Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1859-10-01
THE PRESIDENTIAL QUESTION.

and he is playing bold and hazard
|ous role. He has entered seriously
and deliberately upon the task Of COM
polling the Southern Democrats to
nominate him for the Presidency. His
speeches in Ohio are the opening
blows in this crusade. What he seeks
to accomplish by them is to conc en-
trate the Democratic sentiment of the
Northern States,-and then bring that
sentiment to bear upon the National
Democrats Of the South. He takes
his stand upon the principle of Popu-
lar Sovereignty, in the broadcast and
most literal acceptation of the term:-
and he intends to secure the open, ex-
|Phcit and uncompromising adhesion of
the Northern Democracy to the same
position. In other words he means to
go to Charleston as the unmistakable
Representative Of the Democratic par
ty Of the North, and in that capacity
to claim his own nomination at the
hands of the South, as absolutely es-
sential to the success of the party and
the protection of Southern rights.
Whatever may be thought Of its
wisdom, nobody can deny the bold
ness or the manliness Of this course Of
action. 1t stands in most creditable
contrast with the policy hitherto deem
ed absolutely essential to the success
of Presidential candidate. 1t is
difficult to recall the time when any
aspirant for that Office pro6ted BY
frankness, or gained his point without
concealing his opinions. Mr.. Polk Sc
cured his nomination by being less
frank than his competitors, and his
election by being more double-faced
than his opponent. General Taylor
sought the nomination by protesting
not to want it; and Mr.. Clay was de-
feated because he allowed everybody
to see that bis heart was set upon his
own success. Gen. Pierce was nomi-
mated by the Democrats, in 1852, be-
cause he was unknown as politician,
and Mr.. Webster was set aside by the
Wings because he had not the same
good fortune. Mr.. Buchanan became
the Democratic candidate in 1856
mainly because his long absence from
the country had concealed the intrin-
sic baseness Of his personal character
from the knowledge OF his friends,
and his political corruption from the
knowledge Of the public :-and Col:
Fremont became the nominee of the
Republicans because, as politician,
he was equally unknown to all parties
and to every section of the country.
We are not in the least surprised,
therefore, to find Mr.. Douglas assailed
on. every side as the embodiment of
rashness. The Buchanan organs very
naturally regard his frankness and
honesty in the avowal of his opinions
as equivalent to suicide,-and they are
already holding their inquest upon his
body. The Administration cannot
understand how politician can be
honest, and live. 1t is phenomenon
quite out of the ordinary experience
of political parties. Nor is it, indeed,
quite certain, as things go, what will
be the result Of it. The South has a
natural repugnance. to .dictation, and
she may prefer being beaten to being
bullied. If her politicians take coun.
sci Of their resentments, they will not
take Douglas as their candidate ;-if
they look to their interests, instead of
their passions, they may come to a
different conclusion. If they nomi-
nate Wise, Hunter, Stephens, or any
such man, upon the Southern platform,
Mr.. Seward, or any other man the Re-
|publicans may nominate, will carry
every Northern State. There are
some Of the Southern politicians scho
seek that result as the most direct route