Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-05-02
THE TWO-THIRDS RULE.

PERSONS lnltlateQ INTO tue secret OF tne new ioih
RernGs Presidential operations will not be surprised
Ivy its sudden attack the policy Of the 7~o- 1h'rd'
Rule. There will be cause Of astonshmcnt, If the
Democratic party exhibit the least respect for OBJ
lection which originates in purely selfish motives and
is meant to promote corrupt interests. The advice
COMES from suspected quarter We mlstrust the
wholesomsness Of the counsel which is awkwardly
dispensed by one who habitualy deals in poisonous
drugs. The Herald's persistent and mplacable en-
nifty to the Democratic party, will not allow US to be-
lieve that it opposes the TYo.Thrds Rule from any
uusel6sh and patriotic consideration. We under
stand the game, and will avail ourselves of proper
occasion to expose the knavery of the faction whom
the Herald represents.
The T.ro.Thrds Rule was the suggestiop of q wise
regard for the Interests of the Democratic party and
of the COUNTRY and experience has illustrated its sal
utary operation. Its earliest application relieved the
uarty of Martin Van Buren, and restored dynasty
of sound principles and honest practices. A night
mare was astrde us, depressing our brain, stihing
our breath, and paralyzing our energies but this
magic medicine relieved of the burden and restored
us to health and vgor. 1t has been equally salutary
in every instance Of its application. 1t has kept the
Democratic party up to the highest standard of State
rights principle and has secured succession of Pres
ideu,s in the interest ofthe South.
This effect Of the Two-Thirds Rule 10 not at all di
fcult OF explanation. Concentrating the control Of
the Democratic party in the hands of the South, it
has euabled the South to determine the policy and
dictate the candidates of the Democratic party
Hence the soundness both of candidates and policy.
The Democratic party being the dominant party of
the country and the South dsposng Of the destinies
of the Democratic party, it resulted necessarily that
Southern spirit and policy presided over the con-
duct Of the government Such of our allies in the
North as were not governed by principle were kept
clear of abolitionism by the irresistible influence Of
the South in the councils of the party.
The history Of the Wing party confirms the wisdom
of policy. by illustrating the evils Of its opposite.
That party is now thoroughly aboltonized and de-.
bauchsda result which is attributable to the absence
Of any conservative principle in it's organiZation.-
The Wings of the South true enough themselves,
perhaps were overborne by the irresistible weight OF
their Northern allies, and driven to submit to
such principles and candidates their masters chose
to impose The Two.Thirds Rule would have given
them the means of self. protection nay of suprema.
tive but to be dragged along TO the Of the nsolenl
victor, or to break of all connection with the organi
cation ef their party
Now, if the Democratic party had been equally
foolish, it might have been equally snfortunate.-
Without the Two Thirds Rule, the North would have
asserted the asceRdaIcy of a numerical majority
would have dictated the candidates and determined
the policy Of the party. Conforming more aud more
to Northern prejudice and yielding position after po.
sitiun to the irresistible demands Of their powerful
allies, it is not impossible but Southern Democrats
would have been driven eventually to the alternative
which destroyed the Wing party. In any event, the
dou,irun element this i.or,hegnl in the dominant
party the neIocratic would havo impaired oharac-
upd direction to the sentiment Of the country and
the policy oi the government. And 30, the South
might long since have been beaten and overwhelm.
ed but for the power which it derived from the Two.
Thirds Rule in the conv ventons OF the Derncc- q.
Car:..
Tile rule, moreover has been the manstay aid sup
port of Democratic a.cendancy. In Wing Conven-
tions it has repeatedly happened that the candidate
was chosen by States who did not give him vote in
the electoral college, This cannot occur il q Demo.
cratic Convention, for the reason that two thirds
! vote ia sure to represent majority Of electors,
| and because an imnovshe minority can defeat tine
nomination Of an insupsrsbiy objectionable candl-
date.
The Two-thrds Rule is not only safe i'll practice
but is sound theory. 1t conforms to reason and to
the principle which governs the election OF PresI.
dent. A President is not chosen by popular ma
jority but by College representing the Federal vote
of the Ststes.-an arrangement which makes slavery
power in the election, ard which protects tire right:
c: aor.tea in ike Ilsnnst and from regard to- the
same principles, does the Two.thirds Rule recognise
the power Of property and enable the South to
defend itself against the sggressions of numerical
majority.
When the interests of the country ere reTe5t'y no
moyenera. ard President Is chosen b. majority Of
IN. uop.lar vote the aiG may inveigh againot the
Two.thirrds Rule With semblance OF reason.
Meanwhile we trust no Democrat will hearken e
connsels WHICH contemplate ppiy the rsln Of hs party
but will srsu rather TO the sugg estipps OF reason and
the adoutons Of experience, and resolve to adhere
inasxibly to ancient usage and tiae.honored insti'
tutious TheFe is nothing in the idea that the Two
thirds Rule Is fatal to the pretensions Of able men,
We want no sbler men or better Presidents, than
James K Polk and Franklin Pierce.