The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-02-26
The Democratic Convention.

FRIDAY, ................ -'s-.FEB. 96
The Democratic Convention.
The assemblage of this Convention
though it has proposed no measures nor
formed ticket-will have q very i'm.
portant influence in the politics of the
State; and should the project Of Great
Northwest Convention be carried out, |
it may prove to have been the beginning |
of movement that will have an i'm
mense influence upon the political affairs
of the country. An attempt is made to
depreciate the influence Of this meeting
by calling its leaders and members "sore
heads" and disappointed aspirants, who
are seeking TO recover their lost political
influence. Admit the facts; and are not
the leaders and managers Of every politi-
cal convention actuated by personal con-
siderations? Who composed the Eighth
Of January Meeting? Were they not
mercenary throng Of office-seekers and
office holders, who went up there to Sc
cure their bread by the most subservient
and degrading sacrifice Of their own hon.
est convictions? and did they not at
tempt to force upon the party doctrines
that outraged the public sentiment of
the State? The members Of the last
Convention can claim, at least. the credit
of expressing an honest opinion; and the
motive that moved them to the utter
ance oft is as honorable as that Of their
rivals, though their heads be sore; for re
venge is q less degrading passion than
avarice, and bold traitor from disappoin-
ted hopes is less contemplate than the
slavish mercenary that fights for lead
er's promised booty.
Whatever may be the character and
motives Of the leaders in this movement,
it is certain they have the whole force Of
public opinion in their favor, while. their
rivals are attempting to contend with a
current as resistless almost as the floods
of the Mississippi. With the full force
OF public opinion in the favor Of the last
Convention, the weakest leadership will
overthrow the most consummate partizan
generalship. With moderate degree Of
prudence and good management, the
Anti-Lecompton party may exterminate
their rivals. But the opposite party are
too sagacious to contend with them in
open array. They will wheedle them
into concessions and compromises for the
harmony Of the party-steal their thun-
der,-and then again turn these recreant
Anti-Lecompton leaders out upon the
public commons to feed. But the fate OIL
the leaders is matter of small moment
to the people. The influence of this
Convention will be positive upon the
politics Of the State. The Anti Lecomp
ton party will triumph by themselve:
against the old leaders, or it will force
them to yield. If the old leaders of The
Democratic patty persist in their adher
ence to the Lecompton measures and
doctrines, they will not have, at the enc
Of the year, corporal's guard, in thi'
State, to support them.
The State Sentinel admits there wer,
about 800 persons present at the meet
ing. That this number were present
notwithstanding the severity Of tn,
weather, and the difficulties of travelling
through the mud and snow at this sea
son, shows that the movement has al
impulse in popular feeling that cannot b
stayed. The meeting was harmoniou
and enthusiastic. The following are tn
platform and resolutions adopted:
PLATFORM.
The Democratic party of the State Of In
diana, in Mass Convention assembled, mai
and publish these resolutions.
i. That all just powers of government al
derived from the people; that this princip
Is recognized as fundamental by all Anne
lean cOnsIltublOus, auu W tHO DcihoSios
party.
2. That all constitutions, State and Fede
nj, should be strictly construed, and the n
served rights ofthe States and the people sec
ulously guarded.
8. That the right Of the people to form al
regulate their domestic institutions in the
own way, subject only to the constitution
the United States, as guaranteed to kans
and Nebraska by their organic law, inner
alike in the people of all other Territories
the United States.
4. That an application for the admissi'
of a new State into the Union can he know
TO Congress as the bona fds act of the peoI
interested, only by the fact that the Co
stitution accompanying such application b
been ratified by the people.
5. That by the principle of the Kansa
Nebraska act, practically applied, Congre
is bound to a uniform method Of admittii
new States into the Union, only upon col
situations which have been ratified at f,
election by vote of the people for who
government they are framed.
s. That the last resolution adopted by t
Convention of the sth of January, known
''the popular sovereignty resolution" b
been misinter preted in this State and ell:
.,here; that, lii the opinion of the Democr
cy of Indiana, the plain language of that n
olution admits of but one interpretatiC
namely: That the Democracy of this st,
re- affirm the great doctrine Of the kansi