The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-06-05


The New York Evening Post does not con
ceal the pleasure with which it regards the
tempt to construct Democratic platform before
proceeding to the choice of Democratic nomi-
nee. The Post remarks
"If the proposition of Mr.. Nabcrs had prevailed,
a nomination might not have been made till next
November. There would be three principal schemes
! of platform TO quarrel about-that Of the Union
men, that of the Southern State Rights men, and
! that of the Freesoi Democrats; besides which,
/ there would be some fifty or sixty notifications OF
\ these schemes. If that interminable topic. which
! Congress has been wranglng about for two or
three years past, had once been let into the con-
/ ventlon, il would have kept out every other
/ Wherever the Compromise comcs, there is no room
\ for any thing else. The arrangement now adopted
leaves the members at liberty to attend to tack
which will be hard enough without doing any thing
to heighten It's acultes; that ID to say, to agree
/ upon a candidate. When that ia once done, We
suspec. il will be high time to adjourn, witho"'
-- -e~A sPSut Iu cue atrCmPt 10 aud new
clauses 70 the old Democratic creed.
! 1.-The truth, however, is, that the creation Of a
/ platform is part Of the business Of the convcn.
\ ton. IL is a nominating convention, and not an
assembly convened TO arbitrate on points of politi.
cal doctrine II may not improperly refer to the
acknowledged principles which distinguish the
Democratic from the Wing party, and reasser,
them; bot it has NJ authority to proclaim any doc.
trine to which the entire party does not ascent or
introduce any novelty Of opinion, enforce any
new tests. II there ia any point in regard to con-
ycntons more clear than another it is that the de-
lcgatcs to such assemblies sent to represent the
party as it exists 20 act its agents or servants
and not to exercise authority over Il. Such has
hitherto been the undertaking Of all Democratic
! conventions. In all the declarations Of political
opinions Wlkch they have adopted, they have aimed
. so to frame them that all members Of the party
gave them perfect assent.
ANY other view Of the duty Of a convention i,
| simply absurdity. and involves the grossest i'm
probabilities. Political tcncis cannot be forced
| upon the people in this way. A convention may
] proclaim as the doctrine Of the entire party, an
opinion which portion Of the party deny; the de-
| claraton s falsohood, and is felt, by those who
Dissent from IL, ss a wrong; it imposcs upon no.
body; it e1ctes angry dissensions; il wcakens and
dstracts the party and, II persisted in, breaks il
/ down"
Ii IS significant that this opposition to any
! declaration Of principles proceeds from two
sections q the party; and still more significant
that these sections, far apart in general opin-
ions, conspire and are able 10 control and place
in durance the third section, or the party
/ proper. The Freesoil Post and the Southern
/ Rights representing, respectively, the
views Of faction opposed to the integrity Of
| either Of the old parIes-unite ia praise Of the
policy pursued by the Democratic Convention.
No course, they avow, can keep the discordant
elements together, except that which ignores
the supremacy Of principles deemed by others
essential to the permanence Of the Union.
The vote Of the convention On the second
day is construed by the Post into an abrogaton
of The Compromise as a test Of the soundness Of
the party; and is justified on the plain ground
that the party ls 50 completely secti0nalized
as ~ render any other action incompatible with
the maintenance Of the organization. The
convention is, according to This view. made up
of fragments widely different in their character
and held together simply by a Joint interest in
lhe spells. There is 10 unity amongst them ia
regard 10 principle. The cohesive power OF
prospective prizes is all that prevents this Ma
tonal Convention from tumbIing 10 pieces Il
has not vitality enough 10 be consistent, or TO
( rise To- the requirements u the times. Aud
this, according 10 Democratic showing, is the
! present position q the party which our neigh
Dor Of the JH'on persists 10 upholdlng ss the
only national party now in existence.
"Iho creation of a platform" the Post de-
clares, els no part Of the business" Of con
vention, which Is 10 be regarded simply as a
nominating body. Bot is not declaration Of
/ principles reas1uaJIe-aye, necessary
/ prelude to the act Of nomination. Before a
/ body Of men proceed 20 select an individual for
. q post Of high honor and influence. is not too
much 70 expect that they viii settle amongst
themselves the qualifications to be possessed