Year: 1860




announced the purpose of violating the usages
of the Democratic party, and boiling the
nominees of the Baltimore Convention, unless
the Convention change the platform adopted at
Charleston, have attempted to justify their con-
templated treason by asserting that all the
Southern States-whieh, together with Califor-
MIA and Oregon, are, say they erroneously, alone
sure for the Democratic nominee-are opposed
10 such platform and that it is not fair that
delegates from Republican States should have
an eqaal voice in Convention with those from
the Democratic Statesl


Now, in considering this argument or excuse
in behalf Of party treason, we must remember,
first, that it is a fundamental principle of the
party organization, that the majority snail rule,
and that the minority shall cheerfully submit to
the voice of the majority when in presence of
the enemy-always reserving the right, however,
at the proper time and inside of the organization,
to maintain such views as may be in conflict
with the authoritative utterances of the major
ity. We must next remember that the National
Convention is composed of delegates represent
ing, not the States, but the Democracy of the va
rous States and that a Democrat residing in
Pennsylvania is just as mush Democrat and
lust as much entitled to a voice in the framing of
a National Platform, as the Democrat who hap
pens to reside across the line in Maryland. As
before the Constitution, so in the great Demo-
cratic organization, every Democrat, whether he
lives in Maine or Texas Virginia or California,
is the peer of every other member OF the party.
No man thoroughly imbued with the true DEM
ocratic doctrine of equality, can argue that
Democrat in Black Republican Massachusetts, is
less Democrat and entitled to less voice in the
councils of the party than Democrat of old
Democratic Virginia. The idea is intrinsically,
radically, eternaly undemocratic.


But these prospective renegades declare that
without all the Democratic States of the South
vote for the Democratic nominee, he cannot be
elected-and therefore the Democratic States of
the South should be permitted the exclusive
privilege of fixing the platform and naming the
nomineel Do these men not know that all the
Southern States may go for our nominee, and
yet, without the assistance of some of the Nor
thern States, he cannot be elected? So that it
is inst as essential to the success of the party
that some of the Northern States vote for the
Democratic nominee, as that all of the Southern
States do


Again there are more than twice as many
Democrats in the Northern States as in the
Southern States. Indeed Mr. Buchanan received
more Democratic votes in the Northern States,
than he and Fillmore and Fremont all three, re-
ceived in the Southern States That being the
case, what becomes of the Democratic doctrine
that a majority shall rule, if Democrats of the
Southern States, a minority Of the whole party,
shall alone be entitled 10 voice in the councils
of the party?


Finally, while all the Southern States may
prefer the majority platform to that adopted by
the Convention at Charleston, yet Virginia,
North Carolina, Maryland, Kentucky, Tennessee
and Missouri expressed perfect willingness to
have their favorite candidates nominated there
on. Hunter and Guthrie and Dickinson and
Lane were willing to receive the nomination on
the platform adopted. So that it appears that
the assertion that all the Southern States are
irreconcilably opposed to the platform adopted
at Charleston is simply untrue. The Democrats
of the South are willing to abide the usages of
the party, and especially to obey the fundamen
tai law of the organization, to wit, that the ma
jority shall rule. The result of the proceedings
at Baltimore will vindicate our confidence in the
party fealty of Southern Democrats. At that
time, all differences will be amcably settled,
good and true man will be nominated, and the
party, united, harmonious, enthusiastic and con-
fdent, will enter upon the convass with GER
tainty Of glorious success. Let all traitors to
The party all disunionists, all Black Republi-
cans and Abolitionists mark the prediction, be-
heve in it, and tremble.