University of South Carolina Libraries
. ..? . ... ???.. " 1 wnan ' ' "TO THINK OWN SKLF UK Til UK, AND IT MUST FOLLOW, AS TIIK NIU.1IT TIIK DAY, TliOU VAX'ST NOT TIIKX IM-. F.M.8K TO ANY MAN." BY ROB'T. A. THOMPSON. PICKENS COURT HOUSE, S. C. SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, Vi6$. VOL. \ NO. (>. SPEECH OF HON. JAMES L. ORE, | Delivered at Craytonville, ?S. C.t on Thursday . the 12th of August, 18f>8. i My Friends : The warm and generous ( tribute you pay mo to day is the greatest | triumph of my life. My heart is touched , with the deepest emotions of gratitude for such manifestations of friendship from yon, thoconnittnions of mvhiivbond. f nm ??!>?. ding to-day upon the soil that gave me birth surrounded by the friends of early youth? surrounded by the friends of my venerated parents?those who have known *nc longest and who have known tuo bos ; and to be esteemed by you worthy of such an ovation as greets me is indeed the highest lionT 1 * " 1 ' or a naw ever won. i can una no Infi^uage that will truly tell you how profoundly grateful nr.' thankful 1 feel for this crowning manifestation of your affectionate devotion to me. 1 thank you ; niul if you could look into my heart you would see how much of the feeling of the soul it conveys.? Through life 1 shall cherish the memories of this clay as the brightest and most honorable of my existence. I propose to day to speak to you, of a few of the leading measures that engaged tlie attention oM'engross at its last sesion? of the Slave Trade, and of tho pow?;r and purpose of tho Democratic party to preserve the Constitutional rights 01 all sec.ions, and to maintain tho Union of those States. The most exciting topic of the late session was tho proposition to admit Kansas as a State into the Union under tho Lcoonip win v/onsiiipupn. t lie Territorial legislature of Kansas liad by law authorized the eloqtioh of delegates in June, 1S.r>7, to frame a State Constitution. The delegates were chosen?ninny of the voters of Kansas not appearing fit the polls, but it was their own fault that they absented themselves. The Convention met and organized in .September, but adjourned over for some weeks when it re-assembled, adopted a Constitution and ordinance, and adjourned niiir die. A clause was inserted in the Constitution iii cfi'cct making Kansas a ?laveholding State. This clause was submitted by the (Convention to (bo qualified voter# of tbe Territory, on tlio 2i?t of Dccdmbor; if a majority voted for tbe clause, it was to remain a part of the Constitution?if against it, then it wujj to be stricken from the ConHlitution before that instrument was submitted to Congress. On the .21st of December the voting took place, r.nd tho re Minis Biicwcu Hint fomo six thousand votes had been cast, a largo majority ot' Vrliich were in favor of rctaiuipg tlie clause referred to. It was alleged that many more votes were returned than were actually cast and I am of the opinion that the allegation was not. altogether groundless. At the election in October Inst ffir the Territorial Legislature, the" Free State" party elected a majority of their representatives, and after the Convention adjourned, Mr. Staunton, the noting (iovcrnor, called an extra session of tint Legislature prior to the 21st of December. It passed a law to submit the whole Constitution to the n/innln f/\?? ? * -- A* - 1 jivu|mu ivi iHivpiiuii uv uyui'iiuii ?any hi .January. At that election some ten thousand votes were returned against the Locompton Constitution and very few in favor of it. It was alleged that many more votes wore returned at this election than wcro east, and I havo no doubt that the allegation was true. The truth is, the Free State men did not attend the polls in Do comber nor tiic pro-flavery men in .January anil I apprehend that both parties were guilty of gross frauds in making the returns.? If the Convention at Leeonipton was a lawful body, (and its legality is abundantly established fi'Oiu point to point, from its in ccptjon to its adjournment,) then a Territorial Legislature), by an i.et pasted subsequently, could not alter, ehange or modify the proceedings of the Convention. The convocation, therefore, ol tho Legislature i... vi.. u. . i * . . . uy .in-, oiamon i?