Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-10-27
GEORGE N. SANDERS,
YanceY, and the Vice-PresidencY.
NEW YORK. October %. 1850.


Editor Charleston Courier:
SIR: am surprised that an earnest and sagacious
editor like yourself could be led far astray as to
rive serious color to a rumor which, little in
ypstigatiOn on your part. would have proved TO
have grown out of some playful words OF mine at
4 private dinner party.
fAItbouob the remarks | made sprang out of the
moment, without previous thought, and were only
responsive to the spirit of gOOd-humOred political
raiIery which prevailed around the table, am
unite willing that all said on the occasion and alter
shall 90 to the public. My words, though casually
spoken. at most only pointed out way by which
the Vice-Presldency cOulu De WON ANU 'he DeillO-
cratic party saved.
In only two instances. the second being merely
IangbinG aIusion to the first, did | ever either
ioc0selv or seriously speak IN Mr.. AGncey pre-
sence Of his chances for the Nlce-Presldency The
mere mention Of the parties present on the first oc
casiOn with a simple statement OF what then SAID
ont of which it has all grown will be sufficient
guage to the absurdity of the whole story
The gentlemen were, first, the generous host, Mr..
J. D. Hoover: time, the Thursday before the Balu-
more Convention. On his right. NIceTresIdent
BrecEinriige On his left, Col J. W. Forney, OF the
Press Between him and myself, Mr.. ancey. These,
with Gen. John Cunningham, of Charleston, Mr..
Albert Pike, of Arkansas, and several others OF
equally opposing spheres, composed the party.
The conversation and speeches naturally turned
towards the approaching convention Beng call
ad on in turn observed referring 10 the ice res
idency that Democratic usages gave the ice res
ideney to the minority, and lnstanceu 'nat Ut I'm
cinnati the Douglas party demanded anu OBTAINED
tho nomination of Major Breckenridge as wee Pres
dent after they had been beaten on tile fresldency
THAT there was no question as to who was the
minority chief III the present contest Douglas lau'
in his last speech. signally pointed out MI laucey
o,J that felt authorized to say that the majority,
With whom | had the homer To act, would gener-
ousIy follow the wise acknowledgment III 90 OF thls
nrecedent and allow the minority again to indicate
Ibr Vice President That Mr.. 1ancey had bravery
,Uo, tbe positon of breaking up the Convention at
Charleston and that he gained everything possible
IN Thai direction: that his star would not lead INN
Ia harmony and to the preventing any more OFeAks
in the Democratic party that MO1Iu Suggest
DlatforIn As substitute for bOth thelolhers on the
slavery question, which Mr. ahCe! anu ms lolo"
prs could honorably accept; that the platform
,yould have him adopt would be to require fifteen
or twenty thousand inhabitants IN Territory be-
fore given to the legislative powers ms IS tEe
manner length and breadth of my wee Presidential
nronosition to Mr. Yancey, and myself to say what
consideration he gave to IT, snd what euor' he haue
II any. on the line of its suggestions.
Rainre leaving Mr.. Hooyers Mr. lancty came 10
r,o and said he would like to make compliments
~, visit 10 Mr. Douglas with me, at 4 time "hen he
would be most atlelsure. by ho,e uT t - u'
! ;forn,ed Mr.. Yancey that would can lor nun d.
-; or,s At ten in the evening. Arriving at the ap-
3,5 hour I found with Mr.. anccy Aessrs. BAY
i H,bbard ard Fisher of Virginia discussing Inc
noIitics of the day. Iasked Mr. l&hee9 ii
u iF he had been considering the ice freslleusl"t
Irniect abiding of course to what had oCGu.Leu ~
IIo9yers. He archly indicated IN his rep! ma ny
had now higher aspirations, In the same NeIl 4
alludinr to The speedy annihilauon OF HARRISON ",'
Taylor reioiued that as Douglas friend NerS nuLn
more numerous and enthusiastic thah uleHS, 81, ~ ~
could certainly, count upon lbs beng Klleu on ~,
less than six months. l do not pretend 10 sI,I 'i.
| precise words but the sense IS exact "A'IoEt
stretching or shrinking We soon lett for Douglas ;
found him surrounded by friends, and spent pleas
| ant hour without a word on the Wee FreSlGehc1
| from Douglas, Yancey. or any Of the party. drove
! Mr.. Nancey back to his lodgings. Ihus ehueu our
: interviews. When alone with Mr.. laDcey, our po-
( litical conversation was enterey on the platform
no allusion by either to the Vice Presidency.
regret that any irginia gentlemen should so
overstep the line of social ethics to make grave
report. with the intention of inJurIng Mr.. Douglas
po!iGcglly out OF the tragmentGry words Of care
less conversation between others, of the scope and
/ bearing CT which they entirely Ignorant, not
being cOgnzant of its anJecedents thus making pos
sibly necessary this public explanation Of what has
I been so astutely misrepreseted.
l trust thst the Courier and other journals which
have given such widespread circulation to the ir-
regular statements of the Virginia gentlemen, will
! publish my explanation in justice to Mr. Douglas
Respectfully,
GEORGE y. SANDERS.