersigned are confirmed in this
opinion by reference not only TO the history
of the past, which shows that in all instances
the sovereignty OF the States, and not the
electoral votes of the States has uniformly
been represented in the committee on plat
forms, and that the report of the committee
has invariably been registered as the supreme
law of the Democratic party by unanimous
consent of the entire conventions. without
changing or in any manner altering any part
or portion thereof 1t is asserted as part of
our traditional learning, and confidently be-
lieved, that the Democracy of the United
States, by peculiar system OF checks and
balances, formed after the fashion of the
Fed, raj Government. contracted and
bound themselves 10 fully recognize the sove-
reignty of the States in making the platform,
and the population of masses OF the States,
In naming the candidate to be placed on the
platform. That mauy States have been uni
iormly allowed to vote the full strength OF
their electoral college in these conventions,
when it was well known that said States had
never heretofore and probable would never
hereafter, give single electoral vote at the
polls to the candidate which they had so
large share in nominating. cannot be ac-
counted for on any other principle than that
it was intended only as recognition of the
sovereignty aud equality of said States.
Would il be right at this time. for the nu-
mercal majority TO deprive all the Black Re-
can States represented on this floor of their
representatives. which by custom they have
SO long e joyed, simply because 1t is now
evident that they are or will be unable to
vote the Democratic ticket in the next Pr, si-
Dental election?
Nv common consent, we say that reck-
less numerical majority should not be thus
allowed TO tread under foot the vested right
of those States, and the well established
usages and customs of the party.
II thus it be wrong for the numerical party
to deprive the Black Republican States OF
this long vested right, how much more I'M
just is it for the numerical majority to de-
Drive all the States of their vested right 10
make aud declare the platform in the usual
and customary manner? And when we call
to mind that the numerical majority resides
chiefly ia the Black Republican States, TO
whom the South has uniformly accorded so
large privilege, in naming candidates who
were alone to be elected by Southern votes,
we have much reason to believe that he to
whom you gave an inch, seems embroidered
thereby to demand an ell.
The undersigned beg leave 20 state that
many patriotic State Rights Democrats in
the South. have long cOntended that these
conventions of the Democracy representing
in fact the whole consolidated strength of the
Union acting through party sympathy upon
the individual members OF society, would
ultimate in a despOtic, colossal centralism,
possessed of power to override and destroy
at its will and pleasure the Constitutions and
reserved rights of any and all the States
The South, however, 1as heretofore felt safe
because of the checks aud balances imposed
upon the machinery of the Conventions. The
South felt that where she retained an equal
power to write the creed OF faith, she could
trust her northern sisters,with their immense
population, to name the candidate; and all
would alike support the creed aud the candi-
date.
The undersigned, well knowing the hostii-
" of the northern masses towards the "pe-
culiar institutions" of tue South. aud calling
to mind the relative numbers Of the north
ern aud southern States, assert, with conf
dence. that no Southern State in the Union
would ever have consented to surrender SO
abjectly and bOpelessly, all their fortunes 10
the numerical majority who have just now
voted to set aside the platform, unless upon
the full assurance that the States were en-
titled by agreement, to make and establish
the creed of faith and prescribe the rule Of
action. This violation of plighted faith on
the part of the numerical majority-this viO
lation of The well established usage and Gus
tom of the party-drive us to the conclusion
that we cannot longer trust the fortunes of
the slaveholding States to the chances oil
numerical majority in convention, where
all the Black Republicans of the Union, the
immense populations of Massachusetts,, New
York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, and other
Northern States, are fully represented, on the
one side, against the small population from
the slave States on the other-had these pop
ulations adhered strictly to the usages and
customs of the party, longer associations
might have been practicable, but annihila-
lioD is staring Us i'll the face, and We are adj
monished OF our duty 10 stand upon our re-
served rights.
We declare, therefore, that we believe our
mission to this convention is at an end.
l. Because the numerical minority have
usurped the prerogatiyes of the States i'll
setting aside the platform made by the
States, and have thus unsettled the basis ot
disorgauized its constitution. It's DEGREES,
therefore. become null and void.
2. Because we We're positively instructed
by the Democracy OF Arkansas, TO insist on
the recognition of the equal rights of the
SoIth in common Territories, aud protec
ton in those rights by the Federal Govern
mrnt prior To any nomination of candl-
date aud as this convention has refused TO
recognize the principle required by the State
OF Arkansas, in her popular convention
tirst, and twice subsequently, re-asserted by
Arkansas, together with all her Southern
sisters in the report OF platforms TO this Con-
veaIiou, and we cannot serve two masters,
we are determined first to serve the Lord
our God; we cannot ballot for any candidate
Whatever.
In retiring, we deny to any person or
persons any right whatever to cast, hereai-
ter, in this convention, either our vote or
tue vote of Arkansas in any propositions
which may or can possibly come up for con-
,sideratIon. The delegates of Arkansas can
not take any part in placing sound candl-
date on an unsound platform, because 1t
would disgrace any sodud southern man W no
would consent TO stand on such a platform;
aud as Squatter Sovereignty Platform has
been adopted. we believe good faith aud hon-
or require that the chief of squaIter soye-
reigus should be placed on il, We wish no
part or lot IN such misfortune. nor do We
believe that we can safely linger under the
shade OF the upas tree thls day planted cer-
Iainly.
p. JORDAN,
Ii. BURROW,
VAN Ill. MANNING.
10 de Hon. Caleb Cushing, Of The cas-1ssaon cs'-