The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-02-24
A PLATFORM FOR THE CHARLESTON CON.
YENTIQN

VENTI0N.
The Democratic members Of Congress Seem to
be looking forward with much carncS.ncss to
the Charleston Convention, and in the mean
time are 1cvising ways and meaIs to reconcile
the Jnrring interests Of the party. The diver
sity OF opinion which exists on the question OF
Slavery. and the subject Of Congressional and
Territorial intervention mnk,s this no easy
task, rs is apparent from the various Resolu.
tons which have been introduced into the SEM
ate and the discussions which they have ELECTED
Sonae are satisfied with the old Cincinnati plat.
form whilst others require in addition thereto
distinct recognition of the jurisdiction of the
, Federal Courts on the subject, aud an endorse
ment of the Dred Scott dicsion. Senator
Brown goes farther, ard demands Congressieu-
al legislation for the protection Of slave proper
ty in the Territories The necessity of doing
something to reconcile these conflicting views
has led /" Caucus Of the Democratic Senators
tors, at which n Committee of five, consisting
Senators GREEN, GwiH, FIrcu. IiIGLER AMI
CHESTNUT, were appointed to consider the sub
jec', and report To another meeting of the Sen
ators. The conclusion at which they arrive, it
is supposed will be introduced into the Senate
in the form Of J.claratory resolution, which
will serve guide TO the party at the Char.
lesion Convcnios.
We have no doubt that !he Southern dele
gates to the Convention will insist upon some
Thing more than the Cincinnt plutform-upon
distinct recognition Of tho right of Slavehol-
deis to protection for their property in the
T.rrturics, and an endorsement Of the princi.
pies of the Drcd Scott decision. And the
necessity OF this st.i' Is the more apparent
from the strong probabilities of the nominal ion
OF Mr.. Douglass by the Charleston Convention
Cron this subject We quote the remarks of the
Erc"iny Ncws.
THE DEMOCRATIC NoMlSArtoS. in,lica.
,ions of the success of Mr. Dougl ms in the
Charleston National Convention grow stronger
every day. 1t is already a<ceriaineL that he
has majority o. the votes To he cast and un
less the 'two-thirds rule he adopted, lie " i'll
Dc nominated for the Presidency on the first or
:, cond ballot The Democracy have of late.
become SO unsound and INSCRIPTIONS. that we
are inclined to believe that the majority W III
rerudiate that rule, although it had come TO be
regarded as an established practice or system
in Democratic Conventions. If it be Set aside
the outrage should bc estimated by the South
us just cause Tor a rupture OF the Convention.
Douglas majority comes from the States
which are Black Republican, aud whose Dem
ocratic factions to be represented here, canuot
carry them even for their free soil leader. The
Soath mast nercr consent that these delegates
shall dictate the platform and non nation and
iorce upon her States. which constitute the
Democratic party. in reality, man treacher-
Gus to their prlnci pies and inncal to their
Interest. The platform and nonina ion should
come only from the States mhich roted Tie
TEMPERATE ticket in the prccioms Presidential
election, and rule I" this effect. there must
oe Democratic Conventions, should bc adopted
1t this justice aud fairdess are not accorded
to the South, her delegates should withdraw
from the Convention, hold one of their own,
which w"nJ in fact be the true Democratic
body, and present constitutional platform
and nomination to the country. 1t would de-
feat both wings of the opposition.
There are also Indications, not only at large
but especially from Washington, that the Con
fcntion will not lay down in the platform the
right of SHAREHOLDERS 10 protection for their
property for their property in the Territories,
and will not even endorse the decision Of the
Supreme Court in the bred Scott case which
expounds that right at this juncture of af-
fairs, not TO repudiate squattcr sovereignty
will be to accept it. Not 10 sustain the Supreme
Court. will lie to reject its decree. Not to guar
untee legal prot eation to slave property on the
co nmon domain, is TO adopt the policy of mo
more slave States rank Black Repubicanism
If such be the course taken by the Convention,
honor, interests aud security will demand that
the South withdraw from it, and prepare for a
decisive sectional struggle. Ii her own allies
desert her, she can find no safety and prosperi-
ty but III n Southern Confcderacy.