Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-07-26
Presidential Hobbies.


II bas besp the habit of the Democratic party
from time immemorial to manufacture some sort
of hobby just before q Presidential election,
astride of which they have generally managed
to ride into power. For many years they have
been mounted on the back of "Cutfy," and so
hardly has the old ''nigger" been used that he Is
now pretty efectually used up. The party iaSh
NAV be applied never so severely, but we are ln-
olined to think the worn out jade Will munshly
refuse to pull the Locofoco platform ano'nef
trip. Nay, more the "ebo-shins" oia la'r "
nroye not only obstinate, but refractory, anu
will let their ''gizzard feet" fy at the platform
with such rim in the Charleston Convention as
to demolish the concern utterly. To speak IN
nlain terms it seems to be evident that the boast
ed national Democratic party, which has ilVed
and moved and had its very being in the con-
tinus agitation of the slavery question: is about
to reap the reward of its mischegous policy oy
q hopeless split in reference to the power OF
Congress over slavery in the territories. Inc
Wanted loyalty of the Northern Democracy
TO the Just rights of the South turns out 10 DC
lust what the Wings of the South always con-
tended it was, nothing moro than the odious
doctrine of "Squatter Sovereignty" Upon TINS
standpoint, Douglas, the great leader OF the
Northern Democracy, has planted himself DELI
antly; while in the South we find the very
men who discovered in the Kansas bill and the
Cincinnati platform all that the South could ask
or desire, now clamorous for the insertion OF an
other plank in the next structure, declaring IL
to be the duty of Congress to leglslate dlrecuy
for the protection of slavery in the territories
whenever it may be necessary. To this propo-
sition the North viii scarcely be sufficiently
"national" to consent. Cheated so often before
we may reasonably expect the South to be
somewhat sharper than usual in the next
Convention, and the contest that will then take
place will not only try the backbone OF the
Southern Chivalry, but thoroughly test the ma
tionality and conservatism of Democracy. 1t
seems certain, at least, that they will not be a.
bic to patch up another double snteadre slavery
clause in their platform, which will serve to de-
ceiye alike the people of both sections and per-
petuate thediscusson and agitation of the subject
which have never resulted in anything but evil.
The agitation may be kept upsmoDg themselves,
but we may hope that it will serve the only
good purpose possible, in the DISCRIMINATION of
party that under the specious plea of nation
atty" has really been held together only "by the
cohesive power of the public plumber"
In default of the successful working of the
slavery issue, we may expect the Democracy to
spring some other question upon the country
that will attract the masses and concentrate
their scattered forces. We trust however, that
nothing will be so attractive to the people, as
the effort that will assuredly be made to organ
ize party that will studiously avoid oil section
al issues and devote itself to the welfare and
prosperity of the whole country. That the
promises of the Democracy are not worth the
parchment they are written upon is manifest
AT Cincinnati they settled all difficulties in re-
gard to slavery to the entire satisfaction OF all
parties, and pledged themselves to resist the
agitation of the question in Congress and out OF
it; but so far from fulfilling the promise, they
have kept the fires of sectional diScord steadily
blazing, and now when there is no practical Is
sue before the country, we fad them burning
more 6ercely than ever. The Democratic party
is now destined to be tried in the fire. 1t may
come forth purified but if that is not possible
we hope to see it consumed in the flames itself
has kindled, and that new and National Union
party may spring, Phenix-like from its ashes
to restore the government to its original purity
and perpetuate the Union of the States.