Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-07-10
MIR. Breckinridse,s Letter Of Acceptance.

by which am officially informed of my nomina-
ton for the ONCE of President of the United states
by the Democratic National Convention lately as
sembled at Baltimore. s. =
The circumstances of this nomination will jus
tify me in referring to its personal aspect.
/ have not sought nor desired to be placed
before the country for the office Of President.
When nv name was presented to the Convention
at Charleston, 1t was Withdrawn by friend in
obedience to my expressed wishes My views
had not changed when the Convention reassem-
bled at Baltimore; and when heard Of the diff
ferences which occurred there, my indispostion
TO be connected prominently with the canvass was
confirmed, and expressed to many friends.
Without discussing the occurrences which pre-
ceded the nomination, and which are or soon will
be understood by the country, l have only to say
that approved, as just and necessary to the pre-
servation Of the national organization and the
sacred right Of representation, the action Of the
Convention over which YOU continued to preside;
and thus approving II, and having resolved 10
sustain il, | feel that il does not become me TO
select the position shall occupy, nor to shrink
from the response bilites Of the post to which
have been assigned Accordingly ] accept the
nomination from a sense Of public duty, and, as
l think, uninfuenced In any degree by the al
lurements of ambition.
| avail myself Of this occasion to say that the
confidence In my personal and public character
implied by the action Of the Convention will al
ways be gratefully remembered; and Ii is but
just also to my own feelings TO express my graft
fication at the association of my name with that
of my friend, General Lane, patriot and soldier,
whose great services In the field and in council
entitle him to the gratitude and confidence Of
his countrymen.
The resolutions adopted by the Convention
have my cordial approval. They are just to all
parts Of the Union-to all citizens, native and
naturalized, and they form noble policy for any
Administration.
The questions touching the rights Of persons
and property, which have Of late been much dis
cussed, find in these resolutions a constitutional
solution. Our Union is confederacy Of equal
sovereign States, for the purposes enumerated in
the Federal Constitution. Whatever the common
Government holds In trust for all the States must
be enjoyed equally by each. IL controls the Ter
ritories In trust for all the States Nothing less
than sovereignty can destroy impair the rights
Of persons or property. Fhe Ter itorial Govern
ments are subordinate and temporary, and not
sovereign; hence they cannot DESTROY or impair
the rig hts Of persons or property. While they
continue to be Territories they are under the con-
troll Of Congress, but the Constitution nowhere
confers on any branch Of the Federal Government
the power to discriminate against the rights Of
the States to he property Of their citizens in the
Territories IL follows that the citizens of all the
States may enter the Territories Of the Union with
their property, of whatever kind and enioy II
during the Territorial condition, without let or
hindrance either by Congress or by the subordi-
nate Territorial Governments.
These principles flow directly from the ab-
sence of sovereignty in the Territorial Govern
ments and from the equality of the States Indeed
they are essential to that equality which Is and
ever has been the vital principle Of our constit-
tional Union; They have been settled legisa-
lively, settled judiciously, and are sustained by
right reason. They rest on the rock of the Con-
stitution; they will preserve the Constitution;
they will preserve the Union.
Ii 10 idle to attempt to smother these great is
sues, or to misrepresent them by the use of parti
san phrases which are misleading and deliisive
fhe people will look beneath such expressions as
"lnterventlon," Congressional Slave Code"
and the like, and will penetrate to the real cues
tions involved. The friends of Constitutional
equality do not and never did demand a Soon
gressional slave CODE" nor any other sscode - in
regard to property in the Territories. They hold
the doctrine of non-intervention by Congress or
Territorial Legislature either to abolish or pro-
hibit slavery; but they assert Fortified by the
highest judicial tribunal in the Union) the plain
duty of the Federal Government in all its de-
partments, to secure, when necessary to the citi-
Zens Of all the States, the enjoyment Of their
property in the common Territories, as every
where else within its jurisdiction. The only
logical answer to this would seem to be to claim
sovereign power for the Territories or to DENY
that the Constitution recognises property I'm the
services Of negro slaves, or to DENY that sucb
property can exist.
Inexorable logic, which works Its steady way
through clouds and passion compels the country
to meet the issue. There is no evasiye middle
ground. Already the signs multi ply or fanati-
cal ana growing party which denies that under
the Constitution, or by any other law, slave prop
erty can exist, and ultimately the struggle must
come between this party and the National Demo
crazy, sustained by all the other conservative ee-
ments in the Union.
think 1t will be impossible for a candid mind
10 discover hostility to he Union or a faint of
sectionalism in the resolutions adopted by the
Convention The Constitution and the Union
rePose on the equality Of the States, which lies
like broad foundation underneath our whole
political structure. Ash construe them the r, {
solutions simply assert this equality. They de-
mand nothing Tor any State or section that 10 not
cheerfully conceded to all the rest 1t Is well to
remember that the chief disorders which have
afflicted our country have grown out Of the viola
ton Of State equality, and that az long as this
great principle has been respected we have he, n
blessed with harmony and peace. Nor will Il be
easy to persuade the country that resolutions are
sectional which command the support of a ma
Joriy Of the States, and are approved by the bone
and body Of the old Democracy and bv vast
mass of the conservative opinion every where
without regard to party
1t has been necessary more than once in our his
tory to pause and soemnly assert the true charac-
ter OF this Government. A memorable instance
occurred in the struggle which ended In the civil
revolution Of $500. The Republicans of that day
like the Democracy CT this, were stigmatized az
disunionists, but they nobly conducted the con-
test under the CONSTITUTE and saved our political
system. BY like constitutional struggle II ia
Intended now TO assert and establish the equality
OF the States az the only basis of Union and peace
nen THIS OBJECT, SO national, so constitutional,
so just, shall be accomplished, the last cloud WI If
disappear from the American sky, and with
common hands and hearts, the States and the
people will unite to develop the resources of the
NOuhHtI " pIhu ~ toSetner with the bonds
Of intercourse and brotherhood, and to impel ii
onward In its greatcareer. The Constitution and
Equality Of the States These are symbols OF
everlasting Union. Let these be the ralying cries
Of the people.
trust that this canvass will be conducted with.
out rancor, and that temperate arguments will
take place Of hot words and passionate accuse.
lions. Above all, venture humbly to hope that
DIVINE Providence, TO whom we owe our origin,
our growth, and all our prosperity, will continue
70 protect our beloved country against all danger
foreign and domestic
am, with great respect, your friend,
JOHN G. BREcKINRIDGE
Hon. c. CUSHING,
PRESIDENT Democratic National Convention