Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-06-18
"Principles not Men"

The foregoing is Il favorite motto with the De-
mocratic party. We read it every day in the
columns of their newspapers organs, and hear it
from the lips of all their stump orators. They
say that with the Democracy, principles are
every thing and men nothing; and they assert
this to be distinguishing characteristic of their
party. When come, however, to search their
acts, we find that in this instance, as in most 9TH
ers, the Democracy profess ono thing and practice
another. The Petersburg Intelligencer COM
ments forcibly on this topic. We quote an extract
from its remarks:
Let us look little into this matter and see how
the account really stands. The members of the
late Baltimore Convention met for business, GER
tainlv not with an utter insensibity to the claims
and merits of but the history of their pro-
eeedings shows, with determination on the part
Of each one of hafa dozen cliques to adhere tena-
cously and perseveringly to the man of its pre-
ference. The Cass section for three days voted for
Cass. The Buchanan section ditto for its chief
tain. The Douglas section dtto-and so of Hous-
ton and the rest--at all events, they so managed
it that not one of these rivals should procure the
nomination. They were in deadly conflict SO tar
as the prevention Of another's success was con-
cerned This is fact of which we presume there
CON no -easvuablo douht-and the view we take
ments of political discord were antagonistcally
mixed up in a struggle for men, Principle, if it
was any where at all, was peeping in through
window of the slaughter-ho laughing heartily
at the very consistent and harmonizing conduct of
its votaries. Now we have been accustomed to
believe that this thing called principle was
atty, and that it operated uniformly and with
like influence upon its followers. We have
thought that ifthe Democratic party were gov
erned by so broad and solid an incentive to action,
it would matter very little whether Cass or Buch-
anan, or Douglas, or Marcy, or any other good and
true Democrat was their nominee for the Presi-
dency-all these personages, it being supposed,
worshipping at the same shrine.
Why, then, were those bitter stubborn divis-
ions seen in the Convention, and why was that
body utterly unable to make choice between the
disting uisled names they had before them? If
principles were their touch stone and watch
word could not Cass, or Buchanan, or any of the
''shnng lights be trusted to administer the Go
vernment? But was it principle which Animal
ed the Buchanan-ites against the friends of Cass
in upwards of forty ballotings, and nice uersa,
through the whole category was it not rather
an attachment to men /? We do not seq what else
but personal deuotedness could have led the differ
ent clans in the Convention to maintain to the
last such determined positions in favor of their
spective chiefs, we'll nj h to make shipwreck
of the common faith-for, we saw it stated, that
at one time the prospect was so gloomy, that men,
bers of the Convention themselves almost despair
ed of any other than a disastrous issue to their
labors which would, if it could not be averted be
fatal to the Democratic party. Here, then,
was this great party for principle on the very
verge of destruction in consequence of rival pre-
ferences for men. But overjoyed to escape the
threatened doom which their unchecked dissen-
sions would have brought upon them, they point
to Franklin Pierce, and in his nomination they
say appears the beauty and consistency of the
Democratic spirit as it was exhibited in the final
throes of that prodgous strife which ragged in their
councils ON the memorable occasion in question.
Resolved, That the American Democracy
place their in the intelligence, the patriot
ism and the discriminating justice of the Ameri-
can people.
Resolved, Tn at we regard this as distinctive
feature of our political creed which we are proud
to maintain, before the world, as the great moral
element in form of government, springing from
and upheld by the popular will and we contrast
it with the creed and practice of Federalism, I'M
der whatever name OF form, which seeks to
palsy the will of the constituent and which en-
braces no imposture too monstrous for the popular
credulty. Democratic Platform
By way of commentary OF the above, we beg
leave to introdue the subjoined extract from
speech delivered in the u S. Senate on the 1st of
July, 1841, by Mr.. Pierce, the present Democratic
candidate for the Presidency. In allusion to the
removals from office, under the Wing admins
tration, which had come into power and the in
cidents of the campaign of 1910, Mr.. Pierce
said:
"Other points there are connected with this
subject of removals. interesting to the whole
country-to confding people, who were induced
to anticipate what they did not realize-aoho
became, l deplore to sag, the DupEs, the TOO
WILLING DUPEs of professions in some instances,
never designed to be operative beyond the occa-
sion on which they were uttered