The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-07-07

I've new orA nouep<mocns Tress %
Judge Douxlas' Letter.
From The n. Y. Tunes, June .
Mr.. DOUGLAS AND THE PRESIDENCY.
Mr.. Douglas has issued his proclamation
Of policy tor tho Charleston Convention, II
contains nothing to startle his friends no.
thing to elate his enemies. 10 tone and
style i, is certainly very happy evasion OF
the Scylla and Charybdis OF American pub
lie men steering for the White House
being neither vague nor Wanting. but clear,
consistent with the latest published convic-
tions OF the Illinois Senator, and temperate
" firm. Had Mr.. Douglas always spoken
aud written in the vein Of the letter which
we publish to-day, he might have been, per.
haps. less notable Is q Western politician,
but he would certainly have been stronger
rs an American statesman than he actually
is.
Mr.. Douglas consents TO be o candidate
ut Charleston should his friends think it ad-
visable to bring him forward there, but only
upon conditions, and upon conditions which
he does not leave TO conjecture. II the de-
mocrstic Party at Charleston in Convention
assembled mean to adopt the revival Of the
African Save-trade. the extension and pro-
lection Of Slavery in the Territories by
Congressional legislation, and the consequent
destructioH Of the doctrine OF Popular Sove
reignty Us integral parts Of its "Platiorm,'
then Mr.. Douglas will decline TO stand on
that platform. This resolution Mr.. Douglas
has already repeatedly announced himself to
have unalterably taken, and II Is resolu.
ton rs sound and patriotic, as II is shrewd
and polite. II would be ungrscious to
dwell upon the fact that Mr.. Douglas, once
elevated upon such q platform in Carolina,
need never be At the pains TO attempt TO
descend IRON it In Illinois or New York.
The Democratic Party is 10 precisely the
same category, and this Mr. Douglas very
well knows. But whether the Party leaders
a, the South, as well as at the North, will
recognize this truth in time to make II nomi-
nation Of Mr.. Douglas at Charleston even
imaginable, is by no means so clear
There can be no question, however, as "
the consequences Of any failure on their part
TO make this recognition. II the Democrats
OF 1860 suffer themselves to be mislcd by
the extreme Southern wing Of their Party
into what is falsely regarded Us q truly
Southern policy Of Congressional Sever
eighty, 70 bs welded by Southern influence,
they will not merely fling themselves upon
some nomination involving their utter ruin
as q party. but they will involve the South
with them in graver perils than any that
have yet besOt our political system. II the
victory Of the Republican Party, as party,
were the most one thing neediul for the res
toration Of sound principles of government
ut Washington, and throughout the country,
we could ask nothing better than the rejec-
ton by the Charleston Democratic Conven-
ton Of Mr.. Douglas doctrines, as laid down
in this letter. Those doctrines are the last
hope Of the Democracy Tor national tri-
umph. We are inclined to regard them al
80, US in this instance, forlorn hope.
The sharp line drawn by Mr.. Douglas for
the defence OF bis very existence as North
eru statesman will not, We opine, be accepted
at Charleston a. the necessary boundary OF
Democratic doctrine. II will be overpassed,
and the machinery Of party will be expected
10 make the organization Of the Northern
Democracy available 10 any event Of the
conventional discussiols. The expectation
will be disappointed. Mr.. Douglas, not re-
ceiving the nomination on his own basis.
will be strong enough 10 the Convention,
through the principle be represents aud the
power that they control, 10 force schsm +,
and We shall see the last Of this new aud
monstrous outgrowth Of our system, the
great Party Conventions. which have grad
ually substituted an irresponsible college Of
Presidential electors for the nominating ac-
ton OF the people contemplated by the Con
s,itutioD, ard erected within the forms Of
the Republic. u practical Oligarchy--alI the
more detesable that It's elements are varia
ble and shifting, its authority impalpable,
and it's ambitions deliberately vulgar
from tn. New York Herald Jsn. %,
THE DOUGLAS MANlFEsTO-THE WISE
AND WOOD COMBINATION.
The frank. bold and unmistakable posi
ton Of Mr.. Douglas, a. declared 10 bis
Washington manifesto of "Wednesday last
in reference 10 the Charleston Convention,
relieves us OF every doubt ~ far as he Is To-
volvei as Presidential Candidate. lie will
accept the Charleston nomination with his
platform Of local popular sovereignty over
the subject Of slavery 10 the Territories; bu,
il the Convention shall interpolAte into thu
party creed such new ISSUES n the revival
of the African slave trade or n Congres-
slopal slave code Tor tbs Territories, or the
doctrine that tue Constitution Of the United
States either establishes OF prohibits slavery
10 the Territories, beyond the power Of the
people (Terri,oriaD TO control it a. prop
erty." then he will not accept the nomins.
,ioa il rendered" 10 him.
This IL the ul,imatum Of Mr.. Douglas
lie hs. SEQ enough Of the slippery tricks Of
these party conventions, and will not tri,t
them. These, he ssys, are my principles
ADOPT them, ard am with you--rejec,
them and ! am against you. This IL lair
and We rather like the movement, because IL
cuts down the trading and juggling Of thsse
cDnyeutiOn tricksic u q VERY narrow mar.