Year: 1860

Acceptance.
| WASHINGTON, June 29.-The following is Mr.


Douglas letter accepting the nomination for the
| Presidency:


| GENTLEMEN In accordance with the verbal as
Surance winch gave you when you placed in my
| hands the authentic evidence of my nomination
| for the Presidency, by the National Convention OF


the Democratic party, now send you my formal
| acceptance.


| Upon a careful examination of the platform oil
| principles adopted at Charleston and reafIirmed al
| Baltimore, with additional resolution which is
IN perfect harmony with the Others find it to be
| faithful embodiment of the tme-honored princi-
| pies OF the Democratic party, the same were
proclaimed and understood by all parties in the
| Presidential contests of lS48, 1852 and 1856
Upon looking into the proceedings of the Conven-
ton also, l find that the nomination was made
with great unanimity in the presence and with the
concurrence of more than two-thirds of the whole
number of delegates, and in exact accordance with
the long established usages of the party.
My lnhexlole purpose not to be candidate nor
accept the nomination in any contingency except
as the regular nominee of the National Democratic
party and in that case only, upon conditions that
the usages, as well the principles, of the party
should be strictly adhered to, had been proclaimed
for long time and became well known to the coun-
try. These conditions having all been complied
with by the free and voluntary action of the Dem
ocratc masses, and their faithful representatives
without any agency, interference procurement
on my part, ! feel bound in honor and duty to ac-
cept the nomination.


In taking this step am not unmndful of the re-
sponsbties it imposes; but with firm reliance
on Divine Providence, have felt that if the people
will comprehend the true nature of the is
sue involved, and eventually maintain the right.
The peace OF the country and perpetuty of the Un-
ion have been put in jeopardy by attempts to inter-
tere with and control the domestic affairs of the
people in the Territories through the agency of the
Federal Government. If the power and duty of
Federal interference be conceded, two hostile par
ties must be the inevitable result-the one infu
enclng the passions and ambitions of the North
and tha of thn Il.
to the Federal power and authority for the A o
grandizement of its section, at the expense of
the equal rights of the other and in derogation of
those fundamental principles of self government
which were formerly established in this country by
the American revolution as the basis of our entire
Republican system.


During the memorable period in our political
history when the advocates of federal Intervention
upon the subject of slavery in the Territories had
well nigh precptated the country in ito revolution
the Northern interventiOnists demanding the vii.
mot proviso for the prohibition of slavery and the
>, uthern interventionsts then few in number and
without single representative in either house of
Congress, insisting upon Congressional legislation
for the protection of slavery, in opposition to the
wishes of the people in either 1t will be re-
membered that it required all the wisdom mower
and influence of Clay, and Webster and a Cass
supported by conservative and patriotic men, Whig
ana Democratic OF that day, to devise and carry out
a line of policy which would restore peace to the
country and stability to the Union.


The essential living principle of that policy as
applied In the legislation of 1850, was and now is
non Intervention, By Congress ,ritb Slavery an the
Territories The fair application of this Just and
equitable principle restored harmony and fraterni-
ty to distracted country.


If we never depart from that wise and lust poll
cy which produced these happy results and permit
the country to be again distracted if not precipita
ted, into revolution by a sectional contest between
pro-savery and anti-savery interventionsts where
shall we look for another Clay, another Webster or
another Cass to pilot the ship of State over the
breakers into the haven of peace and safety?


The Federal Union must be preserved The
Constitution ust be maintained inviolate on all
its points. Every right guaranteed by the Con-
stItution must be protect by law in all cases
where legislation is necessary to its enjoyment-
The Judicial authority, provided in the Consti-
tuition, must be sustained and its decisions implicit
y obeyed and faithfully executed The laws must /
oe administered and the constituted authorities |
upheld, and all unlawful resistance suppressed


These things must all be done with firmness, i'm
and fidelity, if we expect to enjoy and |
transmit unlmpaired, to our posterity that blessed
Inheritance, which we have received in trust from |
he patriots and sages of the Revolution.


With sincere thanks for the kind and agreeable |
manner in which you have made known to me the |
Iction OF the Convention, | have the honor to be-
-ery respectfully, your friend and fellow-ciizen,


S. A. DOUGLAS.


Hon. W. FL. Ludlow, of New York; r. R. Dick,
II North Carolina; R. c. Wickcliffe, of Louisiana
md 0f tha