Year: 1860

To the People of Arkansas

 As one of the delegates to the Charles ton convention should not have felt called upon to address you this letter, were it not for the protest and secession of six of my colleagues from the convention to which we were accredited by the democracy of Arkansas.

 Differing with them in my construction of the instructions from the State cOnven- tion, l felt constrained to remain in the cOnyention and cast the vote of Arkansas in accordance herewith. Every vote 1 gave accorded fully with the resolutions of our State convention, and on every bal lot for the nomination of a President, 1 voted for Mir. Hunter, Mr. Lane, or Mr. Dickinson. Mir. Breckinridge would not and did not allow the presentation of his name, and consequently l had no oppor- tunity of voting for him.

 regret exceedingly to find in the pro- test of three of my friends, who were dele gates from Arkansas to the Charleston con- vention, resolution that was not passed by our State convention. This resolution does us gross injustice. In order that 1 may do them no wrong in my statement of the case, 1 copy the resolution which they quote as passed, and challenge any gentle man to point it out in the proceedings of the convention.

 The following is the resolution:

 "And if said convention refuse to recognize the rights of the South in the territories of the United States, the representatives of the democracy of Arkansas, be instructed to retire from said ton, and refuse to aid in the selection of any can didate whomsoever by said convention"

 The resolution which the convention did adopt which refers directly to the platform to be adopted by the Charleston convention, is in the following words.

 "Resoloed, That the democracy of Arkansas, in the Charleston Convention, be instructed insist upon the recognition by sad convention, of the principles herein before declared, prior balloting for any candidate for the Presidency"

 The principles referred to were those embodied in the Cincinnati platform, cou pied with the assertion that 'neithcr Con gress nor territorial legislature, whether by direct legislation or by legislation of an indirect or unfriendly character, possesses power to annul or impair the constitutional rights of any citizen of the United States, to take his slave property into the common territories and there hold and enjoy the same, and that if experience should at any time prove, that the judiciary and execu tive powers do not possess means to insure protection to constitutional rights in ter ritory, and if the territorial government should fail to provide the necessary reme- dies for that purpose, it will be the duty of Congress to supply the deficiency"

 The least discerning of men cannot fail to perceive that not one word Is said about the secession of the delegates from Arkan- sas, if the Charleston convention shouh re- fuse to incorporate these principles in its platform.

 Surely, if the citizens of Arkansas-a State second to none in loyalty to the Union and devotion to the constitutions had intended herrepresentatives at Charles ton to withdraw from the convention un- der such circumstances, they would have instructed them to do so in a manner that could not be misunderstood.

 The resolution merely declares that the delegates from Arkansas shall insist upon l sist on their adoption-strenously, earnest ly insisted on their adoption-until princi- ples somewhat different were agreed to by a majority of the convention; but 1 put the question to you in all soberness and seri- ousness, had the right, or would you have justified me- in withdrawing from that con- vention, without your positive recommen- dation? l unhesitatingly say no! and am satisfied that those who intrnsted me with the declaring of their voice in the conyen- ton, will proudly say no! It is admitted that the prosperity and perpetuation of our glorious Union and the existence of the democratic party depend upon the defeat of the combined forces of the abolitionists of the North in the next contest-upon the signal rebuke of the revisers, indorsers and circuators of the infamous Helper book, and the originator of the :" irrepressible con hict" doctrine.

 Then why should the Arkansas delega ton take upon themselves, the responsibili ty of disrupting the democratic party, the only hope for the salvation of the country, without an express injunction to that effect from those they represent?

 My own opinion is that the destruction of the democratic party will be the death knell of the Union, the severence of those sacred ties which connects us to the glori- ous deeds of our heroic ancestry.

 In this view of the case, being as I al ways have been, Union man at heart, hay ing the peace and welfare of the United States, continually before my eyes, could not consistently consent to join the seeding delegates from the State of Arkansas. If the course have pursued does not meet your appreciation, if you instruct me to do so, will most cheerfully resign the trust you have 1eposed in me into the hands of any person you may deem more worthy of 1t. If you do not so instruct me, and 1 re- main in the convention at Baltimore, I shall endeavor to be actuated only by honest and sound constitutional motives, and the desire of making our growing republic prosper ous, united, happy and honorable in the eyes of the civilized world.

 JOHN I. SHERMAN.

 Washington Cay, D. C., May l6, 1860.

 The Chicago Republican ConveAtion.

 CAicago, May 2oth.-The convention met this morning at eleven o'clock, and proceeded to nominate a candidate for the