Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-03-07
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.


The Canyasses OF this summer and Fall.
We have always looked upon it as desirable that
the active eectoneering canvass for the Presidency
or for other Offices, should be shot as possible
consistently with full discussion of the points at IS
sue, and the various pros and cons OF the subject or
subjects discussed We have remarked, as, indeed
any person who has paid any attention to the ma''ef
must have remarked, that where the canvass IS pro-
tracted the main argument is exhausted long before
the day of final action at the polls has arrived; and
the contest is too apt degenerate into heated GRIM
nations and determinations or, even should this be
bappiIy avoided must at best consist of an Iteration
and reiteration Of assertions and denlals already
uade-of attacks and defences covering the very
same grounds already travelled over.
The canvass, or election campaign proper, ID gen
eralJv understood 10 open with ths placing IN the
field of the candidates of the respective parties and
therefore, for the reasons above stated we have al
wavs heartily concured with the general opinion or
sentiment which has indicated the latest convenient
day the most proper and expedient for the meeting
Of the nominating bodies of the different parties and
thus we now concur in the eminent proprety of the
course adopted by the Democratic National ConVen-
ton in fixing the time for the meeting of the Demo
cratic National Convention at as late day as the
beginning
sesses the great advantage Of being homogeneous
body, with defined principles, and not mere tumuI-
tuary opposition, composed OF Jarring and conflicting
elements as is the case with its antagonists 1t can
therefore, do what they cannot do 1t can ABIDE IT'S
time and take it's measures, Irrespective OF mere out
side influences extaneOus circumstances, such as
forced the Know Nothing Convention at Philadelphia
TO make nomination at early day, in the we'll
grounded apprehension thattO delay until later day
would be 10 lose the chance of doing at ALL because
ofshe rapid and inevitable dslntegratiOn OF the III
cemented structure structure containing no ele'
ment Of union among its parts except a common
dislike to the Democratic party-honesty inherited
by the great majority of the organization from The
old Wing party, and participated in by some former
Democrats whose hopes Of advancement had not
been gratihed by their former party associates In
deed, the desire for pOstponement OF the nomlna-
ton was almost universally expressed by the press
of the order until within very short time OF the day
set apart 70. the meeting of the Convention, but as
the time drew nearer, the evidences Of the state OF
things to which we have referred became strong
and unmistakeabe, that an Immediate nomination or
none at all were felt by the leading spirits Of the
"order TO be the only alternatives presented. The
former alternative was chosen, in the hope, the vain
hope, we confidently believe, of arresting the pro-
gress Of dissolution. it is czaggeration TO say,
that the Convention and nominations with all their
aneccdent and concurrent circumstances, are wlths
out parallel in the political history Of the country,
and are not calculated either TO give to the
people at large intusc confidence into the minds
Of the more rejecting members of the =" order
The council and the Convention themselves, in
their extreme discordanCy-in the impossbility OF
uniting upon common ground-in the demand on the
part OF the North for the abrogation of the famous
18th Section OF the platform Of 1885, and in the TO-
tai destruction of that platform, 18th Section and
all, and the substitution of platform, acknow-
lodged all hands to be OF verblagG upon
which nobody could cordially stand, show badly for
the pemanence Of the organization The South lost
what it said it would hold on to at all hazards
Northern ant-12th Section delegates, avowedly SUCH
were admitted as full and good members, and yet
large portions of the Northern order are not content,
but insist that the South should have been further
thrust 10 the wall The ticket itself is what must
certainly in political parlance be regarded a
grel one. All parties admit that Americans should
rule America, it is inevitable that they should do
when it is borne in mind that of the voters of the
United States fully eleven twelve to one are ma
tves of the SOIL and that Of the one-twslh all have
sworn allegiance to the Constitution and renowned
all other allegiance
But the real question is ho1v Americans shall rule
Amerca-what line Of policy shall be pursued upon
the great QUESTION: which have from time 10 time az
iated the country, may hereafter agitate it. Here
she Convention is silent--tLe Platform of the Coun-
Gil is silent--the nominations afford no light, for
the gentlemen nominated as candidates for the Pres-
dency and Vice Presidency have always been the
political antpodes Of each other and it is unreason
able 10 suppose that the common assertion of po-
itical trusm or the common opposition to particular
classes Of citizens, can reconcile the lifelong differ
ences of political opinion between a Northern whig
and Southern Democrat-the coalition must be hol-
low and unsubsantial,
What then is the duty Of the Democrats in the
meantime 1t is quietly to organize for the promul-
cation OF Democratic truth--for the enforcement OF
Democratic principles-to circulate the documents
10 know their strength and to be perfectly ready for
the contest-be ready TO give efficient and an un-
Outstanding support TO the nominee of the Cincinnati
Convention, in the full confidence that the action
of that Convention will leave no doubts as 10 how
Americans are to rule Amelca-in accordance
with the constitution and the rights of the States
and that, in the hands of the nominee of that con.
yenOn, the rights and interests of the South and OF
the whole country, will be safe. Organization and
the dissemination of Democratic doctrines is the bust
ness at present before US.
B&3@The pressure Of other matters renders !. i'm
possible Tor US to do more to-day than TO alude tc