Year: 1860

It., there
is no one who hears me, there is no one upon the
face of the green earth, who has no more capacity


than l, that loves his country more that do and
in that degree with which l am bound by birth
and education to North Caaolina; in that degree
with which honor the position the South has al
ways maintained; in that degree with which l
love and yenerate the union of these States in


that degree do feel an interest and solicitude
for the Democratic party in the next election be-


cause, with the success of that party, in my opin-
| ion. depends the continuation of equal RIGHTS
under the Constitution, and Of good faith be-
tween the States.


Accustomed as have been to look forward to
the great Democratic party of the Union AS the
only hope of the country in the approaching cou-
test, was not prepared for the spectacle of Sc
cesson which l witnessed in the Convention,
although it had been threatened. Soon after
my arrival in Charleston, and before the Con-
vention had been organized, was informed that
the delegation from the State OF Alabama would
require Il new feature to be incorporated in the
Democratic platform, demanding of Congress a
code of laws for the protection of slave property
in the Territories, and in the eventt not
! adopted they would secede from the Convention :;
that if q slave code were adopted and platform
to suit them, they would remain and participate,
! condition that the Convention would


make certain nomination, for if it did, although
the platform might be sufficient they would still
Withdraw. Now, these We're the terms dictated
to the Convention by the delegation from the
State of Alabama. That is the spirit with which
|
ton must adopt platform, and make nomina-
ton to suit their own peculiar views, they
would come out and have nothing to do with it.
Now, had thought the very object of the great
gatherings of the Democracy in national Conven-
ton was for the purpose of concession. compro
mise and cancellation not with these gentle
man. they must have ali they want or they will
have nothing; they will rule ruin the Conven-
ton must obey them or they will break mp the
Convention.


! hPIr for 81 code rpjoc ctpH
which the signal for retiring. and their chair
man arose and announced it. Others followed.
A dead silence reigned throughout that vast
Convention these seceders retired from the
Hall. 1t sad scene to look upon A strong
and powerful thrust had been made at the great
head of the nation, and for the first time in my
life did feel that the Union in danger
Very many of the delegates who left us as l
have said [ have h0 doubt were actuated by
Bile impulses they were suffering the most in
tense excitement occasioned by the repeated in
Hamatory appeals which had been made to them
night after night in their caucuses; but their
leaders--oh they calm and collected
their purpose and determination were fixed, and


cannot resist the belief that that purpose and de-
termination to break up the Democratic party.


with the hope and belief that it would culminate
in dissolution of the Union. They went to the
convention to have slave code adopted in the


platform; they were determined to secede if it


were not adopted they knew it would not be
adopted then why go into the convention but
!
knew that this question of Congressional nonn-


tervention had been long since settled; that the
people had acquiesced in that settlement for
nearly ten years.


Non Interference by Congress with slavery in
State and Territory was the basis of the compro-
mise of 1850; afterwards affirmed by both the
Democratic ard Whig parties in their national
conventions, and ratified by the people in the
election of President Pierce. 1t was re affirmed
i'll the Cincinnati platform sanctioned by the
| ic art in he ratified
by the people in the election OF President Buct-
anan. This settlement having been so long ac-
quiesced in what new danger to the South requir-
ed that it should be disturbed What great cri-
sis at hand? Whence the necessity for this
secession Was the honor of the South at stake?
Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee. Missouri and
North Carolina remained and that is assurance


ample TO the world that the secession from that


convention not demanded by the South for
the preservation of our rights or the vindication


of orr honor. The delegation from State, to-


gether with those from the other remalnin" States
eudeavored to effect re- union of the party while
at Charleston, but efforts were unavailing, and
the convention adjourned to meet in Baltimore
the 18th Of June. giving time for reflection, and


hoping that the States whose delegates seeded
would commission others to meet US III Baltl


more.


In balIotting for :he nomination, North Caro-


lima. with the exception of the vote OF one dis
trict. cast her vote for several bollots first for



son, of New York and then for General Lane of
Oregon. The vote cast for General Lane for
Perhaps twenty-five ballots, but he at no time
received a greater number than 205. The sec
ton from which he comes if section has
claims over another, the west never having had
Democratic President. perhaps, entitled
to the nomination.; but the Little Giant came
down with almost the unanimous voice of the
great Northwest and on the th1rty-thrd ballot re-
ceived 1923 votes, clear majority of the whole
Electoral College. And it may be asked why
hold out against this majority! A great many
would not have held out-perhaps the nomi-
nation might have been conferred upon him, but
for the fact that the nomination of Judge Doug
las upon the Cincinnati platform simply would
be to adopt his construction of 1t, and tanta-
mount to an endorsement of his views upon po-
pular sovereignty. We who voted against him
entertained the opinion that Territorial legis-
lature had power to impair the rights Of pro-
perty in slaves or other chattles during its terri
toria existence. And perhaps his immediate
friends would have acted wisely if they had
agreed in the beginning to the adoption of
solution in accordance with that opinion. But
the leading spirits III that secession movement
would have repudated his nomination in any
event. The difficulty, however, with those who
remained this vexed question, of squatter
sovereignty; question, practically, of less mag
nitude in my humble jud gment than attach
ed to it by some of my colleagues; question
which be determined by the Demo
cratic platform, nor by the platforms of all the





preme Court of the United States and when
that tribunal has decided that question, Judge
Douglas is pledged to abide by 1t and to uphold
it, The hostility of the seceders, though, was
unrelenting-and for what Was it because
they desired dsunion, and they knew that his
nomination would be declaration of the conven-
ton in favor of the Union Why this unpre-
cedented warfare upon that great statesman?
Had they so soon forgotten the history of his
whole life the faithful friend and ally of States
Rights Democracy Do they remember that he
was the friend and advocate of the annexation of
Texas, by which three hundred thousatd square
miles of slave territory was added to the South
Do they remember his advocacy of the compro-
mise of 1850 ? Have they forgotten the fierce
opposition which he encountered from his own
people for his advocating the passage of the fu-
gative slave law Have they quite forgotten
the great and noble triumph of Judge Douglas
over an infuriated mob of four thousand people
at Chicago. when he so bravely stood up and de-
Tended the rights of the South The recollec-
ton OF all these services which he had rendered
his party and his country came fresh to my mem
ory. when from the piazza of tbs Charleston Ho-
tel heard his DETAINED by distinguished
gentlemen and in some allusiOn to the star