Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-05-08
THE QUEsTION-THE PIVOT OF THE
CONTROVERSY.


rant and swollen pride, have banded together
for crusade against the constitutional rights
and constitutional equality of the Southern
States and Southern people.
They offer that single issue and by what
ever means successful, they promise in that
event to strike down the constitutional rights
of the Southern States, severing the bands Of
constitutional ties, leaving a discovered, dis
membered republic.
Upon this sole issue, which floats upon their
banners, and dwells in their hearts, they invite
to their camp all the pie bald odds and ends of
parties of every hue and shade of creed. No
matter how Numerically opposed upon other
matters of vital interests, they are to conglome-
rate into one mass for the occasion-all other
interests are to be left to the chances Of the
future.
Thus stands the foe to the Constitution and
to the South.
What, then, is the duty of the South thus
confronted, and forcibly drawn to the contest
on single issue?
To meet that ISSUE full in the front, to plant
itself on the rock of the Constitution and of
State Rights, and unfurling the national ban
ner to rally around it the national men from
every quarter.
The mere onslaught of this heterogeneous
mass of commingled Aboitionists, Freesoilers,
and Spoils-seekers, will of itself, by sponta-
neous movement, bring up the South in solid
phalanx but if the South alone contests the
victory, it must fail.
| What, then, is needed to secure the equality
Of the States, the inviolability of the Constitu
| ton
So many of the Northern States as will give
to the South and to the Constitution the pre-
ponderance.
| That, then, is the one thing needful to victory.
Thus the issue stands Invested of all extrane-
GUS matter, and victory hinges on this pivot.
| In what manner shall the South most surely
secure these necessary Northern States
To the solution of this simple, but most sig
nifcant question, must the labors Of the Gin
cinnati Convention resolve themselves.
In what manner can this question be solved?
Will preference for Mr.. BUCHANAN, ex.
pressed by Virginia, Louisiana, Tennessee, and
other Southern States, solve satisfactorily that
question? No; certainly not.
| Would the expression of preference for
General Pierce by one or more Southern States
for General Pierce, solve it? No.
Would preference expressed by other South
ern States for Judge Douglas, solve it. No; it
would not
Would the expression of preference by a
majority of the Southern States for either of
the above, or any other person, satisfactorily
solve it? No; not if the unanimous South
expressed a preference for any one, would this
uital question be solved.
What solution, then, is there which would
be satisfactory-which would insure victory to
the National, the Constitutional party2
The solution is as plain as the sun at noon
day.
Let those Northern Democratic States hav-
ing certain votes enough to secure majority
in the Electoral College, express their prefer
ence, say who and who alone can surely COM
mand success within their borders.
This we apprehend is an unquestioned and
unquestionable solution, and the only one.
To this only point need the Cincinnati Con-
vention give their attention.
Who is the man upon whom the solution Of
this question should fall?
We apprehend that Pennsylvania and New
Jersey, having themselves the requisite mum.
Der of votes, can safely say that JAMES BUcH
ANAN, and that only he, can certainly receive
the votes Of those States. Thus, then, the en-.
tire purpose Of the Convention is certainly
secured.
What more than certain victory is required 2
Can any one more certainly bring the required
number of votes? Can any so certainly do it ?
Besides, we apprehend that no man is more
likely to receive the votes Of New York, Ohio,
Michigan, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and
we might add, he will surely receive the votes
of Indiana and Illinois.
With platform acceptable to States Rights
and in conformity with the Constitution-with
a candidate justly entitled to Southern conf.
dence, as is Mr.. BUCHANAN, and with the prefer
ence for him by Northern States able to elect
him, is it not the duty of the South to suppress
all discussions which can only serve to distract
and TO embarrass the Democratic party, and to
leopard success.
If there be any other candidate who can
more surely promise victory to the Democratic
Party, let the evidences upon which this GER
tainty is predicted be given.
We have presented a programme, which, if
followed, leads to certain victory to the triumph
of National men over the twin brothers of In.
fidelity, Abolitonism, and all the herded rem.
nants Of disbanded parties.
| Mr.. BUCHANAN, in as great degree as any
man in the country, possesses the confidence of
the solid, considerate men of the country--nor
is he hidebound old fogy who sees dissolu-
ton or disaster in the acquisition Of every ad-