Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-05-26

"AshlNdTON NE M AND 6OsSlPs
A LITTER FROM SENATOR SLIDELL-Below
will be found an able and interesting letter which
the existing condition Of the affairs Of the Dsino-
cratic party has drawn from the Hon John
Slidell, Of Louisiana:
To Gen A e.. Garter, President of STATE Demo
cratic Committee, Clinton, La
SENATE CHAMBER. MAY 10. 1850.
The members of the State Democratic Csnven-
oon having been called bv the State Central FIX
ecuttve Committee to reasonable at Baton Rouge
10 receive the report of their delegates to the late
Charleston Convention and to ia Ike such action as
may be deemed necessary and proper hope that
II VIII not be considered intrusive my part to
submit few brief suggestions as to the course To
be pursued blythe Democracy of Louisiana atthis
critical moment, when not only the organization
of the great National Democratic party but the
very existence OF the L nion Is endangered Had
i no other motive for now addressing YOU It
would suffice that desire to place on record my
full, unqualified, and emphatic approval OF the
action Of the Louisiana delegation at Charleston
10 luentfy my political existence with theirs. to
share all their responsibilities to receive In COM
mon with them the Endorsement and justification
which | know they merit and aIn confident
they will receive from the Convention; or, il | be
disappointed in this just expectation, To submit
with Difference 10 the implied censure which the
failure to sustain them will convey. Although
had not the honor TO be a member of our deleVa-
ton, was present at Charleston during the sitting
OF The Convention, had daily communication with
our delegates and, while on no occasion present
Isl.
ton with most OF them on the questions pending
before the Convention. | have not the presump-
ton to suppose that my cOunsels exercised any in
nuence on their action; their high character
sound Judgment, independent position, political
and social, forbid such an idea; but | say with
pride and pleasure that I found entire sympathy
ana almost perfect coincidence in the views we
mutually entertained and expressed They will
render you full account Of their Stewardship
and give you details of the proceed nos at Charles
Ton, Int which the limits Of an ordinary letter
VIII not permit me to enter. But there are a few
sanent points necessary for proper understand
Ing OF the position in which our delegates found
themselves TO which | wish to allude Expe-
rlence mas demonstrated that the organic basis Of
esehtation in National Conventions is essen
tally false, that il does not secure a fair re-
heX Of Democratic rrinci pies or offer a fair pro-
liability OF the selection of candidates acceDt5blr
to the States BY whose votes in tar electoral col
Ieges their election can only be effected States
boPelessly abolitioniZed, such as Maine New
Hampshire, dssachusetts, Vermont, Michigan
end wisconsin, nSutralizing the votes Of South
carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi Louisi-
ana, Texas, and Arkansas This inilstice must
De remedted by the adoption Of some more eouit-
aole basis OF representation or the Slave States
must hereafter refuse to enter into National Con-
Veutlon IL beside the votes cast at present an
additional vote were given to each State
Tor every Democratic Senator and Representative
1t might al the time have in Congress. this objec-
ton would be in a great degree removed Butth
inherent difficulty IN the basis of representation
was greatly aggravated by the interruptions man
ner In which the majority, composed almost en-
trely OF delegates from States not to be relied on
for electoral votes. exercised their mower The
hrst manifestation of this disposition was in the
adoption Of rule, without precedent I'm any Dre-
vio1s Convention, by which the majority were
enabled to exercise an absolute authority in all
the States where the opponentS Of a sound Mat
form and the friends of Judge Douglas had the
Sscenaencyi thus sitting in the delegations Of
New York, Ohio and Indiana at least tIyentv fl "
votes that would otherwise been cast for the reso
lutlons reported by seventeen States, and for an
other candidate than Douglas while PenRsylva-
MIA and New Jersey, the only other states that
can be relied on for democratic votes at the Pres
ldentlal election, Were deprived Of the power IN
give unit vote. The unfairnesS was the more
hagrant in the case Of New Jersey whose dele
gates had been recommended not to divide their
votei FOR when the distinguished Chairman of the
Convention decided that the rule authorized the
majority to control the entire vote, his decision
while, If New Jersey had been allowed to vote
on THIS question, the decision OF the Chair would
have been sustained.
Seventeen states adopted a platform of prin
ciples which they submitted TO the Convention
these states cast one hundred and twenty-Seyep
electoral votes, every one OF which tuiobt no
relied on lof our nominees In November had this
PLATFORM been adopted, with Cand dates who
could honestly and honogably stand uDon il
Pennsy lvania and New Jersey, the only free
States-Caiifornia and Oregon excepted-uDon
whose support we can confidently rely in the
Presidential contest. were not Iepres.nted I'm tbe
Committee on Resolutions, because the persons
selected for that purpose did not choose TO carry
out what they well knew TO be the vishes IL
thelf respective delegations. Had thew been
properly represented in the committee th, major
lty report, with immaterial notifications woIId
have had the unanimous support of the nineteen
States whose electoral votes may be counted ON
In November. The delegations of eight states
as you know, retired when the majority of the
committee refused 10 adopt resolutions which
11ey considered indispensable to their safety
Having thus retired, they awaited the further
action Of the Convention in the hope rather than
the expectation, that reflection would induce the
majority 10 retrace their steps and present to the
retiring states platform which they could ac
CePt with honor. Had this been done the re-
firing delegations would have resumed tbeir
seats, as they had, and still unquestionably have
the hight to do. The adjournment To Raitimora
leaves everything precisely in the same State ii
would have been had il been only to the next
day. and not for six weeks
What, then, should our State Convention do, |
cannot DETER answer than by referring YOU 10 an
address on the subject, signed by a numbe, 81
Senators and Representatives and Of which send
Yon copy, recommending il to the careful con-
sluerduOn OF the Convention, with this oualifca
ton only, that think our DELEGATES sho1Id n,e.+
at Richmond and adjourn over to a dav snbss-
quent to that fixed for the meeting of the Convex
uon at bai.imofe, and this, believe, was the
intention OF the signers of the address ALTHOUGH II
- not clearly so expressed, il certainly was mi ne
We have this day received the news Of the noni
nation made by the Black Republican Convention
al Chicago. | had supposed that MIR seward
would certainly have been their candidate ~, tn
Presidency. Had the Charleston Convention 80.
suited In the harmonious adoption of a sound
PLATFORM and the nomination of i man pledgrd
70 carry out Is principles, / would have pr.frTr,d
that a direct issue should have been presented m
tne people OF the free States by the nomination Of
Mr- seward That issue would in nv opini1n
nave been. Shall the Union be preserved or Il.
suoyed; MI Lincoln may be, and probably is
es hostlle 10 the institution Of slavery aS NJ,
seward, out bis record on that subject which |
nave not yet had the opportunity TO examine is
comparatively obscure and Incomplete his rlec
uon especially II the contest be complicated b,,
any elVlSlon In our own ranks, would not present
as absolute and unmistakable a test of northern.
sentiment as that Of Mr.. Seward In Conclusion
permit me TO avail myself of this opportunity of
returning my heartfelt thanks TO the Conveniion
Tor the signal honor conferred on me at their Dre
Vious meeting in March. | shall ever treasure n
as the pToudest recollection of nv life What
may yet remain OF that life shall be devoted to the
t1ort 70 prove myself worthy Of the confidence of
Louisiana, and Of that Democracy OF which I
haNe ever been, in veal or in Woe In sunshine or
IN storm, an unhinching, and, | trust not an
JOHN s1rDkLL.
IAE NIAGARA.-A telegraphic dispatch, dated
New York, May IS, says:
The Y. steamer Niagara has returned here