Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-05-25
1DolitiCal.
ADDRESS TO THE NATIONAL
DEMOCRACY.

10 prescroe animpaired the efficiency Of lis Or
gAaization, desire 10 join in counsel wiM their
Democratic brethren throughout the United
States.
The proceedings of the Convention re-
Gently assembled at Charleston have de-
veloped divergence of opinion between
the delegations of the different States in
relation to the principles which form the
basis of our Union. The National De-
mocratic platform adopted at Cincinnati
in 1856 met the cordial approval of all
who believe these United States to be,
what their very name imports, a union
of States equal, sovereign, and endowed
in all respects with equal rights This
approval was based on what seemed to
us to be the plain meaning of the resolu-
tons 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 manifestly right is con-
troverted by many members ofour party
that other principles are supposed to find
countenanco in that platform-principles
in our judgment, subversive of the true
theory of the government and of the Con-
stitution to which our Union owes its
birth, and on whose preservation its per-
manent existence depends.
What is the history of the recent Con-
vention at Charleston
Seventeen States, forming a majority
of the whole, adopted with remarkable
unanimity platform of principles so
worded as to avoid the possibility of mis-
construction principles deemed political
axioms by all who uphold the equal
rights of the States as the very basis of
the Confederacy. Many delegates from
the remaining sixteen States concurred
in opinion with this majority, conspicu-
Gus amongst whom were delegates from
p ennsylyania and New jersey.
The States which adopted this platform
give electoral votes which can be relied
on with absolute certainty in favor Of
Democratic nominees, and grounded
confidence is entertained of like result
in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. These
seventeen States united with Peunsylva
MIA alone comprise a majority of the en-
tire electoral vote of the United States
able to elect the Democratic nominee
against the combined opposition Of all tn
remaining States.
This platform was deliberately rejected
by combination composed of small
fraction of the delegates from the seven
teen Democratic States and very larg
majority Of the delegates Of the remain
ing sixteen States and resolution wa
adopted in its stead simply re-afIirmini
the principles Of the Cincinnati platform
without explanation or Interpretation o
its disputed meaning. This was don
with the oponly-avowed purpose of ena
bling the Democratic party to wage bat
| tie with some chance of success in certai
Northern and Western States By pre-
senting to the people as its doctrine
principles openly and expressly repudiat
ed by majority of the Democratic Stat
delegations, and by majority approach
ing unanimity of the Democratic cleo
toral votes Of the Union.
The delegations of eight States, to-
gether with portion of that Of Delaware
faithful adherents of our party and firm
supporters of its principles, were thus, By
sheer force of votes cast by delegates
from States that will certainly vote fol
the republican candidates, compelled tc
Withdraw from the Convention, because,
in the language Of distinguished dele.
gate, they felt " that it was burning
imputation upon the honor aud patriotism
of the party, that, claiming to be ma
tiona, and claiming to have principles
for its guide, it should acknowledge for
its declaration of faith creed upon
which are placed two distinctly opposite
interpretations by its own advocates"
We cannot refrain from expressing our
admiration and approval of this lofty
manifestation of adherence to principle,
rising superior to all considerations OF
expediency, to all trammels of party, and
looking with a single eye to the defence
of the constitutional rights of the States.
The delegations Of other Democratic
States, however, Oncluding few dele
gates from the seeding States, not less
faithful in devotion to principles, we're
more hopeful of obtaining from their
brethren some satisfactory recognition Of
sound principles, and decided on remain
ing in the Convention after distinctly
declaring, however, their determination
also to Withdraw if their just expecta-
tons should be disappointed.
1t is thus apparent that there was al
most entire unanimity Of principle in the
delegations Of tho only States on which
absolute reliance can be placed for De-
mocratic electoral votes, whilst there ex-
listed diversity Of opinion as to the line
Of policy best calculated TO secure the
triumph Of those principles Nor is il
matte: Of surprise that 10 conjuneturc
so unexpected and anomalous, when, in
the enunciation of Democratic principles,
the voice Of Virginia was oyerborne by
that of Ohio, and Louisiana aud Arkan-
sas we're forced to succumb TO Vermont
and Michigan, there should be excited
feelings, divided counsels, and discordant
action.
In the subsequent proceeding Of the
Conyention, however, we think that dis
tinct limitations may be discerned Of a
disposition on the part Of the Convention
to recede from its determination, aud 10
afford, either by an amendment Of the