Year: 1860

the Southern Draught Of a Nep Platform.


Mr. YANcEy of Alabama on the fh day of the session.
whilst the rival platforms before the Convention
adoption, addressed the body as follows


Mr.. President / thought that probably there was no
better occasion for an Aabaman to rise and address the
Democracy Of the Union than after the remarkable and
unnatural speech that has just fallen from native son
the South. could have heard that speech from any
Northern unmoyed. | confess did not hear it from


citizen of the State whose admission has caused the
South nearly all its evils entirely uBnoved Coming
from State, Mr. President that has assumed somewhat
prominent position this question, thought it well that
of her should endeavor b present what the State
believes TO be the position which the South occupies
tins question Aabaua has instructed her delegates TO
present this body her platform principles and ask for
its candid consideration. The Convention of my State
pleased to express the hope that from its justice
and patriotism il anticipated their adoption by this
body. Thus far, gentemen of the Democracy am happy
say that the hopes of that State have not altogether
been disappointed majority of the sovereign States of
TINS Union have united IN making report which em6odles
substantially the position occupied, believe, by the
State of Alabama. And not only majority of the
egn States of this Union have done this but although
native of the South has raised his voice here and said
that the majority report contained adders sting to the
Northern Democracy and has chosen to speak of it


poison that report to with what is to


higher endorsement-the approval of the Southern pa


ots long deferred hope and desderatum-a united South
IGreat applause And not only the report thus highly
commended to but desire to direct the attention of
this body and of the Democracy large to this striking





than twothrds of the votes of the great Democratic party
of the Union Cheers 1t is also undoubtedly true, Mr.
President, well said by the chairman of the
ntee who opened this debate that the majority of the
committee who made that report represent what
considered the electoral vote of every Democratic State
this uniol and that the delegates presenting the minority
report represent States that all probability, will each
Black Republican electoral vote That is hardly to
be doubted There is possibly, among those who signed
that majority report, State whose position might be
considered doubtful at the Presidential polls but the great
and fartf he vote of
South asking of this National Democracy that upon great
IN which their property and constitutional rights
involved and Incidentally and remotely it may be- their
very quiet, and peace and lives and honor that that
Question their right to protection shall be acknowledged


Gentlemen of the Convention my State has to ask
of this body the adoption of the resolutions reported by the
majority Of the committee because her representatives
here believe that they substantially conform to the prine
pies enuncated in her PLATFORM which instructed
to insist upon the only basis upon which Alabama can
associate with the National Democracy party My
State gentlemen of the Convention has been the mark of
many shaft of caumny and of Misrepresentation and her
delegates this floor have also been the marks-soe in
dvduals than OtheTs0f great misrepresentation and
falsehood in relation to their political position 1t has been
charged, in order to dem0raize whatever influence
might be entitled to, either from personal political
characteristics representatives OF the State of Ala
bama that dsruponists, dismonsts per Sc that
desire to break up the party the State of Alabama,
to break up the party In the Union and to dissolve the
Union itself Each and all of these allegations come from
what quarter they may, pronounce to be false Zap
plause There disunonst that know of in the de-
legation from the State of Alabama There po disup-
ZIONIST that know of, and if there faeonsts IN
delegation tney could got in there with the
ledge upon the part of State Convention that they
of so snenyabe character.


= WE here with two great purposes FIRST to save
the constitutional rights of the South if it Law in our power
to do We desire to the South by the best
that present themselves to and the State of Alabama
believes that the best the organi-
zaon Of the Democratic party if shall be able per-
sade il to adopt the constitutional basis upon which


think the South alone can be saved Democrats ourselves
from youth upward belonging to State that has
been any thing but Democratic always voting for Demo-
cratic President and nearly always sending united vote
the House of Representatives and Democratic Senators
10 the Senate of the United States prefer that the honor
of saving the country shall the brew of the Demo-
cratic party. Deceived have been by much shown
the history of that party yet have hope that
VIII come TO the of the country have


deI that has desire to come to the We have
here then with the tw0fod purpose of saving the
country and of saving the Democracy and if the Demo-
craey viii not lend itself to that high holy and elevated
purpose if it elevate itself above the ques


of how perfect shall be its personal organization
and how widespread shall be it's voting success then
to You, gentlemen mournuy and regretfuy that
opinion of the State of Alabama and believe, OF
the whole SOUTH you have failed your mission, and
it will be duty TO go forth and make appeal to
the loyalty of the country to stand by that Constitution
which party organizations have deliberately rejected
paHse This gentlemen trust, position that ysur
elevated natures least respect This gentle
trust is position to which you afford at least
to accord your sympathes and amongst the members
medately In front of me from the gallant Northwest
think there minds and hearts that respect sent
mens that may not agree with their ewD regards what
Is the Constitution of the country and who will accord tn
at least their sympathy and their respect in standing
up to what believe to be constitutional duty,
the hazard of dsruptng ties long held sacred-he ties
that bind to the Democracy At all events have
duty to perform to ourselves and to country.


The South Is IN minority, have been tauntingy
told to-day In the progress of events and the march OF
civilization and emigration the Northwest has grown up
from infant swaddng clothes, at the formation
of the Constitution into the form and proportions Of


giant people and owing to their institutions and demand
for white labor and the peculiar nature of ours though
advancing side by side parallel nes-neyer necessarily
conflict In the great march of civization-they have
surpassed greatly in numbers. We are therefore,
numerical minority but we do not murmur at this
cheeruly accept the result, but firmly claim the
right of the minory-and what that? We claim the
benefit of the Constitution that made for the proec
ton of mnoritles In the march of events feeling
OF numerical power have aggressed upon
US. We hold up between and your advancing columns
of numbers that written instrument which your and
fathers made and by the compact Of which, you with
power to respect us and rights Our and your
fhers made it that they and their children should forever
observe it that upon all questions affecting the rights
the minority the majority should not rely upon their voting
numbers but should look restraint upon passion avarce
and for poer the written compact to see what
the minority be respected and how it was be
protected and to yield implicit obedience to that
pact Constitutions made solely for the protection OF
the mnorities government and for the guidance of ma
iortes. You your voting power, not accustomed
20 scan its provisions closely we, who less in number
ind the lnstrlenL tne only peaceaD6 solution OF diff


uties that otherwise would lead defend ourselves


with arms Is but natural that the North, eonscous


s voting strength in Congress- should seek WELD the
Government 70 it's own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and should listen


stlessy and eten deanty to the stern demand of the


south that the constitutional restraints of delegated power
should be gdy observed but at the time you must
remember that not only natural for the South
this but that it constitutional and it s the compact
that you shall forbear.


The simple position of Alabama, then, is upon the Con-
stitution of the country Taking position minor
kpIl futin
dces-holdng it up against your passions-hoding up
against your loose notions of what your duties
Cards the minority and regards yOurselyes-holdng


up something that you and shall respecas it il
something that you say you do respecthus planting
selves purely upon the Constitution and asking nothing
which that instrument does not grant, have right to
ask only of this young giant of the West but of this
older Northeast and North that they will calmly and
siderafeIy and ntegentIy with read that instrument
and wherein wronged and wherein you ag
gressng We of the South, it possibility may mistake


raaitian We Of South be