Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-07-16
From the Philadelphia Press.
Reply of Hon. Richard Vaux to the
Proposition OF the Secessfonfsts.
PHILADELPHIA, July 9, 1860.

PHILADELPHIA, July 9, 1860.
My DEAR SIR: Your printed communica-
ton of July 5, with its enclosure, is most re-
specially acknowledged. By both conJoined
you inform me, as one of the democratic
Electors at large" that the democratic
State Committee" of which You are chair-
| man, desires to know, in the event OF my
election, if will give pledge TO conform to
the arrangement made by that committee, at
| its meeting on the I'd July last. Thls pro-
posed arrangement provides, as understand
it, that the Democratic electors Tor Pennsyl-
| vania shall, if elected, vote for the regularly
nominated Democratic candidates for PreSi-
dent and Vice President of the United States,
if their vote will elect these candidates: if it
| will not, then to vote for the candidates NOM
| mated by a meeting Of gentlemen, at the
Mary land Institute, in Baltimore, on the 23d
June, 1860, if such vote will elect them; and
| lastly, if neither of these propositions can be
managed successfully, then that the Demo-
cratic electors of Pennsylvania, if elected,
may vote as they deem best for the interests
of the Democratic party. This is my inter-
probation of your note, and its enclosure.
To this most extraordinary and unexam-
pied proposition from committee. appoint
ed only by the chairman of the Democratic
Convention. and for certain specific duties, l
am requested to reply.
The proposed arrangement was made, in
my opinion, without any authority. The
Reading Convention gave no power to its
committee to compromise the Integrity OF
Democratic principles, the Democratic or
niZation, or Democratic candidates. This
so-calIed compromise, in my Judgment. invol-
YES EACH and includes all. If 1t is compe-
tent for the " Democratic State Committee"
to propose an arrangement with those not IN
the regular organization OF the Democratic
party, then can see no reason why COM
promise might not be offered with any of the
political organizations now existing, under
their various political designations. 1t is
almost incredible that such q proposition
should ever have been considered, much less
approved by Democratic body, or one as
suming to represent the Democratic party of
Pennsylvania.
Placed on the Democratic electoral ticket
by the only regular Democratic State authori-
ty at Reading. on the 29th of February last,
without any interference on my part, l ac-
copied the position, its duties aud RESPONSE
bilites, because it was the voluntary Offer
ing of the Democracy of the State, through
its representatives then and there to regu-
IarIy organized into a Convention. 1 owe
fealty to the Democratic party. That party
'Xpects me, as one of its representatives,
fl lnkly, honestly and faithfully to execute
the trust thus imposed and accepted. 1t
gave me no power to adopt a compromise or
an alternative of this trust The masses of
the Democracy do not yet understand how
its representatives can hold divided duty.
Conscientiously entertaining these old-fash-
Toned opinions. beg to state that, in the
event of my election as the Democratic cleo
tor at large, I shall vote for the only regu-
larly-nomipated candidates for President and
Vice President, nominated by the Democrat
ic National Convention, at Baltimore-S. A.
Douglas for President, and III. V. johnson
for Vice President-ard shall so vote until the
electoral college finishes the task the Con-
Sttution imposes on it. IT the Democracy
of Pennsylvania do not approve of this
publicly announced determination OF mine,
thus unequivocally asserted, will cheerful
surrender to the authority which selected
me the position it gave; bat will recognize
no other authority TO receive it.
If as il is said, there are difficulties and
doubts as to the course of q portion of the
Democracy in the present crisis, then the only
mode to be adopted is to convene Demo-
cratic State Convention, and leave to its wis
dom, prudence and omnipotent will solu-
ton for these difficulties. Every true Demo-
crat, devoted to his party principles, and
willing to be governed by its time-honored
usages and organization, will, or ought to be
bound by this action of the party.
He who will not so agree cannot be sincere
in his devotion to the Democratic party, and
his separation from it will result in no injury,
either now or in the future.
With great personal respect for yourself
and the members of the Democratic State
Committee, 1 have only to add that my poll
teal allegiance is due to regular Conven-
ton of the Democracy of Pennsylvania. /
will obey its commands. or surrender to it the
only held by its commission.
have the honor to be,
most respectfully yours,
RICHARD VAUX.
To the Hon. ". II. Welsh, Chairman Demo-
cratic State Committed