Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-08-01
WASHINGTON, Cry, July, 9, 1860.

DEAR SIR: / have your letter os the 23d
ult.. by which 1 am officially informed of my
nomination for the office of President of the
United States by the Democratic National
Convention lately assembled At Baltimore
The circumstances of this nomination will
justify me in referring to its personal as
pect.
L have not sought nor desired to be placed
before the country for the Office of President.
When my name was presented to the COnyen-
ton at Charleston 1t was withdrawn by a
friend, in obedience to my expressed wishes.
My views had not changed when the Conyen-
ton re-assembIed at Baltimore. and when
heard of the difference which occurred there,
my indis2osi:ion to be connected prominent
ly with the canvass was confirmed and eX-
pressed to many friends.
Without discussing the occurrences which
preceded the nominations, and which are, or
soon will be, well understood by the country,
[ have only to say that approved as just
and necessary to the preservation of the Ma
tional organization, and the sacred rights of
representation, the action of the convention
over which you continued to preside; and thus
approving it, and having resolved to sustain
it, | feel that it does not become me to select
the position shall occupy, now TO shrink
from the responsibilities of the post to which
L have been assigned. Accordingly L accept
the nomination from sense of public duty,
and, as think, uuinfuenced, in any degree
by the allurements of ambition.
avail myself of this occasion to say that
the confidence in my personal aud public
character, implied by the action of the con-
vention, will always be gratefully remember
ed. aud it is but just also to my own feelings
to express my qualification at the association
of my name with that OF my friend, General
Lare, q patriot and q soldier, whose great
services in the field and in council entitle him
to the gratitude and confidence of his coun-
trymen.
The resolution adopted by the convention
have my cordial approval. They are just to
all parts of the Uuion, to all our citizens, ma
tive and naturalized, aud they form noble
policy for any administration.
The question touching the rights of persons
and property; which have of late been much
discussed find in these resolutions consti-
tutional solution. Our Union is conteder-
acy of equal sovereign States, for the pur-
poses enumerated in the federal constitution
Whatever the common government holds IN
trust for all the States must be enjoyed equal
ly by each. 1t controls the Territories IN
trust for all the States Nothing less than
sovereignty can destroy or impair the rights
of persons or property. The territorial gov
ernments are subordinate and temporary. and
not sovereign; hence they cannOt destroy or
impair the rights of persons or property
While they continue to be Territories they
are under the control of Congress; but the
constitution nowhere confers on any branch OF
the federal government. the power to discrlm-
mate again the rights of The States or the
property of their citizens in the Territories.
1t follows that the citizens of all the States
may enter the Territories of the Union with
their property-of whatever kind-and ENJOY
it during the territorial condition without let
or hindrance. either by Congress or by the
subordinate territorial governments.
These principles flow directly from the ab-
senee Of sovereignty in the territorial gov