The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-11-23
The CharIcstOn COnventIoh-WhO
should be the Candidate!

SnOuld DC the Candidate
On the FIRST OF December-one week
from to-morrow-the Democracy OF the sew.
eral Congressional Districts of this State
will appoint Delegates to represent them in
the National Convention at Charleston, s.
C, Upon the selection of these Delegates,
to q great extent, depends the result OF the
election of 1860. It is of The utmost i'm
portnnce that they should represent the SEN
timents of a majority of the voters Of the
party. 1t is in vain to expect to arouse the
enthusiasm OF the people in behalf of m an
towErd whom they feel Indifferent. Enthu'
sissm, to be efectual, must be spontaneous
and from the heart; and any attempt to man.
ulacture it will, sooner or later, end in dis.
aster.
Let any political party adopt principles
which commend themselves to the practical
common sense of the people, and then nom-
mate, to carry them out, men who are iden-
tilted with those principles, and the success
of that party is only a question Of time.--
"The sober second thought of the people is
always right"
The most prominent theme agitatng the
country at this time, and the one which will
be most prominent in the Presidential cam.
paign, is "the dividing line between local
and federal authority" The question in.
volved is clearly and simply that of States
Rights-the principle being precisely the
same as that upon which Jefferson establish.
ed and consolidated the Democratic party
it is the principle upon which Jackson fixed
his lever and overthrow that last relic of
federalism, the United States Bank-it is
the principle which wiped out the Missouri
! Compromise line, and left the people Of the
! territories "free TO regulate their own affairs
/ in their own way"
So well established is this principle, and
so deeply is it fixed in the hearts of the peo.
pie, that no party dare oppose it altogether.
The tire-eaters of the South ask that it be
departed from only in single instance--
/ q
tho territories, whether the people ore will.
ling or not. The fanatics Of the North also
ask that it be departed from in single in
stnnce--that Congress may prohibit slavery
in the territories, whether the people are
willing or not. But the true ground, and
that which the Democratic party occupies
i5, that Congress shall interfere in no way
wbatever--that it is question for the local
and not the federal authorities.
But to insure success, something more
than sound doctrine isrequiste. 1t is neces
sary that man should be nominated who is
identified with those doctrines to such an ex-
tent that the people may rely, implicitly.
upon his promises previous TO nomination.
man, in short, in whom they have the most
unbounded confidence in respect to his poli.
cal integrity. The Democratic party has
suffered severely from a class of camp fol
lowers, who are always ready to share the
spoils 1Uhgn the "batt7e is Ger and the victory
won," and from their acts saiutary lesson
may be learned.
If there is a man to be trusted with the
faithful carrying out OF a principle, it is the
man who has wrested it from its enemies,
and who has guarded and defended it, iudif-
ferent alike to the smiles Of patronage and
the threats of power.
The principle of lt.goverHment--of
mans capacity for elf.goyernment--hs
such defender, and the rights of the people
have such champion in STEPHEN A. DoUG
LAS. He is cur first choice for the high and
responsible Cf1ice Of President, and we have
reason to know that our views are entertain
ed by a majority of the Democratic voters
OF this county, and. we may say, of the Dis.
trict.
Aside from this reason, there are others,
Of secondary nature, it is true, why Doug.
las should be nominated. He is, to day, the
most popular man in the Union, notwith. |
standing the bitter warfare wogei against
him by his rivals and their adherents in the
Democratic party, and his political enemies |
out of it. The whole force OF the Oppos.
ton is directed at him, " hile Hunter, Wise,
and other aspirants for the Presidency, are
scarcely mentioned. The presses of the
Opposition ell over the Union are groaning
under the loads Of detrncton of Douglas
with which thyy are burdened, simply be.
cause they know him to be their most don.
gerous adversary. The adherents OF other
Democrats, from the incumbent of eome
little village post efice 10 the highest cabi-
net officers, seem more desirous of ever,
throwing Douglas than of defeating the Re.
publican party. All because he is the most
rival Of themselves or their ia.
vorites.
Douglas friends are among the masses,
snd it only needs that these shall let their
voices be heard in electng delegates to
Charleston, TO secure his nomination. All |
that is commendable in stern, uIflinching
integrity to ple,--nll that is admirable
in moral herosm exhibited when assoiIed by
fearful odds,--aI that is due TO the most
brilliant talents exerted with untirng cner-
gy in behalf of the peoples rights, 10 due to
Douglas.
----eAs&S-
OTln Massachusetts,, at the late election