Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1859-07-02
From the isv Yo,l Times. r. 5..
MIR. DOUGLAS AND THE PRIEST.
EE,Nj.y

Mr. Douglas has issued his proclamation
OF policy for the Charleston Convention. Il
contains nothing to s,ar,!c his friends no.
thing to e'ate his enemies. In tone and
style it is certainly Il very happy evasion of
the Scylla and Chary bdis of American pub
lie men steering for the White House
being neither vague nor Wanting, but clear.
consistent with the latest public convictions
Of the tl'inois Senator, and temporarily firm.
lad Mr.. Doug'as always spoken and writ
ten IN the vein of the letter which we pub
lish to-day, he might have been, perhaps.
less notable as a Western politician, but he
certainly would have been stronger as an
American statesman than he actually is.
Mr.. Douglas consents to be a candidate at
Charleston should his friends think it adyi-
sable to bring him forward there, but only
upon conditions, and upon conditions which
ne Goes not leave to conjecture. It the
Democratic party at Charleston in conyen-
ton assembled mean to adopt the revival 0
the African Slave trade, the extension and
protection Of slavery in the Territories by
Congrcas'ona! legislation, and the conse-
quent destruction Of the doctrine of Popular
Sovereignty rs integral parts of it's platform,
then Mr.. .ouglas VIII decline to stand on
that platform. This resolution Mr. Douglas
has already repeatedly announce., himself 10
havA una'terabIy taken, and It is a resolution
as sound and patriotic rs it is sirewl and
polite: it would oe ungracious to dwell
upon the TACT that Mr.. Douglas, once eleya-
tea upon snch a platform in Carolina need
never be at the pains to attempt to descend
from it in Illinois or New York. The Dem
ocratic Party is in precisely the same cate
cory, and this Mr. Douglas very well knows.
But whether the party leaders at the South,
as vel! as at the North, will recognize th:s
truth IN time to make, a nomination of Mr..
Douglas at Charleston even imaginable, is
by no means so clear. r
There can be no question, however, as to
the consequence Of any failure ON their part
to make this recognition. IF the Democrats
OF 1860 suffer themselves to be nislcd NV
the extreme Southern wing Of their party.
into what is falsely regarded as tru;v
Southern policy of Congressional Sovereign.
~, to be welded by Southern influence, they
will not merely fling themselves upon some
nomination involving their utter ruin as a
party, but they will involve the South with
them IN graver per'ls than any that have vet
bcset our political system. IF the victory
|of the Republican party, as party, were the
most one thing nee;ifnl f.: the restoration 81
sound principles Of government at Washing
toa' and throughout The country, we could
ask nothing better than the rejection by the
charleston Democratic Convention of Mr.
Douglas doctrines, as laid down in this let
ter. Those doctrines are the last hope Of
the Democracy for 4 national triumph we
are inclined to regard them also, as in this
4 instance, a forlorn hope. @ ~
The sharp line drawn by Mr.. Douglas 70,
/ the defence of his very existence as a \ or;h-
ern statesman, will not, VIC opinc, be accent.
ed at Charleston as the necessary boundary
Of Democratic doctrine II will be over.
passed, and the machinery Of party will be
Expected to make the organization of the
Northern Democracy available in any even,
Eof the conventional discussions. The OK.
pectation will be disappointed. Mr.. Doug.
las, not receiving the nomination on his O vi
basis. Will be Strong enough in the conven.
/ ton, throu,h the primo pie he represents
and the power that they control to force q
sc!,ism, and VIC shall see The last Of this ne
] and rnonstrous outyrowth of:our system, the
great Party Conventions, which have grad
uatly substituted an irresponsible college o
Presidential electors for The nominating ac
j ton 81 the people contemplated by the Con
{siitutlon, anil erected within the forms of tht
Republic, Q practice. oil ;garchy-alI the more
(dcscstab!e that its elements are variable arc
ambitions clabo,>s:cEy yu'sarl a - s1l IL
I