Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-07-25
The Political Campaign and its Issues.

nave finished their labors at the Capitol. The
result of their action is of course known through
out the State of California, and the men Of their
choice, to whom a entrusted the honor and prin-
ciples Of their respective parties to defend and
maintain are now before The people Of the State.
The Democratic and Republican Conventions
have made their selections The American State
Convention will assemble on the 2Sth inst. at
which time perhaps another batch of candidates
will be led to the field 10 battle through the cam
paign, and contest for the honors and laurcls to
be won.
From the present strength Of the American
party in California no hopes can reasonably be
entertained for their success; but yet their chan
ces for triumph stands about as fair show as
that of the Republican party. Between the three
parties in the field there can be no aliliation, or
kindred of feeling or principle. The Democratic
party gained victory over both last fall and has
to-day nc doubt an overwhelming majority in the
State Things have changed materially within
the last four months-time has worked wonders
in the political organizations of the day. Last
November the American party claimed to be the
great opposition party to the Democracy, as far
political parties in California was concerned.
and judging from the vote on the Presidential
issue, we are bound to admit the truth and cor
rectness Of this claim. The Republican party
entered the Presidential contest with great cour-
age, but with very little prospect for success, as
far as the vote Of this State figured up. The
Republican party was greatly in the minority.
although we believe that had the election been
delayed month longer the ranks Of the Ameri-
can party would have been wonderfully thnned,
and large accessons made to the Republican
party. The platform Of the American party last
fall was greatly modified to the ono presented
the year before
The virtue Of mere written resolutions was not
so much relied on as was the name and well
tried integrity of Milard Fillmore. The coun-
try knew and believed him to he wise, national.
honest and patriotic and ii was in admiration Of
his virtue and statesmanlike character that the
old Wings met in National Convention and en-
dorsed the platform of the party which placed
Mr.. Fillmore in the campaign as its eypounder
and advocate. James Buchanan, man Of forty
years political experience and with reputation
as statesman throughout the civilized world,
carried the standard Of the Democratic party
AS rival to those two great men, John c. Ere
mout entered the contest with but very litte per
sonal prestige except that Of being very scicn-
tiGc gentleman and having the reputation Of be-
ing good mountainecr. The result Of the Presi-
dental campaign however clearly shows that it
was not the individual merit Of those dstin-
guishcd men that won or lost the fight or gained
triumph for their party. The real cause Of the
success of the Democracy and the defeat of the
Republican party was the position taken by these
parties on the Slavery issue. The Democratic
party advocated the provisions Of the Nebraska
Bill, which permits the people Of the Territories
TO draw up their State Constitution with or with
out the slavery clause, or rather exercise their
own wisdom aud discretion in making their Con
stitutions TO embrace Slavery or not and fur
ther that whatever the majority of those people
in the Territories might do in regard to the insti-
tuition of Slavery, Congress should exercise no
power TO reverse the acts Of the people, bu admit
such Territory as State or States into the Union,
with Or without Slavery as the people had pre-
viousy decrecd. This was the position taken by
the Democratic party upon the Slavery question:
The Republican party after making terrible
war about the Missouri Compromise, and work
ing the whole thing up into mysterious quibble.
rallied back upon The single Slavery issue Of anti
Nebraska, contendng that Congress had the right
and should exercise the power Of lcgislating
Slavery in or out Of new Territory. Bleeding
Kansas was tbc bone Of contention This
the main issue Between the Democratic and
Republican parties, and upon this issue direct the
American party refused 10 express an opinion or
take a position. They occupied a neutral ground.
trusting, that if Mr. Fillmore was elected he
would heal up the breach, and harmonic the con
fictng elements that agitatcd the Union so fear
fully. The result Of the Residential election was
proof conclusive that The issue upon the Slavery
question was the only one which gave vitality to
the Republican party. The issues made by The
American party, was not met by either Of the
other parties as national issues but simply treated
as secondary in their Importance as matters OF
policy. All questions, in fact, except the Ne
braska and anti-Nebraska were considered by the
two dominent parties as collateral issues and
were so treated.
The old line Wings endorsed Mr. Fillmore. be-
lIevlng that he was still sound upon the measures
Of Wing policy, such as The Tariff, Finance, and
the policy of Internal Improvement, but failed to
see anything in the platform of the party that
brought him out, which they could endorse
Since the election of Mr.. Buchanan the Slavery
agitation has quieted down considerable The
line Of policy marked out by the new President,
seems to be so thoroughly national, polite aud
patriotic, that reaction has almost anihilatod,
in many of the States, the parties opposed to the
Democracy.
In this State the political changes have been
very great within the last two years. In the last
Gubenatorial contest the American party was
nearly five thousand votes in the ascendcnt over