> uo itii act winch wax e (curly illegal?namely, to submit the whole Constitution at (mother time, when the (Jouvention had submitted only the Slavery clause on tho lilst of December, was unwarranted and culpnblo?so unjustifiable that tho President promptly removed him. The vote against the Constitution in January could not then be recognized as possessing any valid forco, becaui it was not in cuijinnnuy wiin me ordinance of tlie Convention-?a legal body. One of the claUscs of tho ordinance? and tho ordinance w?b an valid and binding as any part of tho body of tho instrument ?provided in offoct for appropriating in round numbers 25,000,000' of acres of the publio Inncl for educational mid internal improvement purposes, when Congrats hud novor given tiny other State more thnn 6,000,000 of acres ou admission for those purpcfleft. 1 he Constitution wris communicated by tho President to tho Scnnte lute in the winter, nnd n bill was there introduced rtrovi dirt# fov tho immediate admission of Kfttiww into tho Union, without any condition precedent, but requiring thnt the Legislator* of Kansas should by act release to the United States the excels of 20,000,000 of flcrca of the public land gunned in the ordinance 5 and hero !et tfcd nay, r^ppose the bill had becomo n'a\r, nnd Kansas hod AH.IU.J O 1 ' ? ... " Miwen or rtmwuj to .n?KC release, liow would the rights of the United States have been enforced '/ Cpuld you havo turned her out of tiio Union, with her Senators o?)d Hepresentati><*, ?po'? ^ueh piniwipu or refusal? If the United States hud attempted to cxcrci*c rijjht" of ownership, I v and it had been resisted by Kansas, would wo not have bc?n compelled to vindicate our rights by Federal bayonets? Wlio would not look with painful solicitude upon BUfth a collision between the United .States undone of its members? This view, in my iudmnent. makes the ('nnferenr-obill. which finally pawed, pvcfcrr.ble to the orig- . inal Semite bill, especially 11s the former recognized every vital principle coutaincd j in the latter, and in addition gual'di d ; against this grave difficulty which hasgreAt! ly magnified the longer 1 have contcmplatI cd it. The Senate bill led to a masterly j . _1_.U i > !- iL i 1 1 ?? ' ?' ' uuuniv in inai. uouy. j. nc nepuoiicans op' posed tiic admission on the ground mainly I because the Constitution recognized slavery, i and Mr. Douglas and bis fricnd3 011 tlio I ground that no State should he admitted | until the Constitution was rati lied by a pop- : ular vote of the people. It was replied by ; i the Democrats that the Congress could only 1 | inquire whether a State asking admission ; had a republican form of government, and j that every territory seeking admission had I | tlie right to enter the confederacy whether 1 I it established or repudiated shivery, and j i that it was not tor Congress to admit or re- j ! jeet on any such ground. They replied to , Mr. .Douglas that the Lceonipton ConstU j tution had the legal, fundamental right to 1 submit or withhold all or a part of the Con- i I fctitution from popular ratification?that it i ! had refused, whether wisely or unwisely I it is not nccessary to discuss, to submit any j j oincr inun me slavery clause, and that their | I decision must be final, if the legal existence i j of the body was not wholy repudia'ed. It; ! was answered to thoso who objected that I | the Constitution did not embody the will j of a majority of the people of Kansas, that ' even in popular Governments like ours, to I avoid anarchy and complete demolition of i the social fabric, that the populor will must j be ascertained purfciiantto the requirements j ni;d provisions of l:iw?that the people of Kansas were authorized to express by bal; lot whether lluy desired a Convention or | not?a majority of t!:ose voting said they did ; they were authorized by law to elect delegates?they did elect delegates, and those delegates framed a constitution ; that the delegates submitted the slavery clause to a vole, and a majority of those voting i WIM'O ill fjivnr vnfMiiniwi- ti inwl tor all tlio3o opportunities to express their opinion legally through the bullol. box, it could not bo clninicd by tliom that the Coristitution did not reflect their sentiments. If it did not, who was lit. fault'( Who was to blnmo? None but themselves, when fl.oi- rofnon,! *K? l-.t v..vj I viiiowu i?