WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1854,
496
support the Baltimore platform though I never had any great respect for platforms generally. We had none in Texas, unless they were puncheons made out of rough timber, which were very strong and substantial, and generally rested on the ground ; so that, of course, I did not think a great deal about them. I have always thought that for any well constituted party, the Constitu- tion of the United States was, perhaps, the best platform that we could get, and upon that I plant myself. There is precisely where I stand. But if the Baltimore platform comes within the purview of the principles of the Constitution, that does not exclude it from my support by any means. Therefore, I shall go for the Baltimore platform and its finality resolutions; for this is expressly declared in the fifth article of that platform: "Resolved, That the Democratic party will resist all attempts at renewing, in Congress or out of it, the agitation of the slavery question, under whatever shape or color the attempt may be made." Now, sir, there is an affirmation of its finality. That puts it at rest so far as the Democratic party, in making their nomina- tion for the Presidency, was concerned. UPon that declaration I supported, with my feeble aid, the candidate of the party placed upon that platform. And in his letter of acceptance he recog- nized that as the Gondition of his becoming a candidate of the party, not because it was the platform made, but because it was in accordance with his principles. In his letter of acceptance, he says: "I accept the nomination upon the platform adopted by the convention, not because it is expected of me as a candidate, but because the principles it embraces command the approbation of my judgment." Sir, here was a reindorsement of the fifth article of the Balti- more platform, which affirmed the finality of the compromise of 1850. Can any one doubt the import or meaning of it? I did not. When I saw it, I exulted that the candidate of the Democratic party would, if elected, ratify what had been done by the Gov- ernment in 1850. I had hoped that so long as I might be con- nected with this Government, or even in the shades of retirement, if I should have the felicity of reaching them in quiet, I might live in peace, under my own vine and fig tree, with none in all the land to disturb me by agitation. Then, if that was a finality at that time, why is it not a finality now? What harm has t.esulted from the Missouri compromise from that time to the present'?
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