Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-05-22
An Address 10 the National Demo crac,


| An Address To the National Democracy.
An address signed by certain Senators and
Representatives Al Washington, urging the &c.
turn of the SccedcrS to the Baltimore Conyen.
ton, will be- found in another column In all
the reasons assigned for the representation Of!
the Southern States in the Baltimore C0nvcn.
ton We entirely concnr: bit "the address
cyinces Il desire to ignore the Richmond Con-
ycntion altogether. Now, while we would adj.
wise the Richmond Convention not to nominate
until after the Baltimore Convention, Yet, we
are not prepared TO advise the delegations from
the eight States ITO defer assembling in Rich
lnonl Unit. the necessity io: Sllcil meeting shall
become imperative
The fact of the secession at Charleston shows
that an Imperative necessity exists for The
assembling in Richmond" not alone ''of the
eight States" but Of all The States who concur
in the majority platform. We desire to see \
Convention Of the delegations from the seven
teen States held in Richmond at the time ap.
pointed, not for the purpose of making Il notni-
nation, but for consultation before assembling
again in National Convention.
It may be urged that no such consultation is
necessary as the seventeen States have already
agreed upon platform. and that if Z Conven-
ton is to be held, its only duty will be TO nomi'
nate candidates upon the already accepted plat.
form. While we acknowledge the strength oi
the objection, yet, for harmony sake, &c would
urge the assembling at Richmond and agreeing
upon the course which all will pursue, should
the Baltimore Convention refuse 20 adopt the
majority platform.
From the Washington Constitution, May Il
Address TO the National Democracy.
The undersigned, members Of the National
Democratic party, supporters Of its principles,
and deeply anxious, by promoting its harmony,
to preserve unimpaircd the efficiency OF its or.
ganization, desire to join in counsel with their
Democratic brethren throughout lhr Cnito';
States.
The proceedings Of lhc Convention recently
assembled at Charleston have developed '!i-
vcrgencc Of opinion between the delegations nl
the different States in relation 10 the principles
which form the basis Of ou: Union. The M.
rional Democratic platform adopted nj Cinr;n-
nal in 1856 met tho cDrtiia! aipr"va! pi ~!
who believe these tnitc,i States Z. h" what
their vcry name imports, u union OF States
equal. sovereign, anrl endowed in nil respects
with equal rights. This approval was based
on what seemed to IL; 10 be the plain meaning
of the resolutions embraced in that platform.
During the four rears, however, which have
since intcrrcnc'i, it has become painfully ap'
parent that the construction deemed by lis 50
inanifestly right is controycrcd by many mcn-
bers of our party that other principles arc
supposed to find countcnance in that platforms
I-principles, in our judgment, srbyerSire oi
the true theory Of the Government and Of ;fe
Constitution to which our Union owes its birth,
and on whose preservation its permanent exist
cncc depends.
What is the history orthc recent Convention
ut Charleston?
Seventeen States, forming a majority OF lhc
whole adopted with remarkable unanimitY :.
platform Of principles SO worded as TO avoid
/ the possibility Of principles
deemed political aXinms by all who uphold the
equal rights of the States rs the very basis oi
the Contederacy. Many delegates from the re,
mainc sixteen States concurrcd in opinion with
this majority, conspicuous amongst whom
were delegates from Pennsylvania and New Jer-
sev.
The States which adopted this platform give
electoral votes which can be relied on with ab-
soutc certainty in favor of Democratic
nominees, and we'll grounded confidence is en-.
tcrtaincd of like result in Pennsylvania and
New Jersey. These seventeen States united
with Pennsylvania alone comprise majority
of the entire electoral vote Of the United States,
able 10 elect the Democratic nominees against
the combined opposition Of all the remaining
| States
This platform was deliberately rejected BY n
combination composed Of n small fraction ol
the delegates from the seventeen Democratic
States and Il very large majority OF the dele
gates of the remaining sixteen Statesi and Il
resolution WAS adopted in its stead simply re-
affirming the principles Of the Cincinnati plat
form, without explanation or Interpretation oi
its disputed meaning. This rs done with the
opcniy arowcd purpose Of eli bling the Demo
cratic party TO wage battle ith some chance
Of success in certain North IN and Western
States by presenting to the people as It's doc
trincs principles openly and expressly repuai
ated by majority of the Democratic State
delegations, and by majority approaching
unanimty Of the Democratic electoral votes "'
the Union.
The delegations ii eight States. toEcthc'
with portion of that Of Delaware, faithful au
hercnts of our party and firm supporters O. Its
principles, were thus, by sheer force ol votes
cast bv delegates from Sta:':s that will certain
" vote for the Republican, candidates, cohpei
ed to withdraw from Il :'"rentlon because
in tic language Of Distinguished delegate
they felt that it was burning impualtIoH
unon the honor and patriotism Of the party
that, claiming TO be national, and claiming 'f
have principles for its guide, /: should ackno"
ledge for its declaration Of faith creed upon
which are placed two distinctly opposite inter
prctations by its own advocates.
We cannot refrain from expressing our cd
miration and approval Of this lofty manifesto
ton of adherence to principle, rising superior
to all considerations Of cxpedieucy, to all tram
mcls of party, and looking with single eye 70
thc defence of the constitutional rights ol 'he
States.
The delegations of other Democratic sta.cS'
however, (including few delegates from tae
seeding States) not less faithful in deTotloh 70
nrinciplcs. werc more hopeful OF obtaining ir'u,
fhcir brethren some satisfactory recognition OF
sound principles and decided on Te.nala'hg @ hgu IN
the Convention after distinctly declaring now
oror ,beir determination also TO Withdraw II
@ lheir just cxpecta'ious should be disappointed.
It IS thus apparent that there was almost en-, en-
tire unanimity of principle IN the delegations
If the only States on which absolute reliance
%. hc nIaced for Democratic electoral votes,
Chilli ; there existed diversity of opinion as to
,hc line of policy best calculated to secure the
triumph Of those principles. Nor is it matter
Of surprise that in conjunctureSo unexpected
and anomalous, when, in the enunclation Of
Democratic principles, the voice Of virginia
was overborne by that of Ohio, and Louisiana
and Arkansas were forced to succuno to 'e1'