The New York Times, May 10, 1860
From the Richmond Enquirer.
As to the ultimate action to be adopted at Baltimore we see but two alternatives presented to the Democratic Party. The doctrine of protection in the Territories must be finally rejected or accepted. If it is rejected, as we have already indicated, its rejection will involve the dismemberment of the Democratic Party, and a separate nomination of a Democatic candidate on the Platform of Constitutional protection will inevitably ensue. If it is rejected then the rejection must be unequivocal. If the delegates who now compose the Convention are willing to yield the point — if they are willing to tolerate the doctrine of Territorial Sovereignty, then, by all means, let the issue be presented in the most tangible form — by the nomination of STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS. Mr. DOUGLAS has taken his position in a fair and open manner. It is unjust to him, and unfair to the host of friends who sustain him and his doctrine, that any compromise candidate shall be allowed to steal his thunder. Much as we oppose his doctrine of territorial government, we would infinitely prefer to see him elected on the honestly avowed platform of Territorial Sovereignty, rather than witness the election of a man who shall consent to go before the people on a platform speaking one sentiment at the North and another at the South.
We are convinced that the large majority of the Southern Democracy will be satisfied with no candidate who does not openly avow the doctrine of Constitutional protection in the Territories. The Southern Democracy are naturally averse to any precipitate action. They will calmly await the action of the Baltimore Convention. Let that Convention adopt, to the full extent, in their platform, the great doctrine of the equal rights of the sovereign States; and they will support any candidate who can stand on that platform. And if the Baltimore Convention shall proceed to name a candidate without asserting the doctrine of equal protection, then the candidate himself, whoever he may be, will be required to inscribe, with his own hand, on the banner of the party, the doctrine which the Democracy of seventeen States have already pronounced to be essential. On no other terms can he unite the support of the Democratic Party.
With these views we respectfully, but earnestly, appeal to the Convention that will assemble in Richmond on the 11th June next, to take no decided action until they shall be informed of the measures adopted by the Baltimore Convention on the 18th June. As matters now stand, the question of a platform is still open, and we yet trust that the Democratic Baltimore Convention will see the vital importance of adopting a platform that will meet the views of the Richmond Convention, and thus secure the harmonious and united action of the Democracy of every section of the Confederacy.