Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-10-04
The Democratic Imbroglio.

It is an unmistakeahe fact that the various
factions of Democracy have their horns locked
more ,inextricably now than has ever been
known in the history of the party. Squatter
Sovereignty on the one hand, and Congressional
Intervention for the protection of Slavery in the
Territories, on the other, haye.to meet and en-
brace each other, before there can be any COM
munion of sentiment or harmony of action be-
tween the Democracy of the North and the
Democracy of the South. Judge Douglas, the
giant champion of the Northwest, has COM
menced the work of aweing the party at the
South, by avowing that he will accept no nom
ination at the hands Of the Democratic party
unless they sustain and endorse his peculiar
views of popular Sovereignty. These are his
terms, and having no inoonsderable number of
friends and admirers at the South, it is more
than probable that he viii come into the
Charleston Convention with strength sufficient
to enforce them. Prominent Democrats in this
section predict that be will receive the nomina-
Democracy viii be forced to support him with
all his sins upon him, in obedience to the man
dates of party, or pursuing course consistent
with their present declarations, to seeede from
the Convention and gather around the standard
of an independent Southern candidate. The
alternative presented to them is abject sub
mission to Stephen A. Douglas and what they
consider his vile heresies or two Democratic
candidates for-the Presidency. If we had not
80 often seen the loud-mouthed leaders of De-
mooracy wheel into the ranks and sustain the
very men upon whom they had hesped the
bitterest denunciations, we might suppose it i'm
possible for the "Little Giant" to subdue and
bring them into measures. Certainly there are
those who can never support him in any con-
tingency. Strife and division stsres the "har-
monious" Democracy in the face at every quar-
ter of the compass. The nomination of Douglas
weakens them at the South and will perhaps
lead to the organization of Southern sectional
party, under the lead of Wise or some other
prominent politician, who has the nerve to lift
up the standard Of rebellion. The nomination
of Wise, or any other Southern man, without
the endorsement of popular sovereignty" leads
to the secession of Douglas and his adherents.-
1t is vain, therefore, for the Democracy to hope
for that concert of action in the Presidential
campaign of 1860, which has hitherto insured
their triumph.
With the great enemy thus divided and en-
gagged in fierce interneoine war, may We moi
hope for the cordial union of the conservative
opposition, upon national platform, which ig-
nores all issues that are not OF practical Interest
to the country. We may even expect some as
sstance from the Democratic rank in an honest
effort to rescue the government from the hand;
of the spoilers. Already we see favorable sign:
of such disposition on the part of prominen,
public men and journals in the South. A lead
ing Democratic paper in Georgia has come out
in favor of the Opposition ticket in that State,
and even in Mississippi, dark corner OF the
earth from which no ray Of light has emsnated
for years, we have some tokens of approaehin
day. The columbus Expositor", published in
the heart of that benighted State, boldly throws
off the shackles of Democracy, and declares in
favor of the Opposition ticket, upon the ground
that sit opens up ray of hope that the country
is yet to get rid of that party, which has been
sacrificing principle for the spoils OF office until
now the truly meritorious and genuine hearted
men of the country will not attempt scramble
for Office with them"