Daily national Democrat., 1860-08-28
Governor DOwney's Speech.

The Solano Herald has the following re-
port of Governor Downeys speech, delivered
at the Douglas and johnson Ratification
Meeting held at Benecia, Aug 18th
My FRIENDs And FELLOW CITIZENS: | thank
| you very sincerely for the very warm man.
ner in which you are pleased to receive me.
appear among you to night not because
| pretend to be a leader, but simply as a
| Democrat, always ready to work in the ranks
of my party-that party to which have
been devotedly attached since and before
was invested with the rights of an American
citizen.
set up no claim to briliancy or legal &C
umen to dissect hair splitting difference in
party platforms. The platform presented by
the regular Democratic Convention at Balti-
more, and accepted by Stephen A. Douglas.
is plain and explicit it expresses my views,
and re.estabishes the principles to which the
party, North and South, has been for wears
committed
In disinterested attachment and fealtv 10
the party l acknowledge no superior. Nv
political record as Democrat is as clear as
any mans in the State | have never aban
doned the organization Of that party, belev-
ing that principles can best be preserved bv
unity of action, in the party ITSELF True to
the cause in my entire poll ical career. and
free from all bias as am to the personal mer
Its OF the two distinguished candidates pre-
sented cannot-ns Democrat-hestate in
declaring Judge Douglas the regular nominee
OF the party, he having received two thirds
OF all the votes in Convention, the onlv con-
strnction ever given to the two.thirds rule
since its first introduction in 1892 for. as
conceive, any other construction would be
absurd
But the regularity of his nomination is
not the only ground upon which | support
Judge Douglas support him as the rep
resentative of the great principle of self gov
ernment. l support him because believe
IN the doctrine of non-intervention, Popular
Sovereignty-or "Squatter Sovereignty" as
our enemies arc pleased to term it by way of
opprobium. This is the doctrine of the Dem
ocratic party. We have all been committed
to 1t and adhere to it, because believe
it to be just right and equitable, and the
only doctrine that will work Justice TO every
sSetion OF the confederacy that those who
now oppose this doctrine in the party stultifv
themselves, for every Democrat, from the
ward politicians to Mr. Buchanan, declared
1t to be the doctrine of the Democratic party.
hen the Kansas Nebraska Act PASSED in
1854, the happy intelligence was conveyed to
these shores that the vexed question of slave.
ry was transferred forever from the Halls Of
Congress and loealized-that, thereafter, the
legitimate business of the nation could be
acted on in Congress irrespective of this uues-
ton, and that the people of a Territory would
settle the slave question in their own way.
now, and for all time to come We all said
Well done and were contented Mr.. Bu-
chanan in accepting the nomination of the
Cincinnati Convention, declared that the
question of slavery had been localized, "and
that now the States, as we'll as the Terrific
res, could settle that question in their own
way" Again, in his inaugural address, he
said, "the vexed question Of slavery which
threatened the very existence of our institu-
tions. is at last happily settled, and settled
too, upon the principle of Popular Sovereign
ty principle as old as self government
itself T.
Now ask all candid men in the party. if
they dld not understand the Kansas Nebraska
ACT, at that time, as Mr.. Buchanan did e?
lhey surely did, for there was not dissent
ing voice heard from the North or the South.
as iar as the Democratic party was concerned
at that time, against Mr. Buchauans rendi-
tloh oil It's features. Mr.. Douglas never took
6older ground than this-he has firmly ad-
hered to this principle, and l. for one. am
ready to do him honor for in. Ten wears
will not elapse till the very men who now
persecute him will be loudest in his praise
and say, "Sir, your doctrine is the only safety
for the country and the Union"
never trim or dodge rm always ready
to take my side of any question that presents
itself never wait for maiorities and see
how the wind blows; promptly take nv
position and support it in gentlemanly way.
always respecting the views of those who
differ with me.
tell you my friends. that the greet heart
oil the Democratic party pulsates for Douglas
an dhis principles and California, particu-
iariy' Tor she is the daughter Of Popular Soy.