The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-08

The Douglas and Hunter Ticket
In our paper of Friday last we mentioned the
fact that the Louisville Democrat one of the
ablest and most influential papers in the West,
had run up the names of DOUGLAS and HUNTER
as its candidates for President and Vice Presid-
emit AS much inquiry has been since made of
us, as to the precise tenor ard language of the
editorial accompanying that nomination in the
Democrat, we have concluded to re-publish its
views, as fully set forth in the editorial re-
ferred to:
From The Louisville Democrat, .Nov. 25h.
"Who is to be the next President An i'm
portant question just now, and open to discus
sion. The States are now preparing to send
delegates to the general convention which is to
make the selection of Democratic candid ties for
the office of President and Vice President of
the United States. Many Ct our contemporaries
have indicated their preferences, and we have
concluded to follow the good example. We
have put up the names of Douglas and Hunter,
to stand until next November, unless they are
superseded by others nomr ated by the Demo.
cratic general convention. We shall not dis
parage any of the distinguished men who are
prominent for the offices in question. Should
any of them be chosen by the Democratic con-
vention, we shall give them cordial support :;
and we believe the electoral vote of Kentucky
will be cast for any one of them against any
Wing candidate likely to be nominated Let
those who prefer Others present their claims;
with them we have no controversy There are
several whose claims to a nomination are en-
titled to a candid consideration, and who would
do honor to themselves in the high stations TO
| be filled. We think, however, the ticket we
! have placed at our masthead has superior claims
in the present crisis before the Democracy of
this country. In preferring it. We consult no
| local partialities or personal feelings. Neither
of them belong to our own commonwealth
nor are they even personal acquaintances of
ours. We take them as they stand before the
country by their public acts, and their well
known character in the responsible offices they
| have occupied.
| The name of Douglas is associated with all
the stirring and important political movements
of the last ten or fifteen years. He has led the
van of progress. Although comparatively young,
| his superior talents have won him fame which
few, even of the elders in politics, ever attain
1t appears to be the policy of some to select
candidate of merely negative character, who has
not been, as the phrase goes, mixed up with the
late issue before the country We prefer
a man who has been mixed up with these
issues-who has walked boldly through them
who has maintained his integrity and consist
ency in the tempest of excitement, and who has
kept an impartial eye upon the interests of the
whole country in the midst of sectional con-
! hicts. We prefer an active, working Democrat,
who has been untiring and unequvocal in sup
port of the theory and practice of government
! he deems best for the country. The Demo-
Gratis have never succeeded upon mere negatives.
\ No hy III do
TIMES of this great republic and no man of such
negative preteusions should be placed at the
helm. The whole Union, and especially the
great West, know Steephen A. Douglas On
the questions of national bank, the independ-
ent treasury, tariff reform, the settlement of the
Oregon question, the acquisition of Texas, and
reforms in the deposition of the public lands, his
course has been Marked firm, consistent dem
ocralic ;ahroughout the agitation of the com
promise measures, he has been the liberal states
> man, true to the Constitution, and the nfexible
opponent of sectional fanaticism. He might
have made himself the idol of faction by pan
dering to sectional prejudice, but his talents
needed no such prop to support him, and his
integrity has been proof against the temptation.
: We can find no one of the same active and
a positive public life whose anteceden's will bear
so rigid scrutiny. lie is in the prime of life,
able to endure the trials of station which has
. proved fatal TO three Presidents in the last ten
or twelve years. Harrison and Taylor survived
only short time the perplexities and trials of
the presidential office, and Polk lived only to
the close of his term
We have reason to expect that the next four
years will be eventful in our foreign relations,
and require arduous duties of the President of
4 the United States. We need not commend the
abilities of Douglas. They are too well known
Il. = 4. l.. al. A. II
ton wherever talent, energy, boldness, and in
dependence were needed. lie is, besides, from
| the great Northwest, the popular favorte of that
region, and the South will feel confident that
they have in hitn shield against aggression
upon State rights and the fana ica agitations of
the subject Of slavery in the councils of the fed
! eral government The favor with which his
name is mentioned North and South, is ominous
of good. The real friends of the Union recog-
nize in him one upon whom they can safely
unite Some States have their layortes whom
they would prefer but Douglas is their choice,
local partialities aside. We regard these signs
as pointing TO him above all Others upon whom
the voice of his country vii unite with most
cordially. If We consulted our psrtiaties for
some older politicians, our choice would be DIFF
ferent; but the signs of the times point TO the
young giant of Illinois, and we say let him have
| WIG uhCh-. ifio Paibg h1h h'No Nv bo'''i t"hui-
date, and his country no better President.
OF the second on the ticket K. ~ T. Hunter,
Of Virginia, we cannot write at length. He is
popular and able senator from the old common
wealth Of Virginia, and belongs TO the genuine
| JefIersonian scbool-the strong advocate Of State
! rights, and the firm friend of the Union. The
ticket will have n significance about it that We
should be proud to see supported, unpalatable
to none but n faction to whom the Constitution
and its provisions are uppalatable.
We put up the ticket tina; our readers may
examine its merits and judge for themselves,
now when delegates to the general convention
are being supported and as we said before, it
is not our business 20 condemn or crticise the
claims Of Others. We don't expect our State
convention on the eighth OF January will insist
upon any particular nominees, or give any pos
tive instructions 10 her delegates 1t would
not perhaps be in good taste to do so. This
State has not cast her electoral vote for Dem
ocrnt for long series of years. but our dele