The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-06-06

Address 90 the Matt saal Dsmocracy
The undersigned, members of the Nationa
Democratic Party, supporters Of its prin
-. ciples, and deeply anxious. by promoting it
harmony, to preserve unimpaired the eff
cheney of its organization, desire to join il
counsel with their Democratic brethrer
throughout the United States.
The proceedings Of the convention recently
assembled at Charleston have developed di
vergence of opinion between the delegations
Of the different States in relation to the prin-
ciples which form the basis of our Union
The national democratic platform adopted at
Cincinnati in 1856 met the cordial approval
of all who believe these United States to be,
what their very name imports, union Of
States equal, sovereign, and endowed in all re-
spects with equal rights. This approval was
based on what seemed to us to be the plain
meaning of the. resolutions embraced in that
platform.
During the four years, however, which have
since intcvened, it has become painfully ap-
parent that the construction deemed by us so
manifestly right is controverted by many
members Of our party; that other principles
are supposed to find countenance in that plat
f6m-principles, in our judgment, subversive
of the true theory of the Government and of
the Constitution to which our Union owes its
BIRTH and on whose preservation its perma-
nent existence depends.
What is the history of the recent conven-
ton at Charleston!
Seventeen States, forming majority of the
whole, adopted with remarkable unanimity a
platform of principles so worded as to avoid
the possibility of onstruction-principle
deemed political axioms by all who uphold the
equal rights of the States as the very basis of
the ebnfederacy. Many delegates from the
remaining sixteen States concurred in opinion
with this majority, conspicuous amongst
whom were delegates from Pennsylvania and
New Jersey 'f...
The States which adopted this platform give
electoral votes which can be relied on with alb
solute certainty in favor of Democratic NOM
inces, and welLgroundcd confidence is enter
taioed of like result in Pennsylvania and
New jersey. These seventeen States united
with Pennsylvania alone comprise majority
OF the entire electoral vote of the United
States, able to elect the Democratic nominees
against the combined opposition Of all the re-
manning States.
The platform was deliberately rejected by
a combination composed of a small fraction of
the delegates from the seventeen Democratic
Stqtes and very large majority of the dele
gates of the remaining sixteen States; and a
resolution was adopted in its stead, simply re-
affirming the principles of the Cincinnati plat
form, without explanation or Interpretation Of
its disputed meaning. This was done with
the openly-avowed purpose of enabling the
Democratic party 10 wage battle with some
chance Of success in certain Northern and
Western States, by presenting to the people as
It's doctrines principles openly and expressly ..
repudiated by a majority of the Democratic J
State delegations, and by majority approach
ing unanimity of the Democratic electoral
votes Of the Union.
The delegations of eight States, together
With portion Of that of Delaware, faithful
perents of our party and firm supporters of I
~ principles, were thus by sheer force of =
rotes, cast by delegates from States that will
certainly vote for the Republican candidates,
to withdraw from the convention,
because, in the language of distinguished
delegate, they felt 81 that it was burning i'm '
,utation upon the honor and patriotism of
he party, that, claiming TO be national, and 8
lniming to have principles for its guide, it =
hould acknowledge for its declaration of faith
creed upon which are placed two distinctly 7
opposite interpretations by its own advo-
atcs" Ia
We cannot refrain from expressing our admi-
alton and approval of this lofty manifestation =
f adherence to principle, rising superior to
u considerations of expedency, to all tram ;. :
,cls Of party, and looking with single eye =
D the defence Of the constitutional rights of :
he States. .-.. "'
The delegations of other democratic States :, "
owever (including few delegates from the y !,
eceding States,) not less faithful in devotion ~
} principle, were more hopeful of obtaining - -
ON their brethren some satisfactory recogni- )"
on Of sound principles, and decided on re-
Iaining in the Convention after distinctly de-
aring however, their determination also to y"
itidraw if their just expectations should be e 81
sappointed. -
1t is thus apparent that there was almost s.,
tire unanimity of principle in the delega- for
'ns Of the only States on which absolute re- ho
Ince can be placed for democratic electoral wo
ties, whilst there existed diversity of opin- oe
n as to the line of policy best calculated to 80
cure the triumph Of those principles. Nor AZ.
it matter of surprise that in a conjuncture Inc
unexpected and anomalous, when, in the Nc
unciation Of demoeraticprinciples, the voice s;D
Virginia was overberne BY that of Ohio. mo :,