/ ly IIIV3 Utl IlUt UUA, UU1 preferred faetiun mid discord to (lie legal nnd peaceable settlement of the disputed implies. The bill passed the Senate, but failed in the House, and was amended by the sub- ! stitution of a now proposition by Mr. Mont- j joinery, of Pennsylvania. J lis amendment ] provided in .substance that the Lccompton j < i l.i i i ! : j v uiioi/i i in inn Miuum in; MiWillllU'U l() IMC J i people?the slavery clause included, and that if n majority of the bnua Jitfo inhnhi- j tants of Kansas should vote for its ratiliea- } tion, upon that fact being certified to tho j President of the I'nited States, lie should | hy proclamation declare Kansas admitted j as one of the States of the Union. If a majority voted aiminst it. then the Leennm- I ? ^ c- ' - Y ton Constitution was defunct. The objection to the Montgomery amendment was two-fold?liv?t, if. asserted a power in ! C'onprrcaS to override the Convention which J represented the inchoate sovereignty of i Kansas, by submitting the instrument for | popular rutilication, when the Convention ! representing tho people in the only legal ' form in which they could speak, repudiated ! such ratification ; and secondly, it devol vcd on the President the power hy Ins will and in his discretion to nqinita new St;ilo when the Constitution of the United States conferred the power of admitting nuv States only on "the Congrewh" of the United States, and not on the President. v The vote on this amendment developed however, tho most anomalous tercrivoraa tiyn in the professed principles of the Abolition-Republican part^?the baldest abandonment of long chenshod political tenets that I ever ??aw, heard or road of; and if its efi'eets arc not greatly to demoralize their organization, then their rank and fdo arc Lou ? ?l 1 ? iv;nn IIUIIVOK lllilU I llirill IU ?JC. I One of the cardinal nrticlcs of their political faith in the Presidential election was uncompromising opposition to theadmission of any more slavo States?it whs tho plank I of their platform, nnd in two brief years | the leaders of that parly actually vote to admit Kansas as a slavo State with tho slavery clause in tho Constitution under their very noses, if a majority of her neonle fa vorcd tho LceOinpton Constitution. The j principle th?y votod wn? nil that the South | claimed in tho ton yonra' cont;~t upon the slavery ishue. Tho doctrine of tho South ahd of tho "oiiKtitution in, that a State is entitled to admission in tlio Union with or i without shivorv* iuat as n mninritv of t.ln> 7 T?* people mnking tho nppliention ?hnll decide, Tho KepubHcMns, despite their protestationa have succ'imbcd, and stand upon the record committed to tho very principles on this poini which they have so floreely n?Hnilcd the northern JJemoorut# for maintaining, nor enn thev choadc from the con-! [ soqueuoca of that vote by pretending thut it w?s given to defeat the Soimtc bill j if j tho llcpvib)ivan8 of tho House hod voted nlono on the amendment, there might have | been (tomo plauHibility in tho excuse but every Republican iu tho h'enato (except pnrkoc) ulso voted for it, when they know that such a vote would not defeat the Sennt'j bill. Knowing with absolute certainty that a vote for tlie amendment would n<jf, and could not defer.t the original hill, why did the Republican Senators vote for it '( IIow did they vote for it, as it was not even with thoni a choice of evils, without it complete renunciation of their principh.s? 'J'lu; vote wuh tm important one. if looked to only asa party triumph lbrtho Democracy ; hut it was infinitely more important as .signifying the re. ulsion which had occurred in tho Northern tit?n<l against the extreme sectional doctrines of the HeuuLlicnn nartv The conservative people of the North wlm united with that party in 1856, and aided ;n bearing the flqg of'Fremont, have had time for tsoher, calm reflection?they have nwdc no their minds to repudiate, the extreme scetionalimi of the Philadelphia plat form, and the vote on the amendment was n concession by the leadi.rs to the moderate men of t he j?:irly. The amendment was defeated in the Penate, and a Committee of Conforenee appointed by the two Houses. The Committee reported what is now called the English bill, which finally parsed both Houses, and was approved by the President. The Knirlish bill is. in mv iudcmiriit. nncn to fmv or objections tlum tlic original Senate bill. It recognizes the validity of the I.ceompton Constitution, including tlic slavery clause? recognizes the right of a State to come into the Union with slavery?recognizes a pioslavery Constitution, a Uepuhiieiui lbrnnol' Government uiulorthe Constitution of the United States, and actually admits Kansas on a condition which has heretofore been applied to Iowa and Michigan?a condition precedent ami not subsequent, on the original bill did. The bill requires tluit the assent of the people of Kansas to a reduction in the quantity of land as claimed in tlieir ordinance, sons to conform in quantity with lands donated to other new States shall be given before admission, and avoid the difliculty in the Senate bill already referred