New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-07-10
Acceptance of the Hon. JOhn G.
Krccktnridge
pENOCRATlC NATIoNAL CONVENTION,
BATfNoRR. Nd, June %. Il

this day unanimously nominated by il the candidate
OF TIE Democratic party for the Office of President Of
accept tie nomination. beg leave a,the same time 70
nstse YOU copy Of the resolutions adopted by The
Convention as The political platform which the
Very iespeotfoiy c. GUSHING President.
WAsHISeTos CITY Jaly 6, $780,
DEAR SIR: rave yout letter OF the 2Sd ultimo, 10y
which am efieiaIy Informed Of ny nomination fortbe
oice Of Presdent Of he u tied States by the Demo-
cratic National Convention lately assembled at Bii-
more.
The circumstances of this nomination viii justify
In referring 10 i personal aspect
baye nos sought nor desired to he placed before the
country for the ofiee of President. Wber my name
was presented to the Convention at CO ares,on was
withdrawn by friend in obedience 10 my expressed
wishes My views had no, changed when the Con.
yention reassenIbcd at Baltimore aud when heard Of
the differences which Occurzd there, my ndispC son
TO he connected prominently with the canvass was con-
-firmed and expressed to many friends
Without discussing he occurrences which precedea
the IomipatiOns, and With are Ur eoon VIII be wen
understood by the country, have only to cay that
approved as lust and necessary to the preservation OF
the National ganizaton aud the sacred light of repre-
sension the action Of The Convention over which you
continued TO preside aud thus approving 1t, an nav
ing resolved TO sustain it, feel that it does not become
me TO sci, CT TIE position shall occupy, nor TO sHins
from the responsibilities OF the post 20 which have
been assg, ed. Accordingly, accept the nomoatlon
from sense Of public duty, and, as think uIafo-
epce6 in any degree by he alurements of ambition.
avail my self Of this occasion to say that the conf
deBee in my personal and public character implied by
the action Of the Convention, w,l always DC gra,e-
fully remer hered; and il is but just also, to my own
feelings to express ny qualification at the ass claon OF
my nsme with that Of my fTivnd Gen Lane, a paloi
aud a soldier whose great services IN the heid ana ~
council epe him to the gratitude and confidence OF his
The resolutions adopted by the Convention have my
cordial approval They are jest to all parts OF the
UnOn TO all citizens, naive and naiufafsed ana
they form noble hey for any Administration.
The questions Il bpg the rights of persons and
property, which have of Late been much discussed
find in these resolutions constitutional solution. Oar
Union is Confederscy Of equal sovereign States for
the purposes enumerated in the Federal Constitution
Whatever he common Government holds in trust fol
all the Stat must be enjoyed equally by each. II
eanirols n Terri Dries in trust for all the States
Nothing less than gnty can destroy or impair
the rigrts If persons or property. The Territorial
Governments a"e subordinate and temporary, and mo-
sovereign; hence they cannot destroy or impair the
rights Of De, IONS or property. While they continue tC
BE- Territories hey under the control OF Congress
but The Const tuition nowhere coDfers any branch
the Federal Cove Dm' Mt the power to discriminate
against the rights OF the States or the property OF then
citizens in the Territories. IL follows that the citi1en
OF sl the aes may enter the Territories of the Utor
with their property, VI whatever KIND, and EN- y
dur'pg tie rrtoria &C ndoD without let or hindance
either by CoDgress or by the subordinate Terrtorla
Governments.
These principles flow directly from the absence 0
sovereignty in the Territorial Governments and iron
the equality Of the States Indeed, they essens
TO that equality VIII Is, aid ever has been, the Wit,
principle Of cur constitutional UeiOn Trey have beef
settled tgslatvely-settled judicially and are Gus
tanned by right They rest on the rock OF thu
Cobstitu ioII-tley viii preserve the Union
II ia idle TO attempt TO smother these great ssues
10 misrepretent them by the use Of partisan phrases
which are misleading aad deiusiye. The people vii
look beneath 50 b expressions {" Intervention,
"CopgTessioual S aveC oee,' and the like, and vii
peDeirste the real questions involved. The fIeud
OF Constitutional eq1sl co not and never did de9anC
regard TO p per,y l. tbe Territories They hold the
doctrine Of non-nteryentOs by Congress or by Ter
ritorial LegslaIurr, eilher to establish prohibd
Slvery but they assert fortified by the highest ind
elai tribunal III the Uhion The pain duty of the Fed
ersl Government, in al its departments - secure
when necessary The citizens If all the atss The
enjoyment, OF their properly in common Territories
everywhere sc via in Is jurisdiction. The only
logical aDswer 10 this would to be TO claim
efIgn power for the Territories, TO deny that the
Constitution recognizes properly in the terviees o.
negro slaves to deny that such property exist
lneXOIahie logic, which works lis steady way
through clouds and passion, compes the country
to meet the issue. There is no evasive mid
d. ound. Already the sigIs multiply Of fanatca
sluion by any other law, slave property can exist
aud ultimately the struggle must come between this
party snd the National Demo crazy sustained by all the
other conservative elements IN the Union
think IL viii be Impossible for a cabdid mind to dis
cover hosiiiity to the Union or TART of ssctonssm
in The resolutions adopted by the Convention. The
Cons tuition and the Union repOse the equality OF
the States, which lies like a broad foundation UNI
dernesth whole political structure As construe
tneD The resolutions simply asse e this equality lhey
demand nothing for any Safe or section that ID not
cheeFioily conceded Ia all the rest II Is well 10 re
member Gha the chief disorders which have afflicted
CouGtry have grown out OF the violation OF State
equality AID that long as this great principle has
BEN respected we have been blessed with tarmOny
ard geaCe Nor will II be easy to persuade the conn
ny that resolutions ssetioHa which command the
support Of msOriy of the States and are approved
bJ lie lone and body Of the Democracy, and by
Vsst Of conservative opinion everywhere wi5hou'
4 TtgaId 10 party.
IL bas been necessary more than in our history,
10 pause and soleny assert the true char Ter OF TINS
Gov ernmeni. A memorable instance occurred "a he
struggle which ell 6ed Ia tle civil revolution OF looV
The Re publicaus of that day. like the Democracy OF
THU were stigmatizen d'sunonists bat they nooy
conducted ihe con est under the CGnsiltuti2n. anu
ssved OUT poll icsl sysem. BY little constitution Al
struggle IL intend to assert and establish the eqnal-
y Of the Stats, the OIL basis Of union and peace
When this object NATIONAL eoDftu ionl, 30 inst,
lhaL be plsbed tie last cloud " I'll dl-apPear from
4 We American sky and with oomno baods and hearts
e ateR and the people will unite n develop tue re-
puicss Of tho whole unry to bind It together WIN
bOnds Of intercourse and brotherhood ana to impei
4 ward ia lis great CAREER. ,
The Cons tuition and the Equality OF the states
Thee are symbols Of ever astnP Cnlon Let these DC
be TallyiuP cries OF The people.
tUst thai this canvass will be conducted without
sneor, aud that temperate Arguments will take the
sace Of hot words and paesona accusations'
4 Above all, I venture bumbly to hope that DIVINE
hOvidence 10 whom we owe cur origin, our grown,
nd All our pfosperty will continue 10 protee; our
slowed country against all danger, foreign ana
/ pmestic. 49,,
The Hen c. CrsHise Pre,iden Of the Democratic National