Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-03-19
From tie Charleston Mercury.
The Presidency.

the recent DemOcraClc SIdLe SOuNeHtfoH vi eull-
sylvania, which by very large majority nom-
mated Mr. BUCHANAN for the next Presidency
We take no part in the approaching struggle,
and devoutly hope that South Carolina will al
low no solicitations or Establishments to seduce
her to depart from neutrality. The United
States can be misgoverned without her help, and
there is no ground of hope that any exe'tlons
on her part, however ardent and unt'rlng. can
save them from being misgoverned. 1t IS IS
spectators only that we remark upon the aspect
Of the Presidential question.
Mr.. BUCHANAN starts with strong support
He is the choice of the Democracy in his own
State. in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, AM we
think in Florida and North Carolina. The
GREAT prominence which the Pennsylvania Resolu-
tions give to the doctrine of State Rights and
strict construction, and the strong pledge they
give of respecting the rights of the South, will
tend to strengthen Mr.. BUcHANAN's party
throughout the South, and the more, because
these doctrines and pledges are in harmony with
the principles he has always maintained through
out his long public career. His high ability, a.
bundant experience, and his moderation of char
acter, are all strong arguments in his favor. and
increase the chances that time and examination will
rather enlarge than diminish the number of his
friends. Still, such is the perversity and crook
edness of party politics that it by no means follows
that the candidate in favor Of whom the most
and the strongest arguments can be fairly urged,
will win the game. So much depends on adrolt
management and bargaining that the considera-
tions which naturally would decide the matter,
have a chance of being overlooked, and choice
made, not because any man thinks it will be the
best for the country, but because sufficient
number of crafty wire pullers believe it will be
the most profitable for themselves.
Apparently, the most formidable competitor
of Mr.. BUCHANAN, will be Senator DOUGLAS Of
illinois. We cannot suppose that SAM Hous-
TON and Gen. Cass will be much in the way
The former has neither rcspectability as man,
nor weight as politician, and the latter very
greatly undermined the confidence of his former
friends, by the strangely unwise course he has
pursued in regard to the foreign relations of the
country. He has not only made very foolish
movements, but he has failed in getting even
fools to follow him. His craftsmanship has been
an abortion, and his candidacy, if the party
should be weak enough to select him, will prove
a still greater abortion.
But DOUGLAS is another sort Of man. Real
" superior in talents, he has the secret of ma
king all his powers available for popularity and
influence In the Northewest, he woulc have
very cordial and general support, and has not
few supporters in Virginia The great danger
to the party that the claims of candidates will
be pressed with zeal that will degenerate into
acrimony and that when the choice is finally made
there will be no general concurrence in sustaining
it. If BUCHANAN and DOUGLAS could be agreed
upon as the Democratic ticket for President and
Vice-President, we do not believe that the Wings
could make respectable showing in opposition.
But it's probably expecting too much moderation
in the candidates, and too much common sense in
party, to look for such a combination. But we
leave the subject and quote the Resolutions OF the
Pennsylvania Convention:
Resolped That this Convention cordially approve
and endorse the great Democratic political prln-
ciples embodied in the resolutions adopted by
the last two National Democratic Conventions,
held at Baltimore in 1874 and lS4S and believe
their strict observance to be not only conducive
o the prosperity, but essential to the preserva-
ton of the Union.
Resolved, That the Democratic party, in view
of the present critical condition of the country,
should now, more than ever resort to the prncl-
pies of its glorious founders, as furnishing the
safest and surest guides and landmarks; and that
among those of primary Importance in the exist
ing position of public affairs, we may enumerate:
strict construction of the powers granted by the
several States to the Federal Government under
the Constitution of the U. States, and denial
to Congress of all doubtful powers; sacred re-
gard for the rights reserved to the States respec-
lively, and to the people; an absolute nonnterfer-
ence by the several States and their citizens with
the domestic institutions of each other; and
rigid economy and strict accountability in the
expenditure Of the public money drawn from the
pockets of the people by taxation, confning the
appropriations made by Congress to national sub
iects plainly authorized by the Constitution.
Resolved That the coner stones of the Demo-
cratic party were securely and deeply laid du-
ring the @reign of terror" by the immortal
patriots and statesmen, Jefferson and Madison,
in the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions, and in
Mr.. Madison's report; and that whenever the
government departed from the spirit ofthese reso-
lutions and this report, dangerous dissenslons
and injurious consequences to the country were
the results
Resolved, That the Democratic party is the
true Union party Of the whole country, and we
recognize no other. We rejoice to witness that
the Democrats in other States, who disapprove
the Compromise measures of the last Congress,
have, for the sake ofthe Union resolved to ac-
IL G u