The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-05-23
Address 70 the national democracy S

harmony, to preserve unimpalredz the
efficiency of its organization, dssife-to JON
in counsel with their Democnte brethren
throughout. the United Siates..s
The proceedings Of the cohsedtion recently
assembled at Charleston have dsYeIeped adj
vergence Of opinion between ths-asiegatsons
fthe different States m relation to the prin-
cip!es which forln. the bliss Of 35pf mon,
Tue national democratic I'll toTm ad0Rted al
Cincinnati in 1356 met khs cordial Approval d
al>wAes behaves .thess United States % idbeI
what tfseiravefys name imports. s uhiof o.
States equal, sovereign. and endowed in al
respects with equal rights This approval
was based on what seemed to. US 70 be the
plain meaning OF the resolutions embraced in
that platform.
During the four years, however, which
have since interviewed, it has become painfully
apparent that the construction deemed by us
so manlfestly right IS controyerted by many
members of our party that other principles
are supposed to find countenanee in that plat
form-principles, IN our judgment, snbversive
of the true theory oil the Government and of
the Constitution to which our Union owes its
birth, and en- whose preservation its perma-
oelt existence depends. :
What is the history Of the recent conyen@
ton at Charleston
Seventeen States, forming majority Of the
whole, adopted with remarkable unanimity a
platform OF principles so worled rs to avoid
the possibility of misconstruction principles
deemed political axioms By all who uphold the
equal rights of the States as the very basis of
the eonlederacy. Many delegates from the
remaining sixteen States eoneufredl in opin-
ion with this majority, Conspicuous amongst
whom were delegates from Pennsylvahia and
New Jersey.
The States which alepted this platform
give electoral votes which can be relied on
with -.bSointe certainty in favor of Democra-
tic nominees, and well grounded confidence IS
entertained of like result in Pennsylvania
and New jersey. These seteena States uni
ted with Pennsylvania alone comprise ma
jorIty of the entire electoral vote of the Uni
ted States, able to elect the Democratic no.
minees against the combined opposition Of all
the remaining States.
This platform was deliberately rejected by
combination composed of small fraction OF
the delegates from the seventeen Democratic
States and very large majority of the dele
gates of the remaining sixteen States and
resolution was adopted IN its stead Simply
re-atfirming the principles of the Cincinnati
platform, without explanation or interpretaz
ton of its disputed meaning. This was /
done with the openly avoWed purpose of ena-
bling the Democrats party to. wage battle j
with some chance ofsuccess IN certain North
ern IL western States by presenting othe people
as its doctrines principles openly and express
ly repudiated BY . majoIityot the Democratic
State delegations, and By majority approach |
ing unauimity OF the Democratic electoral votes |
of the Union tss-'.- - :.
The delegations Of eight States, together |
18th portion of that OF Delaware faithful /
adherents of our party and firm supporters Of |
lis principles. were thus by sheer force of |
votes, cast by delegates from States that will |
certainly vote for the Republican candidates,
compelled to withdraw from the convention,
because, in the language Of distinguished
delegate, they felt, "that if was . burning i'm.
putaton upon the honor and patriotism of the
party, that, claiming tobe national, and claim
ing to have principles for its guide, it should
acknowledge for its declaration Of faith 1 creed
upon which are placed two distinctly opposite
interpretations BY its own Advocates
We cannot refrain from expressing otIr adj
miration and approval of the lofty msnifesta-
ton Of adherence to principle, rising superior
to all Considerations of -expedieney. to all
trammels Of party, and looking withla single
eye to the defence of the constitutional rights
of the States. a
The delegations of other democrats States,
however, INCLUDING few delegates from the
seeding States,1 not less faithful in devotion
IL principles, weremore hopeful Of obtaining
from their brethren some satisfactory recognize
ION OF sound principles, and decided on re-
manning in the Convention after distinctly de-
clarng, however, their determination also to
withdraw if their just expectations; should be /
disappointed. = 80 =
Ii IS thus apparent that there was almost en-
tire unan nifty OF principle in the delegations.
Of the only States on which absolute reliance
can De placed fer democratic electoral votes, ,,
whilst there existed diversity Of opinion as to
.he ne OF policy heT calculated to secure :.
tne triumph Oh nose principles Nor Is It :
matter OF surprise that IN .. conjuncture so
uneApecte ana anomalous when, IN the =
eae y, Of aeiheoraec principles, the voice
OF virginia was oyerborne by that of Ohio, =
alo 10 isiana anu Arkansas we're forced to : I
- g -
shouldbe excited feelings, divided counsels,
and di4orfaht action. : s.
In tie subsequent proceedings Of the Con-
yention, however, we think that distant inti-
nations may be discerned of disposition on
the partof the Contention to recede from its :.
determiItion, and TO afford. either by an7
manner eqaally satisfactory, such recognition
of principlesas would effectually obviate mis-
construction and secure the harmonious ac-
ton of the palty, and that it was only because
Of these limitations that the delegations of
the remaining democratic States consented to /
join in the ballots which took place with no &
other effect thaa to induce an adjournment TO,
Baltimore to Tie 18Th j une, whilst the sece- +
ding delegations adjourned to meet at Rich
Inond on the 2na Monday Of the same month.
On this state e facts the path seems open
for the united adion of the party, aud no IN.
superable obstacle opposes the restoration of
its harmony So believing we insist that our
position as REPRESENTATIVES of democratic
States and constituencies forms no just bar to
our right, but rather imposes on us the duty,
of Joining our couAsels with those Of our 3
democratic brethren, and uniting in their eff
forts to secure the triumph of -four principles.
It is plain that, f4he convention shall at
Baltimore adopt a satisfactory platform of
principIes before prpcading to select its candi-
dates, the reason winch dictated the with
drawal OF the deiegatlens OF the eignt states
will have ceased, and 20 motive Will remain !
for rsia@ng 70 oniss WIN tpeps sLster .Seates
nor lor holdlns an aaJournea meesn8 " hsen-'
mond- Vf1 the other hand, { the eonyentIonI
on reassemoiing at baiumore. Shall dlsapPoint
the just expectations OF the remaining demo7
cratic States their deiegaflons cannot aii to /
withdraw and unite the eight states which
have ADJOURNED % hlcnmond- neither event
there would De unanla I, aetiYn N support
of our principles BY a the states which can
be relied on iof casting d l electoral
votes $50. -. .t.s.s.a
From TINS statement OF iacfss Is 1t not eF I
dent that the wise and prudent course now To-
be pursued By the delegations Of the eight /
States Is TO deter assembling IN hicHIn9pd IN
til the necessity for such meeting shall become
imperative pusn. taef. NOT. nsslew o. .ae
altered CONDITION Cd Affairs, to return to the
convention at Baltimore and ald their sister
States IN the struggle ior me fecognitlon q
sound democIaiIc principles May It not be
that their vote tEould now suffice 70 turn the
scale, to purge the party creed OF all heresies.