Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-08-22
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The Standard.
LETTER OF ROBERT P. DICK, ESQ.,,
70 Tho De,SoAaey If tic Fifth Congressional Dis.

! 70 ths DesSoracy If tas Fifth Congressional Dis
triet Of North Oarolina. s
FELLOW CITIZENS: As was your regularly chosen
delegate to the National Democratic Convention,
which met at Charleston and Baltimore, feel that
my duty requires me, under present circumstances,
to make known to you the reasons which influenced
my sction in said Convention. On account OF the
unfortunate division in party thought 1t best
to postpone this communication until after cur State
elections
deeply and sincerely regret the serious division
which has occurred in our party and can assure
Won that used my best efforts to prevent IT, had
long firmly believed that the old Democratic party
was ndissouble; that it was bound together by the
strong ties of true and well established principles
which nothing could break l had seen it so long
successfully resist the influences Of sectionalsm
North and South that felt confident that it would
always preserve its nationality, maintain the just
and equal rights of the whole country and secure
forever the Union Of the States
In these fond hopes have in some degree been
disappointed. Sectonalisln has at length succeeded
in disorganizing our party. The strong chain OF
nationality which heretofore held it together has
been unlinked, if not broken; the peace and harmo-
ny of the country is greatly disturbed and the sa-
cred union of the States is in imminent peril. The
blind selshness of politicians has brought the coun,
try to the brink of ruin and the only hope now OF
the patriot is to trust in God and appeal to the peo
pie to come to the rescue.
When went to Charleston did not apprehend
any serious difficulty in the establishment of our
platform The great cardinal principles of the De-
Inocratic party had so often been announced and so
faithfully adhered to by all sections, that supposed
the establishment of platform would be more q
matter of form than of real necessity The frequent
changes of platforms have often proved disastrous
to other parties, that felt confident that we had
learned wisdom by their experience, and surely
would not follow their example. 1t is greatly bet
ter to have no platform than one which is contlnu-
cusly changing.
Thought the Cincinnati platform ''pure and sim
ple;n with pledge 70 abide by and maintain the
decision of the Supreme Court in the bred Scott
case, was entirely sufficient and ought to be salts
factory to the whole country. The Cincinnati plat
form had been approved Of by the entire South and
every good citizen ought to abide by and maintain
the decisions Of the Supreme Court. Such plat
form could have been easily made but for the I'M
compromising demands of some of the ultra men Of
the 'Cotton States" They demanded the recogni-
and from the very first determined to "rue or
ruin"
The Democratic party had long been committed
to the doctrine of 'non-intervention." 1t formed
sacred compact between the North and South, and
our departure from it would have been unjust and
utterly ruinous
The black Republican party insists that Congress
ought to intcrrene to prohibit slavery in the Terri
tories BY the "Wilmot Proviso;" the ultra men of
the South contend that Congress ought to intervene
to protect and establish it by "slave code," but
the national Democratic party has wisely and fully
pledged itself to this bone of contention from
Congress and leave it to the people to regulate for
themselves under the Constitution as eXpounded BY
the Supreme Court
TheS South never has gained never will gain any
thing by Congressional Intervention, but if the doc
trne of 'noninterventon isalways adhered to- peace
anfquet will be restored to the country the laws Of
nature will wisely regulate the question of slavery;
Congress will have some time to watch over and adj
vance all the great interests of the nation and the
feelings of brotherhood will soon bind together every
section in the bonds Of an indisso!u5le union. |
firmly believe that Congressional Intervention leads
as directly and surely to disunon as the night fol.
lows the day. l..s .'--...r
The Northern Democrats at Charleston manifested
q spirit of Cancellation and compromise They had
proved themselves true in every trial. and they only
asked that we should keep our piighted faith. They
entertained different opinion from the South upon
the question of the power of territorial legislature
This question has been dubbed by Southern men with
the odious name Of "Squatter Sovereignty" Our
Northern brethren called it by the name of "Popu-
lar Sovereignty" and said that it was legal ques-
ton which they wished to refer to the Courts and
were willing to sustain such decision as might he
made, and give the Executive and Judiciary ample
power to execute the same to the very letter 1t
certainlyis legal question. The Northern Demo-
Gratis said it had not been adudcated had never
been directly presented to the Court The Southern
Democrats insisted that the question had been de-
ternned IN the bred Scott case, if not directly by
the decision Of the Court at least by the principles
enunciated in support of such decision. The North
err Democrats honestly differing in opinion with us
on legal question: desired to compromise by agree
ing to refer the question directly TO the Court for its
decision. Some Of the Southern Democrats asserted
that their legal opinion was right, and they would
accept no compromise. I thought this fair case
for a compromise. had confidence in the Supreme
Court and felt that the South had nothing to lose,
and could gain much by restoring peace and har-
mony to the National Democracy. Those who re-
fused to meet the Northern Democrats half way,
manifested either a want of confidence in their own
legal opinion distrust of the sincerity and fdel-
ity, of their political brethren.
1t was said by some that they were not willing to
trust the Supreme Court as it might hereafter be
controlled by black Republican Judges. The surest
way to prevent that occurrence to preserve the
peace and unity of the Democratic party The Sou
thern intcrventonists would have nothing to fear,
even if the Court was controlled by black Republ-
cples Of their party, they would decide that terri
torial legislature has no power over the question Of
slavery; that it belongs exclusively to Congress-
The black Republicans want to keep the question in
Congress, for they know that riotous speeches and
few fights occasionally will be the richest food for
their vile fanaticsm at home.
The question, at most, is but mere abstraction,
and the ultra men at the South ought not to have
demanded the, unconditional surrender Of their
kt.A-s, hroft
no practical importance, and would humiliate them
at home, and damage the prospects Of our party. l
admired the moral firmness of the Northern Demo
Gratis in resisting these unjust demands. l am ma
tional Democrat, and in politics know no sectional
feeling. If they had yielded every thing on the dis
turbing questions before the Convention to the fac
tonists Of the South, to gain any personal ends 1
would have suspected their honesty and have feared
that when the temptation was sufficient they would
yield to the fanatics of the North. They made
every fair proposition of compromise, and are not
responsible for the division Of the party at Charles
ton.
Who then, is responsible? regret to say the
gecessonists were alone in fault. On the very day