Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-05-02


The eloquent gentleman from Ohio, who has Just
taken his seat told you that he represents fifteen
States of this cOnicderacy Sir, Ihave the pleasure
under God, by the resolutions which I present. Of
representing unanimously tmrty.twc sovereign
States Of this cOnfederacy fappause)-every man
which has been pledged by their recorded solemn
action, in National Convention assembled, in favor
of the platform Of resolutions passed st Gin
cinnah. And the nea are not absent now. If the
platform adOpteu az Cincinnati was wrong, where
was the Chairman Of cur Committed He was
there member Of that Convention. and viii you
allow me to read the enthusiasm which ne then
gave to the resolutions have the homer to present?
When the State of North Carolina was called Mr.. /
AVERY who was the organ of the delegation from /
North Carolina said North Carolina casts ten votes
for the resolutions, and win give ten thousand in /
November" daughter and applause) Where /
were the eloquent gentlemen from Mississippi? /
Where were the keen-eyed politician from Alabama!
Where were those somewhat uneasy friends Of ours
from South Carolina! Where was gallant Kentucky
then? Where was Georgia then, thatno man rose
to object to the resolutions? Where say Them was
our eloquent Chairman?
eOh whs-e was Rodsriek then1
One bias. upon his 6ugle horn
Were worth thousand men,"
l then ask my friends Of the convention whether
! am presumptuOus as might seem in appearing be-
fore you and asking the adoption Of the Cincinnati
platform, which four years ago was received
with so much enthusiasm by the National Demoera-
4 CIV in Convention assembled? Sir, it has received
] the unanimous verdict OF Lhe DeulOcfatf party OF
the country North and South in one great victory
! CARRYING il firm upon our banner. / repeat, 1t las
received the endorsement Of the Democratic party
of the country it has received the endorsement OF
the people Of the country and has anything chang
ed in either the government policy OF the country,
or its territorial acquisition, to alter the principles
of Democrcy? Tell me, We East has anything
changed Tell me, We North, has anything chang
| ed? Tell me, ye South has anything changed!
| Tell me, We West has anything chauged-aas any
thing occurred since. which needs principles to
explain the platform Of the Democracy The answer
of every one will be known. Then gentlemen of
the Convention. what is the objection to the Ol,i-
ciunati platfOrmy am told that it may be subject
to two interpretations. Will any man Iere attempt
to make platform that viii not be subject to two
or interpretations Why, sir, when Omnis-
cIence sends US the Divine law for our guidance
through life and our hope IN death, for two th0us-
and years almost. bands of men have been engaged
in different interpretations Of that Divine law, and
they have sealed their honesty of purpose with blood
they have burned their fellow creatures at the
stake as an evidence of the sincerity of their faith
(LaughteH)
The Constitution of the United States-has not
that received two interpretations? Has 1t nos re-
ceived Northern Interpretation! Has 1t not re-
ceYed Southern interpretation Has 1t notrecely-
5 ed an Eastern, Western interpretation And yet
gentlemen of the Convention has not the eountypros
pered under that Constitution with its various IN
erpretatOns? /, by means claim for the PLATFORM
of principles at Cincinnati that they the mos:
, perfect Of any that ever be written. make no
such claim for them but what do claim IS, that In
this day of sectional agitatiOn-pardOn me, II say
franky-n this day Of some little growing dlstrust
of each other it is better to stand by the platform
upon which have agreed to stand together once,
+ and upon which have stood together for victory
over common foe. Why is the Interpretation toibe
received side and not upon the other! Not at
all The difference Of Interpretation, after all, Is
+ not practical difference. They undertake to inter-
pref before that difference had arisen in practice to
= which such Interpretation can be applied?
Again. another reason why desire to stand by
the Cincinnati Platform and not change It, Is that
in my Judgment it guarantees the South every con
sttutOna right and we of the North have explain
ed it upon every platform promulgated 1t In every
school district and it is thoroughly and well I'M
derstOOd there, so that now we have brought your
L constitutional rights before the minds OF the North
ern people beyond question or doubt. Buff new
:, platform OF principles which may be better, shall
n to-day be adopted by this Convention, we OF the
e North cool, calm thinking people, VIII still look
upon it with little distrust; and all this eXplana-
IS ton all this Interpretation everything that goes to
convince the people and get them to vote with you
/ has all got to be done again, and for that rea-
e son ! stood in the committee and stand here by
g that platform the best possible under the crcum-
d stances Now wherein do differ from the MAORI
ty report? Why cannot l agree with the majority
report! There are many things in that report with
e which can agree but there are one or two things
! in it with which cannot agree without mOdItca-
n ton Allow me to call your attention to what they
r are so that you may understand what is the radiea
e difference between myself and the majority of the
= Committee.
