Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-05-31
Democratic Nominating Convention.

held in Baltimore, and by it candidates will be
selected upon whom that party will rally in the
approaching election of President and Vice
President.
The duty thus incumbent upon this body is
one of grave and serious importance-equal in
magnitude to any act prescribed in tho constitu-
ton of the United States, yet not therein pro-
vided for, nor probably ever desired or antici-
pated by the authors of that great charter of our
rights and liberties. 1t appears, however, to
have arisen from the necessities of the people,
and to have been adopted by both parties Of the
country without hesitation.
The constitution commands the election of
electors by the people, who shall elect Presi-
,ent and Vice President This is not in form in
terfered with by the Convention; but the choice
in each party is narrowed down to a single man,
in such wise that no eector and no portion of
the people, can well vote for any other person
than one of those nominated in the National
Conventions
The people, through their electors elect a
President, but he must first have been the nom
inee of Convention
The existence and necessity of parties were
forcseen by the illustrious Father of his Coun-
try, who wisely sought not to suppress, but to
guide and subdue them. He could not, there
FORE have been blind to the necessity of choice
by each party of a candidate with whom to enter
into competition with their opponents but mas
much as SO long time elapsed before the adop-
ton of the present mode, we may fairly suppose
that it at least was not thought of by the found
ers of our government.
We know not how the requirements of the
country can be met otherwise than by the pres
cnt plan; and we therefore suppose that the ac-
quiesence of the people in it will be continued |
and that the two great parties for there never
can he more) will continue each to select its |
candidates by National Convention.
This being so, is it not desirable that the plan
adopted should he perfected? The nomination
b. the two Conventions is the certain selection of
our national chief officers by one party or the
other. Tyrone Power said the American people
paid high price for the privilege of thinking
that they governed themselves We indeed often
think that our assurance Of the fact needs some
confirmation, and especially when it becomes
manifest that few managers are restricting the
cramped for free and independent action.
The delegates to the Conventions are appointed
by meetings in which the qualifications of voters
are not canyassed. Men who are not legal voters,
or who belong to the opposing party, not unfre-
quently intrude at such meetings. Their man
ayers call them together, present for their adop-
ton preambles and resolutions upon which the
people have never had any opportunity to reflect,
and pack the delegation with the names of men
whose pliability has been previously asccrtained.
These and hundred other abuses exist and if
the system now in vogue is to lie permanent, they
should be corrected.
We do not, however, charge these abuses upon
either party. They are common to both; or if
any difference exists, it is against the party strug
Cling for the collection Of its President because
in it the influence and coercion Of officials in
vested with power and patronage arc often felt
with telling effect.
The Convention tomorrow is entitled to our
most respectful consideration. IL will be COM
posed Of men Of character, of intelligence, Of
ability, and Of influence, from all the States OF
the Union. II will present noble and imposing
aspect The patriotic spirit actuating that body
viii not be questioned; for its members repre-
sent great and patriotic national party
1t may have its strifes, its turmoils, and its
troubles. 1t contains men Of very varied opinions
on many subjects. The slayc-owner and the adj
yocate Of slavery will be there: and the Adolf
zionist will stand by his side. The ayowcd dis
unionist will be there; and the champion Of the
Union platform viii stand by his side. The free
trader of the cotton-feld region will BE there and
the manufacturer who has covered before the
foreign importer will stand at his side. The real
Democrat, every pulsation Of whose heart is
for and with the people, will be there: and the
Virginiah and South Caroinian, opposed to gem
eral suffrage on the claims Of citizenship and
humanity, will stand at his side. In such an
assembly there can be no concerted action pre-
vious to general agreement TO disregard these
grounds Of difference, and to rally upon some
certain and important subjects Of party differ
ences
% lar from desiring to see differences arise
IN INC convention from any Of these causes, we
would, were It IN our power, overrulc the excl.
ting appeals Of our friends and neiplbcrs Of the
Southern Press and Union, and ponr al an tbo
troubled waters. Let there be inst ord ro;,,
and liberal investigation Of the men and measures
proper for the party approval, and let the bonds
which unite that party be drawn closer and
closer together Let the Democratic party, ex-
tending in an unbroken line from the Penobscot
10 the Gulf Of Mexico, be presented in solid array
in the support of the Of their choice. We
desire triumph but not at the expense Of the
peace Of the nation. We would triumph, as a
national party, over national party-both alb
sorbibg and destroying every yestige of sectional