Gazette and sentinel., 1860-05-26
GAzNITE & SENTINEL.
Address to the National Democracy.

its principles, and deeply anxious, by
promoting its harmcny, to preserve I'M
impaired the efficiency of its organiza-
ton, desire to Join in counsel with their
Democratic brethren throughout. the
United States.
The proceedings of the Convention
recently assembled at Charleston have
developed a divergence Of opinion be-
tween the delegations of the different
States III relation to the principles
which form the basis of our Union.-
The National Democratic platform
adopted at Cincinnati in 1896, met the
cordial approval of all who believe
these United States la be, what their
very name imports, a union of States
equal, sovereign, and endowed in all
respects with. equal rights. This APP
prevail was based .on what seemed To
us to be the plain meaning Of the rcso-
buttons embraced in that platform.
During the four years, however, which
have since interviewed, it has become
painfully apparent that the construction
Alffillt'l ~ NN ~ lliuiAtSllN ttHii 10
c]ontrovcrtcd by many members of IL
party; that other principles are sup
posed to find cuuntenancc in that plat
form-principles, in our Judgment, sub
vcrsivc Of tile true theory c. the Gov
eminent and of the Constitution to
which our Union owes its birth, and
on whose preservation it's paramount
existence depends.
What is the history of the recent
Convention at Charleston ?
Seventeen States, forming a majority
of the whole, adopted with remarkable
unanimity a platform of principles so
wordcd as to avoid the possibility Of
neutrality-suspicious. deemed po-
litical axioms 10y all who uphold the
eqpal rights of the States as the very
bass of the Confederacy. Many dele
gates from the remaining sixteen States
~concurrcd in opinion with this majority,
conspicuous amongst whom were dele
gates from Pennsylvania aud New Jer-
sey.
The States which adopted this plat
form give electoral votes which can be
relied on with absolute certainty in IA
vor of Democratic nominees, and WE'LL
grounded confidence is entertained of a
like result in Pennsylvania and New
Jersey. These seventeen-State united
with Pennsylvania alone comprise a ma
iority of the entire electoral vote of the
United States, able to elect the Demo-
cratic nominees against the Combined
opposition of all the remaining States.
This platform was deliberately reject
ed. by a combination composed Of a
small fraction Of the delegates from the
seventeen Democratic States and a very
large majority of the delegates OF the
remaining sixteen States; and a resOIu-
ton was adopted in its stead simply re-
affirming the principles of Inc Cincin-
natl platform, without explanation or
Interpretation of its disputed meaning.
This was done with the opcnly-avowed
purpose of enabling the Democratic
party to wage battle with some chance
of success in certain Northern and
Western States by presenting to the
people as its doctrines principles openly
and expressly repudiated by a majority
of the Democratic State delegations, and
by a majority approaching %unanimity
of the Democratic electoral votes OF the
Union.
The delegations of eight States, to
gcther with a portion Of that of Dele
ware. faithful adhcrcnts of our party
and firm supporters of its principles
were thus. by sheer-forcc of votes cas-
by delegates from States that will Ger
tainly vote for The Republican candi
dates, compelled 10 " ithdraw from the
Convention, because, in the Language
of a distinguished delegate, they fell
that it was a burning imputation upoI
the honor and patriotism of the party
that, claiming to be national, and claim
ing to have principles for it's guide, i
should acknowledge for it's declaration
of faith a creed upon which arc place.
two distinctly opposite Interpretation
by its own advocates
We cannot refrain from expressing
our admiration and approval of thi
lofty manifestation of adherence, t
principle, rising superior to all consldt
rations of eXpediency, to all trammel
of party, and looking with a single ey
70 the defense of the constitutions
rights of the States
The delegates Of other Democrati
States, however, (including a few dele
gates from the seeding States) not les
faithful in devotion to principles, wer
more hopeful Of obtaining from thei
brethren some satisfactory recognitiO
of sound DrincinleS and decided on r,