to; and it has consequently boon referred to the people to decide in efioet, "will you consent to reduce the amount of laud claimed from twenty-live to live million ofacres?" I f a majority vote nyc, Kansas is one of tlm States of the Union?if nay, she is remanded to her Territorial condition, there to remain until a census shews her to have a population e/jual to the ratio of representation, now fixed at about 08,000. The Constitution is not submitted to the people for ratification?only the change in the ordinance is to he pi'.s-ed upon by them. Many limy vote against the change. because they objeet to other lectures in the Constitution, knowing that such volo will defeat admission, but the change of ordinance is the only question submitted. Home scattering returns of the election held the first Monday in this month indicates tlie reject ion by the people of the pro -1 1 I - - I * jm^uu ciuiii^o ny a uecisive lunjovity, unci such, I doubt not, will bo the rcunlt.? Whilst 1 believe th<>re is u.. prospect of milking Kansas a slave St'lo. and have so believed from the organization of the Territory, 1 do not concur with our able i .td distinguished Senator, Mr. Hammond, tli. t the Kansas-Nebraska bill was a cheat and a humbug. J do concur in most that ho said in his late admirable speech at licooh Is* land?a sneec.li whinh ia ?ninw?rvnfivi> rlin-. i - - ; ?-i rnificd and statesmanlike, maintaining that high reputation for ability which he bo justly and properly enjoys. During the pendency of the Nebraska bill every Senator and every Representative from the South who expressed any opinion on the subject, except (Jen. Atchison, of Mo., admitted that slavery would not go into Kansas; and the onlv chance which has since existed, hail its oiigin in the impertinent intcrfcronoe by the Emigrant Aid Societies in forcing a population there that would hot have, under the usual laws of emigration, removed to the Territory. It aroused an interest in the South which would not have existed, and earned thou.-, imds of Southern men there* who would not otherwise havo trone. But the bill was im porbiut, because it wiped out that odious Missouri restriction which ch'graded us from a just equality with the free States, in pertniting us tlio privilege of removing to the common Territory of the Union with our property*mid restored the true principles of the Constitution in the organization of territorial governments. It has settled the policy of tlio Government on this subject? no intorforonoe bv Conirress with slavorvin the territories?tiie people, when thoy form a Stiito Constitution, nro to determine the question for themselves. The decision of the Supreme Court in the Died Scott enso protects our riehts during the existence of thcTerritoruil Government. Although wc have not lidded another b'iuvo Suite by t'nu Kansas hill, we have secured an important principle which is to result most l?eni ?iciully in prv<#rving the rights ami securing the tranquility of the country in future legislntion. Another question gave ri*c to an nnimntetl dehnto, espocinlly in the Hcnuto, nnd some of tllfi KlWililrnra. in nunoiation of tho riijht of visitation and search excrciscu by British vessels njton our merchant murine, nearly forgot to temper their indignation with dignity. The exorcise of tl)i? right by OJveat llritnin had already produced 0110 war, and the treaty of Ghent was negotiated, leaving the original canscof quarrel unadjusted. This conntry has maintained p, flxed purpose MvCpto submit to the exorcise, of the right of search by any power, and when our vessels li ported that they had in numerous eases boon stopped I>v British cruisers on the high peas and searched, it fired tin? whole country with indignation, und assumed a most threat i'iiiii*; kspuci. i'lr. ii\t< llirt ti;:!! Ins tfetfrctnvy of State, ton!; prompt and d<;isivo action Oti the premises rnul v ijuiicd a disavowal or un apology fur the conduct <4 j licv ofiicors l>y tins (Jovcniment of (Ireat j liritaiti, and an unequivocal noticc lli;.t if the cxerciso of tlievijj;! I w. s insisted on, ; u::u u w?.uio incMliiijiv leatl to a collision j between the . vo countries. The Ibitidi ' (.Vbiuct pron | i\v disavowed the. nets of her I officers, nnd submitted the question to the ' crown officers, (their legal adviser?) whether tlie right was sanctioned by internntionI id law. They have furnished n response. I and decide that no power can exercise the | right of visitation or search on tin- high seas | in time of pence. The Ib itish Ministry rtr i up iiiv11 ii.h i ['n uni'ii <>i uucruar.ou::) ; h.w, 