Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-07-14
The Washington States Scouts Plat.



The following in the principal part of a
leading editorial in the Washington States, OF
the 9th inst. We have not taken the liberty
to emphasize any portion of it, but print il
appeared in the States:
If the construction of a so-called platform
is to be hndrance to the union of the De-
mocracy, then let such platform be dispensed
with, and in its stead let the delegates present
to their constituents candidate whom they
can conscientiously endorse rs HONEST, CAPA-
BILE, AND TRUE To THE CONSTITUTION.
These platforms have been a mistake from
the begnning-false contrivances 10 popu-
larize small NAMES. In the better days Of
the Republic, when right was mightier than
expediency. they were moi thought of, The
character of the candidate was sufficient
guaranty that he would be faithful to the
trusts imposed upon him, the Executive,
by the Constitution and laws.
A platform cannot make a good Pr sident
out of a had or incompetent man, no more
than it can make bad President out OF a
good and competent man. The manifestations
which it imposes. may throw serious obstacles
in the way oil arriving at practical valuable
results.
Take. for instance. the platform which at
tended the nomination OF Mr.. Polk. That
manifesto assert, d, in the most solemn man
ner, that "our title to the whole of Oregon is
clear and unquestionable, when perhaps not
, a solitary member in the convention which
adopted it ever devoted two hours time to
the investigation of the snIject In his In
augural, Mr.. Polk reasserled the opinion. yet
after he commenced negotiations he found
that the position which he had assumed, in
conformity with the platform, was not sus-
tainable; and, in the settlement that was
made OF the question, the Democracy was
fiercely assailed, and with telling effect, with
the breaking down. by its own overt act, OF
Its platform. No one-or very few-believed
thai Mr.. Polk bad obtained too little. but the
Democracy suffered by placing it, elf in the
ridIculouslv false position of asking too much.
IL the Convention, when it meets at Char
lesion, will proceed, immediately after organ
zing, 10 designate candidate whose politi-
cal life has been in steady harmonious COOP
GRAFTON with Democratic principles can
didate whose integrity. moral and official has
never been question: d-a candidate whose edu-
cation is not imperfect, aud whose knowledge
of national affairs is NOT ignorantly cir
cumscribed--a candidate who is distinguished
by his sound common sense and sterling per-
sOnal worth-a candidate who has never
placed II latitudinarian construction upon the
Constitution; in that case it may safely adj
journ without adopting platform, other
than simple resolution that A RIGID OBsET-
VANCE OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE CoNSTITU
TIoS BY THE EXECUTIVE Is REQUIRED BY The
DEMOCRACY AS THE sHEET-ANCHOR OF THE Ma
TIoNAL sAFATY.
But il the different numerous aspirants
send their friends TO Charleston, carrying
thither respectively a plank-one of OAK,
another OF ash. another OF pine, another of
palmetto, another OF cottonwood, another of
iron. another of sugar cane-no amount of
Ingenuity can construct AN acceptable plat
form. The palmetto and the iron viii! not
dovetail, no moe than the oak aud the sugar
cane, and The attempt at 3uch an act would
prove an abortion. OLD lRoNsIDEs-the Con-
stitutioa--is broad enough aud strong enough
for every Democrat in the Union TO stand
sIpon, now aud forever. We ought rev, + to
! ave abandoned her TO patch up riekely plat
'rms--whch always give way under as just
the moment when, II they were OF any
alue, they are most needed"