The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-06-20
Le,tcr from sEon. Howell Cobb.
wAsurvGrox CRY, May 9Th, 1850.

WASHINGTON CRY, May 9Th, l8Go.
/ GENTLEMEN Your letter Of the 9Th inst. has
just reached me. The limited time allowed for
action induces me to comply with your request
for prompt answer and shah endcavor 10
make it equally "candid,"
sympathsc fully in your apprchcnsions for
the future of our country. II cannot be disguis-
cd that both the safety ofthe South and the in
tcgrity of the Union are seriously threatened
It is my honest conviction that the issue depends
upon the action of the Southern people at this
important Junctmc. A iirm wisc and mtalter-
ing policy on thep partofthe South will give securi
ty to her own rights, and peace and quiet to the
Union. Any other course viii be equally fatal
the preservation of the ope and eae lGqintcR-
ance of the other Like yourselves, ihaye ioql<-
ed to the National Democratic 4>aIsyRs tlle only
political organization in which thc sound copSti-
tutional dement's ofthc whole country could be
brought into united, cordial cooperation. Mith
this conviction | witnessed the proceedings Of
the late Charleston Convention with intense anX-
ety, and deeply regretted the causes which led
to its disruption.
In considering The proper course now TO be
pursued we should understand distinctly The
reason ofthe failure Of that Convention to
agree upon platform and candidate for the sup
port of the Democratic party. ifthe differences
which led to the results at Charleston are imma-
terial and unimportant, then there is no cause
for trouble or apprehension. The public mind
shouldpromptly pronounce thcm to be 50, and
they should be dismissed from our thoughts as
unworthy offurthcr consideration. Are the peo-
pie prepared 10 pronounce this Judgment
The answer to this inquiry involves in my opin-
ion, the future destiny Of the South. There
were two points of difference at Charleston
which produced the disruption Of The convention
LIST, the platform ofthe party on the subject
of slavery; 2nd, the nomination ola proper can
di,laic for the Presidency.
The fifteen Southern States, in common with
thetwo Democratic States Of the Pacific, agreed
upon platform, which recognized the equality
Of the Southern States, and the right Of their
citizens to go with their property into the COM
mon Territory Of the Uuion--ciaining for them
and their property the same projection which the
Constitution aud laws of the land extend to their
brethren OF the non-slayehoIding States and their
property=-nQthing moro-nothins less. The
seventeen States which, with perfect unaniHity,
agreed upon tins platform, are zil Of them Ger
tain Democratic Sts;ee The candidates to be
nominated by the democratic party for Presi-
dent and Vice President must receive their votes
TO give them the slightest tPFospectc 81 success
The remaining sixteen States by .yiTtrc Of their
superior numbers in the convention refused 70
recognize these principles. They did not assert
by the platform they adopted, antagonistic PTin-
oiples to those agreed upon ~ the Southern and
Democratic States. Their policy was to leave
the question an open issue, so far any declara-
ton Of principles was concerned, but to give
practical construction to their platform by the
nomination Ct candidate whose chief claim to
the nomination grew out Of his known hostility
to the doctrine for which the Southern and Dem
ocratic States contended The seventeen Dem
ocTatic States were prepared to unite upon any
true and worthy man for the Presidency. There
was on their part no disposition whatever to force
upon their brethren Of the other States candid
ate unacceptable to them. The issue on their
part was for principle and success involving no
consideration of mere personal Advancement ofa
favorte candidate. The sixteen opposition States
or the other hand, rot only refused to unite up
on the platform offered to them by their breth-
rem of the Democratic States, but struggled to
force upon the party the nomination Of Judge
Douglas, against the stern ard united voice Of
every certain Democratic Staten the Union.
ITenture to assert that such a spectacle was
never before presented in the history Of a pafty
convention. The States were as nearly equally