11 nil have most honorably r<n< iu c? ?l ! <ilI pretension to exercise a right which | they claimed, und which even a war failed to extort from them a relimpiishnicnt.? i The eoiuluet of the Ministry has received i the approval of both Houses of Parliament, and the war cloud no longer threatens us. lUToreanv explanation, however, was made, ami when it appeared that it was the design of Great Itritain wantonly to assert this controverted right, the people everywhere had made up their minds to resist it, if necessary I mi mo point 01 tiio imyonet. The loyal spirit | which it evr.ked was truly refreshing; it gave > indubitable preoltliai the sectional strife and | discord which 1 lor veal's so seriously prey I oil upon us had not banished all patriotism, and that men !i*l not slop to inquire whether the indignity was heaviest on the North or the South?it was an insult to our common Ihtg, and was to he redressed by every ti tie son ??f America. The prudence ami good sense of (lie A me : ncan ami isiiusli Cabinets promptly tcrmi! iiiitod the crntost, and good fellowship now I exists between tho Lion and the Kaglo. I In his last annual message to the LegislnI tu 10 of this Slate, Gov. Adams broached tho suhjeetof re-openin^tho African Slave Trade, j I deeply regretted to mm) the subject mooted. I knowing tlie tbhenio was wholly imprac.tiea[ hie, ami helieving it In lie inipolitie, if nraOI ticable. Its only effect was tu produce divisJ ion and discord auion^ tho Southern people, ir ?i \ i. ...< ? > ?> - ?. !' i ii mi. iii-uit.- muhiki Iiuvi; mi lai'iuiil vitality | to form even a small party, it could serve im j other purpose than toarray one portion of the ! South ajininst another, when perfect una! nlmity was so desirable. To demonstrate its impracticability (the laws prohibiting it are Federal) u few days after tlrj message was published, 1 introduecd a resolution into the llouse of Representatives, declaring " that it was unwise, inexpedient ami contrary to the settled poliev of the United States to repeal the laws prohibiting llie African Slave Trade." which was <mu|iiuu wiiii i>ui oigm ui.-s-ennnp; votes-?sovop of whom ijtionilv declined thornselves opposed to n - polling i' ?? trade. Is it not hilly, then, to agitato tho ipioMion, when tho only p;?wer that run open the trade t expresses so unanimous un opinion against. il? l'he recent Commercial Cuuveiition at Montgomery, Oi:guiatod to advancc ami promute tho Cuinrnoivial interests ? (* tlie South, in utlo'.'obliviousne-is of its mission, devoted ' ii.<> -i in us iiiiu* to (i uiscus:<i< n <?t tlio Slave Trade aiul llio Conference bill, and whilst ; there was prtidonco ar.d wisdom sufficient oven in that indaninblo bodv tillable reports and resolutions, it cannot be disguised that some persons are dcierminod to agitate the question, and if possible divide ami distract the South on abstraction. Who believes that m,o !,,? ? mi.:.: * i :n ?..v? .????.. mill U.IMl- Will IMIT III* repealed, so long as thin Government exists? Who is ho eieduLua nt> to. believe that a majority oftlie Representatives of the Soutli will ever vote for their rojifsil ? Does it not. take a sanguine man to persuade himself that a single eoimly in any State won lei elect a rep < vov mum v; 1*1 ?uu lentil- J.cjrip 111I\l VI' (ill SI1CI1 nn jfisnc? Why agitate. t!; n? In ii to furnish Jilrtck Republicans with materia! to keep up a counter-agitation in their hoction of the Union. Hut if tin; trade could bo opened, it won hi ho ruinous to nil the Southern States East and North of Mississippi. It is assumed that we want labor, and for what? To inako more cottor, so that tho price may be reduced for tho benefit of llio Eastern uud Europoan inanufne urcr. and the consumer of cut ion genua. i no null alluvial f.:>tls el Mississippi, I, misiana ami Texas will remunerate tin' planter for liis oanital and labor better at five cent* per pound lor cotton than ibe lands of South Carolina at 10 cents, because in the Wcgt the lame labor will produce double the quantity. Now. if African* are introduced in such numbers "ns to enable every man to ony a sia\e," \\ hut number of bales will ho annually produced bv this increased labor? Tho nveri'go crops now ore nlwut 3,OuO,0OO talcs, ami the ju ice f>>r a few years Imsuveraged 10 cents per pound?the supply keeps paco vcr; .iv.irly with the demand. If the in'crenood labor would make 4,.r)0U,000 hales, i to what price would it descend? Would it! command five coats, find if not, what Uiftriot j :.? /I. ... 1! 