The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-07-18
The DUTY or Democrats.
NATIONAL DE,r. Executive Cow. Rooms,
w .SUINGTON June 20 1860

kRe kuiy OF Democrasss
NATIONAL. DE,r. Executive Cow. Rooms,
WAsHlNGToN, juno 80, 1860.
Sir REPORTS having been busiy dis
seninated, in the shape Of t.legraphic dis
patches from Washington, appearing sim
ultaneously in newspapers published ir
different parts of thc Union, 70 the effect
that the friends of ST. phen A. Douglas and
HerSchel Y. Johnson, Democratic crndi
dates for the Presidency and Vice Presidcn
cy, presented for the sufrages Of the pco
pie by the Nationa! convention recently as
sembled in baltimore, weie engaged, in sew
eral OF the States, with the friends of Johr
c. Breckenridge and Joseph Lane, carli
dates designated for the same otIices by the
/ scceders from The National convention in
! making arrangements for the rguning C
electoral tickets in different States, to be
supported by them Jointly in the approach
ing Presidential election, with the under.
standng t',at the votes of the electors, elect.
ID by sucii combination, shall be given for
Douglas and Johnson, or f2' breckenridge
and Lane, rs subsequent events night re-
quEc. What gave rise to these reports,
and to what agency their circulation is TO
be attributed, ,te have no means of deternln-
ing The fact Of tieir prevalence, however,
is SO notorious, that when it is taken in con-
nection with the fact that it is stated in
some quarters that movements looking to-
wards such result are about to be inaugu-
ratcd in Missouri and Nea. Jersey, the sub
ject becomes one Of sufficient importance,
in the opinion of your committee, to be
made the subject of a special communica-
ton to the known friends o. the nominees
of the regular convention of the Democrat
ic party; and, accordingly, in obedience to
the wishes of the committee, now address
you this circular
So far as is known to the members of the
resident Executive committee, no person
who supports the action of the National
Democratic convention at Balti'nore--no
person who desires the election Of Stephen
a. Douglas to the Presidency, and of Her
schel V. Johnson to the Vice Presidency,
has ever expressed a wish for any such ar
rGngement Or entertained, or even coun-
tenanced, for single momcnt, any sugges-
tion orpropositio3 tending towards it, Nor
does the committee believe that any such
arrangement can with propriety be made at
any time, in any place, or under any cir
cumstanccs, with those who have placed
Breckenridge and Lane in nomination, and
are now their avowcd supporters in opposi-
ton to the regular nominees of the Demo-
cratic party.
The Democratic party, as National par
ty, stands now, where it has stood for years,
upon the ground of non-intcrvention, by
Congress, with the subject of Slavery in
the States or Territories. Those who Sc
ceded from the Baltimore Convention, did
so because they were unwilling to stand on
that ground. They have again and again
repudiated that principle, and both at Char
lesion and Baltimore declared that they
would sever their connection with a major
ity of the delegates assembled in Conyen-
ton in accordance with Democratic usage,
unless they, toe, would soleInly repudiate
it in obedience to their demand When
the majority Of the convention refused to
yield to thei.' dictation, and make their ac-
tons conform to the will Of the minority,
these gentlemen seeded, formed themselves
into a minority convention, and nominated
cand!datcS Who are the open and pledged
enemies CT the principle Of ''non-intcryea-
tom by Congress, as recognized by the
ma ior.ty convention, and as advocated by
their candidates. Under these circumstan
'ceS, 1t Is clear to the committee that if the
antagoihsm between the Seceders and the
majority of the Democratic convention was
such, that the Sccedtrs could no longer take
part in their deliberations, and were con-
strained to set up candidates in opposition
to those selected by the majority, that anita
gonisln still continues, and is such as must
I,.prllla tho iIiltty
them IN the support of a Common electoral
tIcsiet IN any State, no matter what may be
the probable result Of the election in it
without such union.
The Democratic party, which is now
united in the support Of DoUGLAs and JoiN-
son, stands upon the only principle which
is capable, if maintained in its integrity, of
preserving and perpetuating the union of
the States. Ihe seceders, and their cand-
dates. are opposed to this principle. Their
course, if sustained in the South, necessari-
ly tends, though it may not be designed, to
the breaking up of the National Govern
ment; In the view Of the committee there
is no room for doubt, in the mind of any
National Democrat, as to the path of duty
in the present cricis. The 'Seccders," by
Withdrawing from the National Convention
and setting up their candidates, have ar
rayed themselves in opposition to the prin-
cipc Of Congressional "non-intervention."
National Democrats should everywhere
meet the issue now rendered them, by nom-
mating and supporting Electoral tickets in
their respective States, pledged, if elected,
to vote for STEPHEN A. DouGLAs for Presi-
dent, and HERscnEL v JOHNSON for Vice
President of the United Stctes If the Sc
ceders and their friends choose to separate
permanently from the Democratic party,
and run ticket in opposition to ,he rcgu-
lar nominations, let them DO so. Upon
them be the responsibility of the result.
MILES TAYLOR, Chairman.