Year: 1860

N'-'' ~ -N- "


mo, by which l am officially informed of my


nomination for the office of President of the Uni


ted States by the Democratic National Conven


tion lately assembled ut Baltimore.


The circumstances Of this nomination will jus


tify me in referring to its personal aspect.


Ihave not sought or desired to be placed before


the country for the office of President. When my


name was presented to the Convention at Charles


ton, it was withdrawn by friend in obedience to


my expressed wishes. My views had not changed
when the Convention reassembled at Baltimore
and when | heard Of the differences which oc-
Cured there my indspostion to be connected
prominently with the canvass was confirmed, and
expressed to many friends.


without discussing the occurrence which pre-
ceded the non nations, and which are or soon
will be, understood by the country, have only
to say that approved, as just and necessary to
the preservation of the national organization
and the sacred right of representation. the ac-
ton OF the Convention over which you continued
to preside; and thus approving it, and having re-
solved to sustain it, feel that it does not become
me to select the position | shall occupy, nor to
shrink from the responsibilities Of the post to
which have been assigned. Accordingly, nc
cept the nomination from sense of public duty,
and as think, uninhuenced in any degree by the
allurements Of ambition.


avail myself Of this occasion to say that the
confidence in my personal and public character,
implied by the action Of the Convention, will al
ways be gratefully remembered; and it is but just
also to my own feelings to express my gratifca-
tion at the association of my name with that of
my friend, General Lane, u patriot and soldier,
whose great services in the field and in council
entitle him to the gratitude and confidence of his
countrymcn


The resolutions adopted by the Convention have
my cordial approval They are Just to all parts
OF the Union, to all our ciizes, native and ma
turazed, and they form a noble policy Tor any
Administration.


The questions touching the rights of persons
and property, which have of late been much dis
cussed, find in these resolutions Constitutional
solution. Our Union is a Coniederucy Of equal
sovereign States, for the purposes enumerated in
the Federal Constitution. Whatever the com
mon Government holds in trust for all the States
must be employed equally by each. l. controls
the Territories in trust for all the States. No
thing less than sovereign can destroy or impair
the rights OF persons or property. The Terrific
rial Governments are subord nate and temporary,
and not sovereign; hence they cannot destroy
impair the rights OF persons or property. While
they continue to be Territories they are under the
control of Congress. but the Constitution nowhere
cOnfers on any branch of the Federal Govern
ment the power to discriminate against the rights
OF the States or the property of their citizens in
the Territories. It follows that the citizens of all
the States may enter the Territories of the Union
with their property. Of whatever kind md enjoy
1t during the Territorial condition, without let
or hindrance either by Congress or by the sub
ordinate Territorial Government.


These principles flow directly from the absence
of sovereignty in the Territorial Governments
and from the equality of the States Indeed
they are essential to that equality which is and
ever has been the vital principle Of our Constitu
tional Union. They have been settled legis-
latively-settled judcialy and are sustained by
right reason They rest on the rock of the Con
stitution-thoy will preserve the Union.


1t is idle to attempt to smother these great is
sues. or to msrepresent them by the use of par
tisan phrases. which are misleading and delusive
The people will look beneath such expressions as
"lntervention," Congressional Slave Code" and
the like and will penetrate to the real questions
involved. The friends of Constitutional equality
do not and never did demand constitutional
Slave Code" nor any other code in regard to
property in the Territories. They hold the doc
trne of non-interventon by Congress or by q
Territorial Legislature, either to establish pro
hbit slavery; but they assert Fortified by the
hi CHEST judicial tribunal in the Union) the plain
duty of the Federal Government in all its de-
partments, to secure, when necessary to the cti-
zens of the States the enjoyment of their proper
ty in the common Territories as everywhere else
within its jurisdiction. The only legal answer to
this would seem to be to claim sovereign power
for the Territories or to deny that the Constitu
ton recognizes property in the services of negro
slaves, or to deny that such property can exist.
IneXorable logic which works its steady way
through clouds and passion, compels the country
to meet the issue. There is no evasive middle
ground. Already the signs multiply of fanati-
cal and growing party which denies that under
the Constitution or by any other law, slave pro
perty can exist: and ultimately the struggle must
come between this party and the National Demo-
cracy, sustained by all the other conservative
elements of the Union.


think it will be impossible for candid mind
to discover hostility to the Union or a faint of
scctionasm in the resolutions adopted by the
Convention. The Constitution and the Union
reposes on the equality of the States which lies
like broad foundation underneath our whole
political structure. AS construc them the rcso-
lutons simply assert this equality. They de-
mand nothing for any State or section that is not
cheerfully conceded to all the rest. 1t is well to
remember that the chief disorders which have
afflicted our country have grown out of viola
tion of State equality, and as long as this great
principle has been respected we have been bcs-
sed with harmony and peace. Nor will it be easy
to persuade the country that resolutions sec
tional which command the support of a majority
of the States antsare approved by the bone and
body of the old Democracy, and by vast mass
of conservative opinion everywhere, without re-
gard to party.


1t has been necessary more than once in our
history to pause, and solemnly assert the true
character of this Government. A memorable in
stance occurred in the struggle which ended in
the civil revolution of 1900. The Republicans
of that day, like the Democracy of this, were
s'igmatzed as disunionists, but they nobly con
Quoted the contest under the Constitution, and
saved our political system. BY like constitu-
tional struggle, it is intended now to assert and
establish the equality of the States as the only
basis of union and peace. When this object, so
national, so constitutional. just, shall be ac-
complished, the last cloud will disappear from
the American sky, and with common hands and
hearts the States and the people will unite to de-
velop the resources of the whole country, to bind
it together with the bonds Of intercourse and