1.1 .. IV - 1 * ii oouio *_ .ironiiii uiiiuu iiuuiti id gni'v eouoil I nt that price? If tlio Northern or Knglieh mnmifnQturor woro advocating this fconctne. i could undcrHtimd it; but why Southern planters should he urged to adopt a policy which i? to doprcbiiito their productions for the honefit of tho consuinoiH, *n touie inv uiiu e.honoihle. A few years Kinue when v e wore opposing tho Wilinot proviso, one of tho dangers moat to he ap| rchendetl, we were tohl, wm thut our slave population would noon become ho numerous by natural increase that they would become valueloss; now that event is sought to be hunteood by pouring in upon us a horde of wild Afi icinif". Look to tho oftuctitis tohnvc on our shtve* j tliomrtclveH. Will .von nut ho pinning l!:c i inetiqnieuts of iiiHubordinntion nnd rebellion upon ?V^ry pluntntiun ? Our nicsent slave population nasi boon for- several generations reochingthat point of civilization nnd subordination which they hu\c attained; they lmvo learned from their very infancy tlmt the 1 white man is their superior, and that liis I won! and will i" their suptoinc law : nor are I they restiveor impatient under liis domination. All fears <>1 insurrection have vanish! cd, and we sleep in the assurance of perfect : security in the densest slave districts. How wn? ii a liiimli'ml v?vi?u 9 r:.. ?.* ........ * "" " , "h" ' \M UMU i statute book, and you will find that for (ho purpose of preventing or promptly iiupHing insurrcclioti anionf* the slaves?many of whom at tliat time were recently from the ; wilds of Africa?tlmt every whilo mule in; habitant waft requiicd So carry with him his fire-arms anil a certain muni.or of cartriiljies | to church under u penalty. !> ? you de-he to ' fee such a state "?(!nifoirn revive 1 in this uoun| try? If yon do not, keep lVom contact with ! our slaves thoso liorcn KiivmriM. win. i known nothing but >*. sir and rapir.'"?, and who i will not quietly brook the restraints which ' onr security would require us to impose on tlieni. The argument t=o flippnnHy repeated by it advocates that it will better the pli\>it-al and moral condition of the African to trailsohint him Iipi'i. ii? !. sluvi. ilnnj ?<?? my iniiul Unit it would he just or right. Arc ' we to constitute ourselves the judges of what i will improve the condition of other nations, and proceed to execute that judgment, against j their consent? If the argument is worth | anything for the African, would it not apply I equally to the European or the Asiatic ? (low | many of the sons ami daughters of Europe j and Asia would be elevated in their moral j and physical condition if they were translilllllleii (unn n* filnvoo !,? (Iilu I I ? ? ? ( t'oulii I he v be numbered by less than hunI drcds of millions ? Would it be right to constitute ourselves their judges, nnd then become the executioners of our judgment, to i make them slaves? Away with such doc! trines and prine^des! They have no foundation in humanity, philosophy, morality or religion. 1 now proceed to consider the power and purpose of the Democratic party to uphold the Constitution and prescrvcthe Union. 1 was gratified to sec that Senator Hammond, in liis 1M to !?*? *11.1 * I ? ....v ..... .. ...... ..v v.. v. mil |M:rj cen*e the signiflcancy of the term "States I Rights Democrats" ami " National Democrats" at the present time. The organization of the party is upon certain declared principles?thejv are general, and address themselves to the confidence of men who Miliserilie to those principles residing in all sections, and il the party is designated as the } "Xatiimul Democracy," it ia because iis tcj nets are not restricted to any section, hut emj brace the whole Union, and not because nnv of its principles a re centralizing or consolidating. It has outlived the Whig party, tlie Know Nothing party, and 1 trust it will sur! vivo tho llcpuhticaii party. My observation teaches me that thoso in the South who are most hitter in their denunciation ot'tlie "National Democracy" (as they are pleased to designate it) arc either know nothings or per sc disunionists, and as I have no principles in common with either of them, I have for years been content to receive their strictures j and animadversions with patient pleasure. : I c..? r?n - ' ?? I j. .j.i t iu ;? (, icuun -t uiaviis, mill IIIC UOlllj ocratic party is entitled t?