Year: 1860

as chairman ot your delegation to the late national convention at Charleston, but also with view to your future action, 1 feel It to be my duty to make the following state ment:

 The principles of the democratic party, as announced in the State convention, and the instructions which accompanied them, have been literally sustained and obeyed by the body of the delegation.

 After the convention at Charleston had been some days in session, a portion ot your delegation, in company with num- Der of delegates from several of our sister southern States, deemed it proper that they should withdraw from that body. w hlle 1 approved of the principle on which they acted, thought that the time had not yet arrived when such withdrawal ought to take place, since it seemed to me that further efforts might yet in honor be made to effect mutual concessions and reconcile conflicting opinions.

 Under the circumstances, and impressed with this conviction, l, with Messrs. TER RY and HoADLEY determined to remain m the convention, at least until the next day. In this we believed that we were strictly loyal to the high trust confided to the delega- tion. We should have been glad 1.-the whole delegation could have consulted together, be- fore the step of withdrawal was taken by any member of 1t. For we believed that the perpetuity of the Union itself was per haps involved in the course then and there to be pursued by the delegates of the south ern States We religiously believed that Ii that Union could be preserved at ali, on such terms as to be worth preserving to the South, that it could only be effected by the continued unity of the great democratic party; and therefore we were reluctant to seem. even, to divide the South, and wished time to consult with other southern men as to the course that ought to be pursued.

 Finding among the delegations of north ern States settled purpose not to yield to the South her constitutional rights, but to drive her delegates from the hall of the con vention or force upon them candidate tor the Presidency unwecome to the South, because the representative of doctrine at war with the rights, independence and dlg- nitv of the southern States; l, with Messrs. TERRY and HoADLEY, proceeded the next l from the convention. The convention had refused to adopt the platform reported by the majority of the committee, and by that which it did adopt, ignored the rights ot the people of the South to go into the com mon territory held in trust for the States, carving with them their servants bound to labor and service for life, and there to be protected in their rights of property, against unfriendly legislation by the territorial leg islatures.

 In thus withdrawing as your agent, do not consider that 1 vacated my seat Tn that convention. From you received my right to a seat there; you, through your State convention, armed me with my commission, and the seat is mine, whether l for the time occupy it or not; since no power on earth but you can deprive me of 1t.

 Those of your delegates who withdrew, did so for what they regarded as ample cause and reason; and if, when the conven- ton re-assembles on the 18th of June, that cause shall be removed, l shall deem 1t to be our duty, and shall thereby assert it as my right, again to participate Tn It's dellbe- rations.

 There will be no moment before the con- vention closes, at which 1t will be too late for us finally to withdraw and refuse to be bound by it's action. Without the presence of the democratic States of the South, there can be no national democratic organization; and when they withdraw, the democratic party, as a national party, is dissolved.

 It will not do for the South to be div l. ed against itself, or to undertake flank movement in the presence of a powerful and vigilent enemy. To its political sal vation in the Union, its unity is absolutely indispensable; and for the salvation of the Union the national organization of the de- mocratic party is equally essential. The southern States. one and all, in the great controversy which is at hand, must stand shoulder to shoulder, in one unbroken line, or defeat. if not dishonor, is inevitable.

 I cannot but think that, by the time the convention re- assemblies at Baltimore, these selfevident propositions will be so general lv recognized and have produced such an effect, as will permit your delegates, with justice to you and due regard for your rights and honor, to resume their seats in that body.

 The following resolution, originating with the delegation from NEW YORK, was offered as compromise in the convention at Charleston, by TENNESSEE, and second ed by VIRGINIA and KENTUCKY:

 Rcsolvod That the citizens of the United States have an equal right settle with their property in the territories of the United States and that under the decision of the supreme court of the United l C-. .Ioo aot tion of the constitution of the United States neither the right of person nor property can be de str0ved or impaired by congressional or territorial legislation.

 It leaves to the judiciary to determine, | (which can be under such done in a suit be- | tween individuals, while 1t may legitimate ly be done, and when done will be final ] whether slaves ore property, under the con stitution of the United States; it recognises the finaltv of the decision in the case of Dred .ScoH, and it explicitly and positively negatives the doctrine that slavery may be indirectly annulled in territory by unfriend ly legislation on the part of petty territori al legislatures. While it does not explicit | ly say that slaves ore property, and, as the South holds, that no power on earth can in territory, annul or impair the right of the master to sthe labor and service of his slave for life, and to sell, transfer or devise that right; still it meets the most promi- nent question of the present day; and dis poses of Jhe odious doctrine of squatter sov ereignty; to which cannot believe the South will ever be made tame enough to submit.

 It is therefore my opinion that. if this resolution is adopted, your delegates ought to return, and I propose to return into the convention. It at least guarantees that both platform and candidate shall not be heritical and hostile to sound democratic doctrine, and the enemies of the sovereign ty and equal dignity and honor of the | States. To this resolution, New York. as we'll as the border States of Tennessee, Vir- ginia and Kentucky are committed. It does not appear that any vote was taken upon it at Charleston. It was submitted at time when other business was under consideration, and was not reached in the order of proceedings. It is therefore still pending, and may properly be called up at the adjourned meeting. If it is adopted, I |