h Your majority report in the Sd resolution pro
vides for the protection of the rights of property on
the high seas. Our carping opponents will see IN II
e what am sure Southern gentlemen do not mean =
Il the re-openng of the African slave trade, and It Will
e be construed that man can get rad OF the IN
5 depreciation It will be proclaimed from every
stump. fauLted from every pulpit, Numbered from
P every yceum in the North, until your friends
If and in no boasting spirit say. without you are
e pOwerless-the last refuge Of the constitutional
s rights of the South within the Union are stricken
, down pOwerless for ever; that without farther
VI modification it would be impossible for me to adopt
e the majority report.
e The minority report: which is very like tine one
r which l present, contains also something more
which does not approve itself to my Judgment.
r adopt all the resolutions Of the minority report
except the second Indeed, all the other resolutions
II except the second are in the Cincinnati platform
n and reed not be reiterated The resolution as to
the Pacific Railroad, the resolution as to Cuba, and
the resolution to the Fugitive Slave Law, are all
5. in the Cincinnati platform. The resolution IN rela-
5 ton to Cuba. if may use harsh an expression
allow me to say with all due respect to the gentle
7. men who drew it, is more decatcly and dIplOmatl-
l. cally expressed in the Cincinnati platform. The
resolution the Pacific Railroad Is also IN the
It Cincinnati platform, not placed there without some
difference of opinion, because great system OF In
e ternal Improvement, was not formerly a doctrine
= of the Democracy. Therefore, the only difference
between the minority resolutions to which nave
0 is in this second resolution to which ask your
candid and careful attention. That resolution COM
mences by reiterating mere trulsn-that al ques-
tons rights of property in the States and IerrltO-
# res and questions arising under the Constitution,
= are judicial questions. Of course. all questions
+ affecting the rights of property between man ana
0 man, under the Constitution, are Judicial ques-
= tons You do no more than affirm that the sun
= shines and that water runs. Ut course the sun
shines end water runs. The next proposition is a
It very dangerous one And the Democratic party IS
pledged to abide by and faithfully carry out such
determination in these questions as has been or may
e be made by the Supreme Court OF the United
l. States"
n Now NY friends, am oldfashioned Democrat.
r l learned my Democracy of one ANDREW JACKSON,
and, as remember, that glorious old hero dld not
very much defer his political opinions to the Su-
preme Court of the United States. (Cries of Good
f " GOodl) BynO means; and think, were we to ad-
opt that resolution that language day and this
hour il there could be any thing under heaven that
could disturb the peace of the grave such resou-
ton in a Democratic Convention would make the
, old mans bones rattle in his coffin. (Applause.)
= But this is not my special difficulty am quite
willing to adopt that about which know something
| am very willing to adopt all the decisions OF the
Supreme Court that have been made. must abide
by them because the law Of the land makes the trI
2 buna of the United States the Supreme Court ana
as laW-Ibidng citizen must ABIDE by that opinion
and thai decision. But what does this resolution
= do? 1t goes farther. 1t pledges the Democratic
2 party to carry out their determination upon all
questions of property slave or otherwise, to the
full effect But what is the sting in tins resolution!
, l. is this This resolution pledges US that we VIII
carry out faithfully all the decisions that may be
hereafter made by the Supreme Court Now, have
great respect as a lawyer, for the Supreme Court
, and great respect for their DECISIONS because l
know who made them But how in the providence
of God am [ to know who is to make the decisions
of the Supreme Court? How am l to know what
f decisions are hereafter to be made?
If we shall disagree here, If we shall foOlishly
clash if we shall separate our interests and allow
| the Republicans to elect their tavorIte man, Mr..
Seward who threatens a reorganization of the Su-
. preme Court are you willing TO pledge yourselves
TO abide by and faithfully carry out all the decisions
l of that court reorgqnized by Seward, which they
will hereafter make? [Cres Of mop "noVl OF
course you will not Nobody thought you would.
Therefore my friends, scrutnize this matter we'll
look at it carefully You Of the South, to whom it