Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-05-23
From the Boston Post
The Availability

That spacious wise, and far seeing doctrine of
availability as Mr.. Webster dersiyely termed ii at
Marshfeld in ls4e. should be secuted, at least by
democrats as heretical and corruptlng. The idea
should be obsolete that such complete Identification
of political leader with principles makes him
the target of their enemies should disqualify him
from receiving the support of their friends The
doctrine and its results-the whole policy-has been
three times illustrated by whig National Conven-
tons, when statesmen who were thoroughly ldentl-
fed with whig principles showed aside for this
reason, and brilliant military leaders, who were never
heard of in connexon with distinctive political mea
surss, were nominated smpy because the belief was
entertained that they could get the most votes.
How much the whig party gained in the long run
BY such fat deseon of lis champions let its present
condition testify.
| The democratic party never run into such error
as this 1t never ostracsed its leaders because they
were identified with great measures, ight liz them
selves, but unpopular in sections of the country it
never allowed obloquy cool their support to
thy champions of their cause. We may allude, as
Instances of this party fidelity, to the denominations
of Jefferson, Madison and Jackson Can the annals
of craftsmanship show greater amount of calumny,
of perversion of fact of belittlemcnt of talent and
character, than exhibited in the political
fare against all these lustrous democratic leaders
They were held up before the community as hardly
respectable in point Of ability decent in point of
character Thousands lived and died III the belief
that these ornaments of our country were among the
most unworthy politicians that ever disgraced Gods
footstoo Did all this outpour of insane partisan
ship from their support the of the glor.
Gus democracy The good sense and intelligence Of
the people in the they maured and
maintained what was fit for the condition. the inter-
ests, and the glory Of the country; and they knew
that in sustaining the they sustaining the
cause. The argument was, that the obloQuy poured
out on Jefferson for his fidelity TO the republican
principles, on Madison for his devotion to The free
dom of the seas on Jackson fer his bold maintenance
If democratic principles against bank monopoly, was
unjust for the measures right, and the sup
port of the required endorsement OF the
men.
striking instance OF the manly way in which
this great national party acts may be found IN Tue
| 1910 denomination of Mr.. Van Buren,. The theme
of popular camor then was the dependent-treasufy
measure-a policy that rdiculed and denounced
as measure never was before. and by class OF men
who, if appeale to to-day, would support the very
policv thew then condemned But this Remuneration
did not deter the democratic party from clingng to
| Mir Van Buren, and though cIamor and availability
defeated him, yet the measure that was held up In
such Indignant terms still lives, and nothing could
induce the country TO part with it.
! Nor was the nomination of Mr.. Polk any eXcep-
ton to this policy. Bitter rival personal contests
distracted the 1874 Democratic National Conyen-
ton but this body never thought of such an eXpe-
disnt rs selecting for the standard bearer politician
who had never been identified with political strug-
| giles, of lodging political issues. The great
! of Texas Mr. Polk had boldly avowed himself for
this measure and, besides, we'll known to demo-
Gratis by many partisan struggle, md was the
| boldest among the supporters Of Jackson Hence, to
carry out great measures, he was selected. His
mere name not q tower OF strength 20 the party
but the party rallied around him to sustain tower
of strength, It's CAUSE and his administration proved
one of the most able far-sg hted and successful al
ministrations under which this county or any other
country ever prospered.
The democratic party has in this way distinguished
itself and maintained itself by rallying about princi.
pies and measures which, though unpopular and op.
posed in portions of the Union up the verge
of civil STRIFE yet above local interests and sec.
tional preudices into wide and comprehensive nd.
tonality. Now the most available leader in its ranks
should be who has the moral courage to identify
himself with such cardinal issues one who dlres tC
plant himself on the ground of right, and let conse
uuences take care of themselves-whO dares in such
a spirit to follow, boldly and confidently, where dem
ocratic principles lead. If political action Of this
nature, right in itself and soundly constitutional
makes him unpopular II it draws smartIy the fire
of the enemy if it induces the grossest personal OBJ
loquy be it SO. Let den ocrats look well 10 the OBJ
iect of it all 1t is not after all, much the mar
which the opposition desire to strike down it is thu
cause and this virulence of attack should be met b.
bold defiance and enthusi asic defence.
But at this day we have something very much akil
to the whig-availabilty policy alleged against re
nomination of General Pierce. The objection, il
plain words, is, that he is identified in such wa,
with the great question of slavery that he is unpopu
lar al the North 10 such degree not 10 be ayaa
bic as the democratic standard bearer in the comn
contest In plain words, it is said that he canno &c
so many votes at the North, in the free States,
f new candidate might.
Rejecting the modern wing test of availability lie
US go back to the old test of democratic availability
as applicable now. AS it is q sound idea that boil
and thorough Identification with cardinal measure
makes party leader available, who among demo
Gratis has the most of these qualities now 1t vii
be writing nothing in disparagement of others to as
sign the palm of true availability, to Gen Pierce
e 1t is the natural consequence of the policy he ha
pursued in the lofty position in which the democrac
!, placed him We assume that in all that makes al
administration of etficiency-one of working power
honesty, capabiity, and faithfuness to the consti
= stituton-President Perces administration meet
the appreciation of the country. There is almost al
ways, in edition, question towards which publ
opinion s direced-that stands out as the test ques
e tion-on which opposition rallies Just as it was il
the war question of Madisons days, the bank ques
ton of Jackson's day, and the subtreasury question
S of Van Burens day. The question to-day is tn
:, slavery question. Now on this question Gen Pierc
stands to-day before the whole country precisely
in 1852 he stood before the people of his matt State
No one in New Hampshire took manly stan
on IT. no one was more prominent mark for the on
position; no more roundly abused by fleesosn
than General Pierce; and he fairly STOOD in thi
: regard, on line with Gen. Cas-, Mr.. Buchanan, an
e the other distinguished names before the country
If This was voluntary position; it was pivat
e citizen that he went out to war against free sosn
II But in 1852 the voice of the united democrac
" called him from retirement and placed him in an es
l. allied position before the whole country. In tn
course of his term, great issues this question c
n slavery have come up. Has he not met them boldly
l. wisely we'll! Has he not stood as an unyiedinp ha1