The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-07-12

Gloomy Picture tor the Charaeston Conven-
ton.
The letter Of Washington correspondent
which we publish to-day, and the newspaper ex-
'racts thereunto appended, taken in connection
with the recent Southern fire-cating speeches of
Alexander q. Stephens, Of Georgia, and r. Barn
well Rbett, of South Carolina, pretty clearly
establish state OF things in the Southern demo-
cratic csmp of the gloomiest possible des,
criptOD, in reference to the national re-
union of the democracy at the Charleston
Convention. According to our correspondent,
the issue is already narrowed down to Wise
or Douglas; while, according to our Vir-
gina newspaper extracts, Wise and Hunter mo-
nopolze TIE democratic game, and thrt asen, ia
their hot rivalry against each other, TO break up
lhe party. root and branch. Hunter is certainly
much safer and more reliable statesman than
Wise or Douglas; but this new Southern slavery
agitation has assumed o shape so formidable that
iAe most logical prophecy now would be the
violent dissolution of the Charleston Convention.
With regard to the African slave traffic, when
we are told, even by careful correspondent,
that since May, 1913, between sixty and
seventy cargoes of wild Africans have
oeen introduced into our Southern States.
and that twelve different slave vessels, WHOSE
names are known are expected within
few weeks along our Southern seaboard we may,
at first blush feel somewhat ncreduous; but this
incredulity will be much diminished wheu we
consider the worldwide notorious fact that the
yacht Wanderers cargo Of Africans, -four hun
bred, more or less), landed in Georgia, we're all
spirited away in the face Of the public authori-
ties, and readily distributed in various direction.
to different purchasers, from Georgia to Missis-
sippi.
In tubs fact alone the Southern popularity of
this tempting traffic is sufficiently proved for cur
presen. purpose, which is to show that between
the Northern and the Southern democracy there
is at length dividing chasm on this question Of
slavery which, from all the existing signs Of the
tines will defy ali attempts to bridge it over at
Charleston. Mr.. Jefferson Davis contempla.es
the introduction of bill Ia the Senate for the
repeal Of the laws of Congress denouncine and
affxing the pains and penalties Of piracy upon
this African trade; and this, too, while Mr. Dayis
is opposed to its revival from well considered
objections on the ground Of expedercy.
Why, then, this bill for the re-opeDing O. this
perilous traffic TO the fullest extent? It is be-
cause Mr.. Davis finds it impossible to resist the
strong Southern undertow in its favor. That
preponderating class of Southern voters, the
rxrbi - $40 ~ H.
pressed with the idea that the revival Of this
African trade would soon make niggers so cheap
that every white man who can raise hundred
seventy five, even fifty dollars, will be able to
own his niger. The movement also offers
margin to Spectators which is positively ire
sistib!e; and as the politician is but speculator
in the sordid instincts of "the people," we car
comprehend that there are really the elements Of
vitality and mischief in this business
The bill proposed by Mr.. Davis will at once
make definite issue to Southern men Nor
would Mr.. Davis, an active, shrewd aid an
bilious Southern politician, adopt this initiative
if he were not assured thatit will be the winning
side in his nection. The bold and infexible posi-.
ticn OF Governor Wise, in reference to Congress
sional legislation in behalf Of slavery in the Ter
ritories, confirms this view Of the subject. And
bis late declaration, through the Richmond En-
quirv, that unless the Charleston Convention
shall affirm his doctrine as the party platform,
the conservative democracy, not only Of yir-
GINA, but Of the South and of the whole Union.
viii refuse to vote for the nominee Of the Con
vention," simply means that the game of the
Convention is already foreclosed. Between this
uitimatum of Wise and that of Douglas the
whole concern must collapse, unless perchance
the present counsels and sound national policy
Of the administration shall be adopted to save
the nationality Of the party.
But the prospect in this direction is altogether
discouraging The Southern fire-esters. after
! leading the party to the brink of destruction.
were in 1856 constrained for their general safety
70 fall back upon Mr.. Buchanan. But the loss Of
Kansas the late Northern elections. the retire.
| ment Of Mr. Buchanan from the Presidential
arena, the prevailing signs of a Northern triumph
n 1850, and other causes, have driven our South
err political spoilsmen to the desperate expedient
ofa Southern sectional party. Hence these new
! imrracticable and impossible Southern slavery
distractions. No Southern man can be fool
! enough to suppose that the Northern majority
| N Congress can ever be persuaded to unlock the
door to the niggers Of Africa; but Southern poll
ticians must play their music to suit the popular
ear of their section, and thus their negro min.
strelsy has at last brought them to this demo.
RAILING chorus Of more Africans. more AZ
ricans."
The Charleston Convention, when It meets
will thus find that its authoritative action will be
reduced to one Of two alternatives-tae sacrifice
of the Northern or the loss Of the Southern wing
of the party. Anticipating that, in either even.
there will be two hostile sectional camps Of the
democracy in lSG0-oDe North and the other
south-would it net be well for our Northern
democracy, and all the other consay alive poll