The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-08-07
A National Convention.

sStSse ~ s"et Wv ~
usage is the only proper course to be pursued
What if a State (South Carolina for instsnce
should do as that State did in ls44-refuse to sen
delegates to the Convention! Should that max
any difference to the democratic party in the othe
States! Should they. therefore, refuse to hold
Convention, by means of which they could onl,
have a free, full and candid expression of opinion
Most certainly net. The democratic party are no
bound to South Carolina more than to any othe,
State Of the Union. If she refuses to send dele.
gates to . National Convention, she will yet have
10 learn that she 10 not the only State, nor Mr.
Calhosn the only man in the country. The demo
cratic party are not disposed. however. to do in.
Justice 10 South Carolina. Let her abide the
asasss and decisions Of the party. and she will be
treated ~ . sister in this great confsderacy.
Let there be %'union, concession, and harmony, II
in the deliberations of a National Convention, and
the democratic party are invincible. Should the
broad platform upon which the party stands be
narrowed down to suit the views and opinions oil
section Of the Union, defeat will be the conse.
quence. H
Tho results Of the National Convention are yet
fresh in the minds Of all. The delegates to that
Convention acted in a liberal and compromising
spirit; and although many were disappointed in
not securing the nomination of their f~avorites, yet
victory crowned their hbors. Theirs was the on
ly safe and prudent course-the course that should
DO adopted by the delegates to the next National
Convention. Let the motto of Benton be inscrib-
ed upon the heart of every man-"Union, hUmo-
ny, and concession ;-eoeyy thing for the cause,
nothing for men,"
The article below exhibits the feeling that per.
vades the ranks of the democratic party generally
throughout the country:
From the Cleveland Times.
Democratic National Convention.
The subject of a National Conven-
ton is now being discussed by the de-
m~ocratic press, and we ~roioics at the
unanimity which every where mani
tests itself in favor Of the measure
New Hampshire has already appointed
delegates, and the leading democratic
journals in Maryland, Virginia, Georgia,
Kentucky, Missouri, Mis-
and nearly or quite all the
and southwestern States, ex.
cspt South Carolina, and perhaps Flor
ida. have spoken out manfuIly in favor
Of the measure, throwing themselves
upon the magnanimity Of their northern
brethren, who comprise the majority,
md who ask nothing but to be treated
with the spirit Of fairness and liberality,
and in the anne spirit of generous con.
fdence and compromise that has char
scterizsd the patriots of our country
the Federal Constitution. With
SUCH a spirit WI trust and believe they
will be met by the northern democracy.
Ne new and embarrassing tests, either
sectional or political, should be thrown
INTO shat convention 10 disturb the har.
m ony Of its deliberations. We fully
csncur with that excellent and reliable
democratic print, the Pennsylvania,
which says:
at is prs-eminently a National Con
in its objects and its organiza-
ion. And we repeat it, as our solemn
ind earnest conviction, that the mo.
nent the people fail to cherish these
road and patriotic designs, and con.
inc themselves exclusively to geogra.
,hical prejudices, from that moment the r
epubIic is on its downward path, and
Is days are numbered. We may 60 .
indeed, and %asseverate that we !
slieve a body, like the Democratic I
l%a,ional Convention, is highly essential
the preservation Of the Union. The I
lose and confidential intercourse be- =
citizens from all parts Of the U. !,
ion, bound together by a common and );
oily creed, has always been most in u
uential. Men learn to be tolerant in d
lch a meeting. They learn to be just !;
they learn TO be magnanimous.-- n
heir ideas are enlarged-their horizon !,
Itended--their prejudices scattered to
winds. Even those who come q
Isathing vengeance upon each other, h
. taught to yield a little to the gene n
good; and those who come to ruin h
main to save. South Carolina, her. G.
II, from having been lately accustom- u.
TO look upon a Democratic National al
invention as a concentrated wrong. ar
n trace to nj such body the loss Of &C
~ Of her rights, however much she I'll
have opposed it beforehand
That has been will be. Her present g
'ophecies, or at least the prophecies dc
her organs, are not destined to be OF
She may lose her candidate, on
It she will be ashamed to say hereaf- ii,
r that she has lost her rights. Those
HON she has doubted and denounced &c
III be reyengsd upon her, and such as t'
r., whether they live in New England m
the South; for they will teach these fir;
umblers that the only security for the hi
loe Union--the only safety for the