The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-16
Presidential Candidates.

neutral.
Presidential Candidates.
Our correspondent, ga delegate from Alaba-
ma" who is a gentleman OF distinction In his
State, and one for whom we have much respect,
has given exaggerated importance to our bnel
comment on the Presidential candidates of the
Democratic party. He seems to have suspected
that it was the beginning Of war upon them
on our part Quite the contrary: il was the
preliminary to letting them alone. We have
no hostility to them, but feeling rather kindly
than otherwise. Not so kindly, however, that
we are tempted to Ielinquish the position of an
observer for that of partisan; and if our cor
respondent had the advantage of an equally
calm position, he would be one of the first, we
are sure, to admit that his sketch OF the candidate
for Vice President is such, that no human being
could recognise the likeness without the expla
natory hint of the label "Wm. Il. King"
We don't object TO the election of the Demo-
cratic candidates; nor do we suppose there will
be any but tri1ng opposition TO them III the
State. But we have several unconquerabe OBJ
ections to becoming their partsans and disturb
ing ourselves and others with Unnecessary noise,
and ferment Our objections are these:
/. When a party throws aside all its most
distinguished men, the only men capable of
giving consistency to its counses and vigor to
its ACKNOWLEDGEMENT it dsowns its leaders
and representatives and for motives of tempo
gary advantage, crowns with highest honors, OBJ
seure men, it ceases in any respectable sense, to
be- party, and becomes mere herd of spoils
men, We have no ambition to labor in such a
crowd.
2. The difference ia respect to general poll
tics between the Wing aud Democratic parties,
has almost wholly disappeared, and we can
conure up no enthusiasm in the cause OF
tweede dun against tweedle dee.
3. But decisive objection, if we had no
other. would be found in what follows
AT the recent session of our State convention,
Co-operationists and Secessionists united in the
following solemn declaration:
ReSolued, by the people of South Carolina in
convention assembled, That the frequent viola
tons of the Constitution of the United States by
the federal government, and its encroachments
upon the reserved rights of the sovereign States
of this Union, especially in relation to slavery,
amply justify this State, so far as any duty or
obligation to her confederates is involved, in
dissolving at once all political connection with
her co States, and that she forbears the exer-
else of that manifest right of self-governmeus
from considerations of expediency only.
Now what were the "violations" and "en-
croachments" so heavily denounced by the con-
vention. All the world knows that in an
especial degree they were tho measures known
as the compromise. How stands the Demo
cratic party in regard to those violations of the
Constitution" and encroachments on the re-
served rights Of the States?" The following is
ps4s of their platforms
ReSolied, That the foregoing proposition CO.
vers and was intended TO embrace the whole
subject of the slavery agitation In Congress;
and therefore the Democratic party of the Union
standing on this national platform, will abide by
and adhere to the faithful execution o. the acts
known - the compromise measures settled by
the last Congress the act for returning fugitives
from service or labor included which act, being
designed TO carry out an express provision of
the Constitution, cannot with fidelity thereto be
repe'e led or so changed as to destroy or impair
its efficacy.
Moreover, we know that if il had not been
forthe position of small minority in the Balti
more convention, this resolution would have
been made to express hearty approval of the
compromise, as well as pledge to support It,
Here then, in South Carolina, all parties have
united in denouncing the compromise, as so hs-
grant wrong that it justified the breaking up
of the confederacy; and it surely cannot be ex
pected that we should be SO lost to sef-reapect
as to plunge into an eleciioneering campaign
for candidates whose chief merit is found in
their pledges to sustain that system of wrong !
The people of Souh Carolina have long felt
thet one of the most fatal influences that beset
every good cause and thwart the advancement of
just principles in this confaderacy, is to be found
in the turmo'l and corruption of the Presidential
elections They have felt that the cause of the
South has been already sacrificed to the hopes
and int CUES that cluster around this centre,
and Trey will not so soon after the last bitter
lesson, make themselves party to this wretch.
ed scramble for place, and in the ferment OF
these coarse and venal ambitions, sink forever
all reverence for the past and all elevated hope
for the future Charleston Mercurv