> your cordial sym| patliy fts well as your zealous support. It is j the only exponent of the principles you have j cherished for many long years, and is the i only party willing and able to maintain your ' rights in the Union. When it is defeated or ! disintegrated, you must choose hat ween a suit j mission to sectional fanatical domination and | a dissolution of the existing Government. Its principles lisive received llic sanction of' judgment from my earliest manhood, and since 1852 I have aeted in full harmony and fellowship in its orgonizution, and why ? There had boon in ltfoO and 1851, in most of the i Southorn States, a contest between what was j called the Stales Rights and I'nion parties, j growing out of the passage of the Conijiroj miso measures. It resulted in a deternima| tion on the part of the South to acquiesce in j it; and when the convention met at Baltimore 1 in June. 1H52, to nominate candidates for the ! Presidency and N ice Presidency, I found I there (as a spectator, and not as a delegate) j hoth wings of the Democracy?the States I! ! > 'III K Il'lil I ilifili 'Plinr ..ITili.iJn.l I" ...... -X ..X/II, ? IK J IWIIMUUU III llllllxlll^ j tlie nomination*, and both heartily united in , adopting a platform of principle*. Tho eon' test of'50 and ';?1 had revived intoft living | is.-ue the old States Rights* doctrines of ,(.)8 and '(.>0. Kxeept, perhaps, in Virginia and I S.mtli Carolina, pievious to that time, they I Imd nearly beiomo obso'.eto. The States ! Rights men insisted that tliono resolutions , should he incoruorated in tidntform. ?;nl I become a vital article in the Democratic creed, j It was unanimously conceded, and the reso) lotions of'98 and 'O'J?tin* very corner-stone: 1 tho highest exposition of States Rights, was in cor porated in tho piuU'orm. ti made the Democratic creed perfect, and from that moj ment, 1 determined upon a hearty and cordial affiliation with the party in its organi/.ai turn. In 18.'>(>, at Cincinnati theseprinciples were re-ndopted, and the Democracy from Maine to Toxas.and from the Atlantic to the ' Pacific, pledged in the most solemn nmn] ner u> the supiiort and inaiutainanco of the I strictest reading of tho States Right* doc, trincs. Every man, tliereforc, of that faith j miiHt affiliate with tho Democracy if he ex- ( | poets aid in enforcing his views on the ad- | | ministration of tho Government. The Dcm- , : ocrutio party, if it continues true to its creed j : ami principles, is as good a Stole* Mights par- j i ty as I desire to associate with. I go further: : | no conscientious man can he a Democrat i atftrw)ili<r An tlin* *vK.\ w # a ? ?ts *;|? ohhv I llightn num. Willi those umtennthlu foots before uk, not the assumption of a lew persons in tho South that they aro jiar r.xrrlIf net tho Stale* lti?lit? Demm-ruts rest upon ! it narrow basin? Tho food between the two i wings w?8 buried at ltaltiuioro in 1H.V2 by i nil uniting on a common platform ; the tre.itv of nroitv ami friondtdiip wan rc-:iHiri?e?l at Cincinnati in IK.?C>. ami iu it good faith in *1c. A - ? 1'IIIICI <>i 11iv iwi inur wnitfH U) IllUKC It JiCC.llllur appropriation ??t" any of the tcnot? of th? common party. If Mndifou nod -MVovgon are authority, then tho Democratic party >h imhnod with all the elements of Htulo Kighte. If tlioir views nro coiiaidered too moderate for any modorn ntoteainan, then Mtoh may except to the qrecdof the Domooruev: hut ho Moving ns I jjo, thnt,U if the only prinolplo i):>i\ which this Government can Vie rifely or justly riflministored, I am perfectly content to Ui'iQ the oxjmlfcfoo of the- a!)!o apt! otic men who f mned the Constitution. m?d who eUioidntud ii* y?riiiei|>ica during the* ivl minitdrnthm of Mr. Jolloison. Mr. l'iorcc plnccd himself on thin pint* form of 1 Sf)2; when lie accepted the nominution. Did not every act of his AdininI istrntion exhibit unswocying fidelity to it* pr'nciplos? Mr. liuchannn did the wnno i tiling in ISoO. In whnt single act of his i Administration has ho repudiated the nlatI form, or ignored any article of the State ltight creed"? So it will be in 1M00, and will i" iitinuo as long as the Democratic party maintains ita organization. It could | .scarcely he otln rwisi?tho Executive, upon lii- nomination, solemnly pledges himself fit IiIq fV'/Mtilj niul !?.