Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1860-06-09
From the Philadelphia Argusl
Governor Bigler's Letter.

Charleston was animadvcrtod upon by tho
friends of Judge Douglas in terms of disap-
probation that they found fault with and
condemned Senator Bgler for his course
in that convention, and charged him with
certain acts and intentions which would, If
their statements were true, be dcrogatory
to him as a democrat and statesman. !
We have not considered it necessary to
publish the communication of Mr.. Moore
first, because we have not the space to-
day; and secondly, because the letter Of
Governor Bigler covers the whole ground
and shows what that communication was,
We desire particularly TO call the atten-
ton of our readers to this letter. 1t fully
and clearly explains the position of Sena-
tor Bigler in the Charleston Convention
In it there is no dodging of the charges of
his enemics. lie meets every accusation
made by the friends of Judge Douglas
with that boldncss, manlinoss and straight
forward honesty characteristic of the man.
No backing down, no begging of the ques-
ton, no special pleading, but an honest,
plain, candid statement, founded upon the
facts and circumstances which then and
there eXistsd.
WAsuINGToN, D. c., May 26, 1860.
DEAR SIR My attention has been so
frequently called to fragrant misreprcscn.
tatlons Of my actions and intentions as
delegate in the Charleston Convention,
similar to those enclosed by you, that l
have reluctantly concluded, in order to re-
lievc myself from constant opportunities to
meet ali these charges in this reply to you
which you may give to the newspaper press, g,
if you think it necessary and proper. 1t
is right to remark that, whilst | shall speak
somewhat freely Of the majority of the
Pennsylvania delegation in that Convene
ton, lepcak only for myself, not ha.ing
had an opportunity of consulting with any
one, and must be alone responsible for
what | say.
The structures which you enclose to me
on the course and purposes Of the majority
Of the Pennsylvania delegation at Charles
ton would be severe, indeed, if they were
founded in truth but they are either to-
tally unfoundsd, or find their existence in
II forced perversion of the facts. 1t is not
true that the majority Of the Pennsylva
mia delegation sought to drive Mr.. Douglas
from the field, by adopting platform OF
principles on which he could not honora-
bay stand. 81 far from this, we voted to
make the nominations 0ctorc the platform
whilst the minority of our delegation and
all othef friends OF Mr.. Douglas votod tc
make the platform first. Thi. was the ia.
tai error OF the Convention, as all parties
frankly confessed at the subsequent stage.
Of its proceedings. Then again, on tni.
same point, the majority voted for Il mo
ton, submitted by myself, to recomnit thu
platform, hoping i'll tnat way to reach TIA,
ballotiug for candidates with full Con
vcntion but the effort failed
EquIlly untrue is the allegation that ",
favored aplatfor,u OF principles committin:
the party to the policy OF Il slave code il
the Territories. 1t is true that we sua
tanned the series Of resolutions last report
ed by the majority of the committee, o
rather by the seventeen democratic States
but no ia far-minded man will pretend t
discover the principles of slave code o
anything like them in those rcso utions.-
They simply forbade the conclusion thg
, the Territories are sovcrcignties, and Il,
clarcd it the duty of the Government I
protect constitutional rights by constitu
, tional means, as well in the Terri
l tories as elsewhere. Surely 10 20,
crnmcnt should do less than this. As
understood it, the friends Of Mr.. Dougla
: took exception to that part of the resoll
, tionS that excluded the idea Of sovcreig
power in the territorial government, ol
n rather, the right of the territorial lcgisla
turc to exclude slavery or slave propcrt
from Territory; but | do not think
was seriously pretended by any that the re,
olutions committed the party to sla,
code, nor did meet any delegate who WI
b, scriousl y i'll favor Of any such speculate,
legislation. No sensible man prctcnj
that Congress can create rights for SLAYER
: or slave property in the Territories, c
anywhere else The only question is
c to whether that species of property is
b. maintained and protected in the righ
e the Constitution gives it, Nothing MOI
is asked, and nothing less will be accopta
BILE to the South.
. 1t is also untrue that we favored II
course of the seeding States, or at al
:, time manifested a determination to 20 OF
II with Them No body of men in the Cor
vcntion could have witnessed their witt
II drawal with feelings of deeper regret tha
-" did the majority OF the Pennsylvania de
= egation, for the direct tendency of that
= was to favor the nomination of a candida
y wa were against; and do not believe thcl
% were any men in Charleston who exertc
y themselves more ardcntly than did po
= ton of the Pennsylvania Allegation to il
. duce the seceders to return to the ConyeI
~ ton, myself amongst the number, 1t
true, that when it was generally unde
stood and believed that the remainder
the Southern States, failing to have the
IultimatIlm accented nv the Conventio