Washington sentinel., 1856-03-22

cannot rise far above the prejudices of lo-
cahty-no politician who, in one word, is not
conservative enough and popular enough to
command the vote of twothirds of the dele
gates to National Democratic Convention,
should ever be nominated for or chosen Presi-
dent of the United States. Looking, then, to
the future, Qf the Democratic party is to re-
main united, and upon its preservation intact
must depend the maintenance of the Union
itself) considering the immense immigration
into the North and West, which is likely to
continue for century to come, constantly in
creasing the disparity in numerical strength
between the northern and southern sections
Of the contederacy, what is to prevent the
South from falling, soon or late, into the hands
of powerful and exacting majority? II is
time for Southern Democrats to begin to look
this matter boldly in the face their dearest
interests are hazarded, indeed, upon the for
tunes of the ensuing campaigns if they shall
surrender, for the purpose of gaining an ina
ginary, and, at hest, only temporary advan-
tage, the only bulwark which now deGes the
increasing power of the North, they will fall
the victims of their own credulity as all de-
serve to fall who, seeing the abyss before them,
take no steps to avoid it. If the South shall
be true to her own interests, she will not de-
sert the position which she now occupies she
will not consent that vote in nominating
convention, which may be but majority Of
the North itself, shall decide her destiny.
The assembling of delegates in National
Convention is justified merely by the tacit con-
sent Of the States, and surely when one-third
OF these delegates protest against a nomina-
ton, it may be safely presumed it is one unfit
to be made 1t may be said the time may
come when nomination cannot be effected
under the two-thirds rule. When such a
period shall arrive, and the delegates repre-.
senting the States shall be so devoted to the
accomplishment of sectional ends, or the sue.
cess of personal preferences, as to forget the
highest interests of their country, the Demo
cratic party will not be worth preserving, and
its dissolution will be necessary to the we'll
being of the American nation. But let us not
borrow the trouble which may be concealed in
the secret chamber Of the future; rather
should we remember the maxim, Sufficient
unto the day is the evil thereof" If time
shall come when National Democratic Con-
yention, from the uncounted millions that shall
inhabit this country, will be unable to make
selection under the operation of the two.
thirds rule, it may be necessary to rescind this
rule, and leave to any section of the Union,
ssat may consider its rights invaded by the
procedure the privilege OF seeding from the
convention. But at present we are not under
the necessity. of changing our timehonored
policy, and such an effort as seems to be con-
templated in the approaching convention can
only be viewed as direct assault upon the
South; and delegate from that portion of
the country who would directly or indirectly
countenance such move, would seem to be
recreant to, or at least regardless of the
highest and noblest interests of his consttu.
ency.
In our view, the integrity-nay, the very ex-
istence of the party-depends upon the preser-
walton, intact, of the twothirds rule.
We do not desire, in anything we have said,
to hold out the idea of carrying the election to
the House of Representatives. On the con-
trary we embrace this opportunity to earnestly
express the hope that the election may never.
enter this body. Especially at the present
period would the verdict of the lower branch
of Congress be fatal to the dearest interests of
the American people.
Let the Democratic party fight in its ancient
channel; let it observe the forms and customs
of the times of Jackson and Polk let it grid
on the amor which patriots in all ages have
worn, and it will march to a triumphant and
plorous yiciary