Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-02-04
W tHS Lf'i rs
TIE CHARLESTON CONVENTION.

For the EhqHirtr.
TIE CHARLESTON CONVENTION.
Messrs. Editors: TO the careful and astute
observer Of the political events and indications
Of the day, it is evident that this Government
and this Union have reached difficult and
dangerous crisis; and that the action of the
Charleston Convention must materially affect
the capacity and purity Of the one. if indeed
it does not determine forever and speedily, the
good or i'll fortune Of the other.
We are all well aware that it is the habit Of
the dcmagogue, whenever his own political in.
tercsts are at stake, to represent each impend-
ing election as an occasion fraught with the
most momentous consequences to the country,
to magnify the real evils, and to strain his iina-
gination after others not dreamed Of in your
philosophy or mine. In fact SO much has this
become the custom Of selfish and aspiring poll
ticians, that the people may be pardoncd for
sometimes regarding all such declarations, pre-
dictions and warnings with coinplacent smile
Of ironical credulity instead Of hearkening to
them with apprehension for the fate Of the ia.
tion. But non no man, whose vision is not
dimmed by insuperable prejudice, and whose
heart is not induratcd with habitual indifference
upon the troubled sea of American politics.
and ponder for . moment on the causes and
consequences Of the rising storm, without be.
ing sadly impressed with the number and mag
nitude OF the dangers gathering around the
Democratic party, and frowning darkly upon
the Constitution and the Union
The contest Of '56 admonishes Us OF the su.
preme folly Of placing too light an estimate on
the resources Of the enemy. The anxiety and
apprehension with which the doubtful progress
Of that exciting campaign was watched in the
North as in the South in the East and in the
West cannot be already obiterated from the
memory Of the American people. 1t cannot be
so soon forgotten how the calnp-lres of the
Black Republican cohorts burning brightly and
steadily, in the cities and in the townships, on
the mountains and in the vallies of the free
States, denoted the strength Of their forces, the
completeness Of their organization and the vigi-
lance, energy and resoutcness OF their leaders;
how the interest Of all parties and of every sec
ton was heightened to painful pitch as the
conflict thickencd; how each patriots heart was
swelled and swayed with alternate hope and
fear as the day Of election drew close and closer
and its issue was still involved in deep and
deepening doubt; how sturdy stout.hcarted
men in the South, aye, We might truthfully say
women and children too, anticipated the
ercnt Of that struggle between the assail-
ants and defenders of the Constitution with
commingled emotions arising from n reverence
for the Urion on the one hand, and still more
exalted loyalty to the South and attachment
to the Constitution on the other If all these
things are still retained among the recolcctions
Of those who have an interest--and who has
no,?--in the existence OF the Union and the
pcrpctuity Of free institutions, then indeed the
choice Of the Charleston Convention will DC
advisedly and jjudiciouSly made. But if not
if the Democratic party, disturbed by the con.
tiictng hopes Of factions and cliques, or divided
upon the doctrines Of iti political faith skaU
tcasts lis streagth upon itsty, and 90 into Con-
ventior disorganized, unsettled and contra
dictory-obstnately alienated not less in re-
gard to measures than men-with the bonds OF
brotherhood thus broken in all, but party
name superadded to the imbttered and uncom-
promising prejudices Of personal ambition and
envy, then the Democratic candidate for the
Presidency in 1860 must either be lie who can
or kill best accommodate himself to the views
and wishss Of each and all of the conflicting
cliques; or one whose partizans arc numerous
enough to bear down all the rest combined IN
their rent Of combination. The first hypo-
thesis is rs uncomplmentsry to whoulsoeycr it
might in reality attach, rs it would be inau-
Spicious in its augury Of ignominious failure
for an Administration with such 4 man at itS
head And the second supposition, under the
circumstances suggested, can only be found
r., al, t,,to
mination might thus be effected; and admit,
also, that its recipient might be man of exalted
honor, unquestionable patriotism, and expe-
rienccd craftsmanship; can it be doubted,
nevertheless, that even if elected he would be
encountered 1T the outset and pursued through
out his Administration by Democratic oppo-
nents? And must he not, therefore, hc cmOar-
rassed: Must not the party and the country
feel the shock Of each repeated encounter:-
And if continued. even for brief space Of
time, must not such state Of things, sooner or
later, inevitably PROSTATE the pride and power
and prestige Of Democracy? No reasonable
man, think, can answer these interrosatories
otherwise than with an emphatic Affirmative
WHAT, THEN, SHOULD BE- DONE: There is but
one course TO be pursued, and that is too OBJ
vous not to occur to the mind Of every Demo
crat who really and truly desires the success Of
his party and the prosperity Of his country,
regardless Of the ends and aims Of all selfish
politicians and their partizans. The Convention
must be composed Of men who MrG at hart
the unity and harmony Of the Democratic par
ty, to bc effected and preserved, not through
any compromise Of principles, 6gt by an n-
Reribie adherence 10 the trHe and tried oW avc-
triaes cf De,n0cracy as they pere aadeySto0"
and acted upqm BY Jefferson, .lacksoa md Cal
houn. Those doctrines must be re-ailirme'i,
without fear, favor or Affection unbiased
alike BY local interests and sectional prejudices.
Thus the party will understand ITSELF and it
will be understood And the nominee must be
i Democrat of the strictest State Rights school,
and one to whom neither the North nor the
South can offer the objection Of indifference to
its interests. its honor or it, rights.
Two great objects are thus to be accomplish.
cd by the Convention 1T Chareston-thc seec-
ton Of q candidate who will ensure Demo-
cratic victory, and the PRONUNCIATION Of plat
form, constructed according to the original cam
mons of the party, which no profcsscd Demo
crat would tire to rcpudiate. and upon which
no candidate can come unless each and all OF
his political principles are perfectly FREQ from
alloy Both these objects must be attained II
wc would continue to preserve the purity and
maintain the ascendancy Of Democracy. To
select candidate who would be beaten by the
Opposition, might be 4 more speedy means Of
oycr,hrowing the Constitution and destroying
the Unon but it could not be more elfeetHat
for those ends than allowing the party TO dcvi-
ate from its first fixed principles would ulti-
lnately prove to be. To effect the two pur-
poses proposed it is only necessary that the
Convention shall meet and act in the true spir-
it Of patriots and Democrats.
The candidate Of the Democracy, whoever hc
may be and whatever his popularity, need not
exnect 70 triumnh without 4 severe. perhaps.