* ?'tll ... I .? Il l llliu V?j/|?V?IV IIIQ IIUIV II V- >> I I I adminhtcr the Oovcrniuent in strict conformity to the prineiplcH laid down by his friends ; ifthoso principles do not reflect. Iiis sentiments, and lie canm t carry tliom ! into execution, every xontinient of honor ; would impel him to decline the nomination, j When he accepts, to prove faithless to bin pledges, would entail on him such deep I uisiionorns to drive linn 111 shame from the | fnce of society; and I undertake here to | say, that no man who will ever become tho j ctandard bearer of ihe Democracy for tho 1 Presidency will have the temerity totraito\ ronslv abandon the principles and platform upon which ho is elccted. What has tho j remoeratio party done to manifest it? faith j by its works ? The statute book of Con* ! gross will show that all your constitutional j rights are now more fully recognized, and i more elleetually protected?tliut your olier! islu-il principles nro more intimately incorporated in the laws and policy >(' the t.lovcrnuKMit than they have been for forty years and you are indebted to the Democratic j party for it all. It has done much, vcy I much to restore the principles that signal r/.o(i the Ilepubltetin Administration of Mr. Jefferson. It was the Democratic party that orushed the l'niik, that reduced tho Tariff, ami placed it upon a revenue basi*- i that wiped .nit the bankrupt and distribution acts. It annexed Texas; and hero let nie say, that important as was its acnui sitiun to the whole country, to the South it , was indispensable for her safety, foreign j and domestic, ami yet tIn- elections which j resulted in the triumph of that policy, when l'olk and Clay were the candidates, shewed i a larger relative vote in favor of annexation 1 hy tho North than the South. Vr. (-lay. i who was opposed to it, received a larger \]>ro rata vote in the South than he ?1 i 1 in j the .North, and 31 r. Polk received a larger ! j?ro mtn vote hi tlie North than the South. ! The issue was made iti the platform of 1814, | and the Northern Democracy imiintnin! ed it with a noble energy that crowned ; our common efl'orf > with success. It annexed California. I'tali and New Mexico. It strangled the Wilmot Proviso? adotltcd the nolie.v (it* non-interventwm in i organizing Territorial governments ; repealj ed the odious Missouri restriction, anil restored us to our rights in the territoriesplanted itself upon the doetrim) that slave States h id equal rights to admission in the I'nion with free. States, and as a party voted to admit Kansas as a slave State under j the. Constitution. It passed the Fugitive ; >>iavc I jiiw, and will acquire Cuba for us } at the earliest practicable day. Kvery j measure detrimental to your rights and violative of your interpretation of the Consti. tution that has been defeated, has been doj loatcd by the Democratic party. In sa\ 1 ing what 1 have said for that party with reference to slavery, I do riot intend to convey to you (he impression that it is a pro i slavery p irty. Tt. does not r>rofo;s anv such thing-?many, perhaps most of its members, are opposed to slavery in the abstract, and opposed to introducing it in their rcspce* j tive States ; but what I intend to assort j and maintain is, that as a party in itfi plnt| form and votes it recognizes all our Constitutional rights on the slavery question, ami | the Northern portion of it, notwithstanding their abstract opinions, with manly courage and catholic patriotism, sustain and enforce i those rights bv their votes in the State and I T,\>.1 l - :i ? - I ' , i i cuiiiivus ?> ? iiavu novel' susk< <i i iiiofe of 11ioiu?wo have nevov ashed the I < Jovorninent to usw its power to extend j .<1 ivory. All wo luive claimed has been . that tiio guaranties which the Constitution | gives us shall not ho broken, and the l.Vmocvatic pnrty have steadily maintained th^m . and will continue to maintain them. It in I the only party that incuts and combats the siciiuiiiuiHui or jtepumieanitttn, ami the nr^ ly hope of keeping it prostrate, is the Pem| ocratic party oithe 1 "nioii, North nnd South. We have true, brave, gallant friends in the Norih?men who have bared their bowoum in many a hard-fought battle when the issue was the defence of your Constitutional rights. Will yon give tliom your nymputhv ?will you cheerfully nfld cordially afVdiat-with thorn in their war upon nholition ? It is in my jtulujiuOlit u mutter of duty for every Southern mm to .sustain the only parly that sustains our intf rpr'-tati-m of the 1 i Constitution. i Nor should our confidence ho destroyed j in the lidelity of our nasOciiUt'8 in tho North ik-ikum: whiio m?:y i?m>r nml otlif ?>? desert. Ymii might im well repudiate religion, hecmiHR tho churches. often timm ehevi?h. in theirboH>uishypocrit<-f<, orcK;hrw :ill IVjond' nhip, bc>cuu?o oeua?iou?My b.iso ingrntifudo I foHowu kindness. The coumj of a distii?! guished Senator from Illinois.Jtnk?? Dminr. > - o- -- --rr Ish, on the admission of Know*, excited *urpfi?e and ivpjrot. Tho hostile nttit.ido he uwuincd towards the Aduainifitrntion ?nd the body of the party, crcaCcd nti apprchea?r>.>c thfct he pavia^ tiio w*y iato . #OHN