The Van Buren press., 1860-08-24


of all their representative bodies. agents.
trustees or servants:
The responsibility Of AL governors. rep
resentatives. trustees, agents and servants
to their principals. the people, who arc
:" the governed" and the source OF all po-
litical power:
Utter opposition to the detestablc doc
trine OF the absolutism OF Conventions to
prescribe and ps cclainn fundamental forms
of government at their will, with snbmis-
sion to the sovereign pcople--a doctrine fit
only for slaves, and claimed only by legit-
mistS and 6cspots OF the OH world
Powers Of any sort not expressly dele
gated to any man or body Of men. are ex-
pressly reserved to tho people -
No absoiaie or dic.atorial authority in
representative bodies. The representative
principle as cisiIning submission and obe-
i.i.ence to ths wiA Of the constituents
The sovereignty cf the organised people
supreme above all mere representative bod
les. conventions, or legislatures, to decide,
vote upon and determine what shall be
their supreme law ::
Justice and equality between States and
their citizens. and between voters to elect
their agents and representatives., and to rat
~ Va 49, "iiy P1Vp"SS' fya'eA Va So'-
ernment -
/ Submission to the Constitution and laws
of the Federal Union, and strict observance
of all the rights of the States and their
citizens, but resistance to the dictation or
bnbes of Congress, OF any other power to
yield the iaaltienable rights OF self govern
ment
I Protection in the Territories, and every
where, to all rights Of persons and Of prop
erty, in accordance with the rights OF the
States, and with the Constitution and laws
Of the Union :
Equity and informity in the mode Of ad-
mitting new States into the Union, max
ing the same rules and ratios. to apply to
all alike
The rejection OF all comprises, condi-
tions or terms which would discriminate
. between forms of republican constitutions,
admitting one, with one number Of popu-
q lasion. and requiring three times that num-
Der OF population. and requiring three
e times that number for another form equal
, ly republican
The great law Of settlement of the pub
! lie domain Of the United States, free equal
! and just, never to be '' tcmporized or
c - localized" by temporary or partial cxpe-
dicnts, but TO be adjusted by permanent.
c uniform and universal rules Of right and
n justice.
e Maintaining these and the ike principles
; | deem it to be the aim of tho struggle ol
|. the devoted Democracy in this signal con-
i test. And SO understanding them, glory
h in their declaration and defenscs. would
e sacrifice much and go far to uphold you,
= = arms in this battle. would most gladly
:. visit your people, address them, and in
4 woke them to Stand last by The standard o
n their faith and freedom, and never to let q,
= the truths for which they contend, for they
n arc vital .and cardinal, and essential, AM
Is never can be yielded without yielding lib.
n erty itself.
But, sir, l AIN like tied man, bound t,
my duties here ; ami if my office would al
low me to leave it, could not depart from
The bedside OF illness in my family, whicl
would probably recall me before I coult
reach Illinois and my own state of healtl
admonishes me that i ought not to under
4 take campaign as arduoUs as you pro
. pose. l know what the labors of the stumr
l. are, and am not yet done suffering, bodily
= from my edorts for Democracy in 1855
For these reasons, | cannot obey your call
but, permit me to add g: Fight on fgh
- on ! fight on never yield but in deatf
- and victory And oh, that / was unbount
- and could do more than look On, throbbine
, with every pulse OF your glorious struggle
;, with its every blow and breath-cheered
;. with its hopes and chafed by its doubts
!. IoU have my prayers, and am
Il Yours. truly HENRY A. WISE.