The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1860-08-20
THE "NO.CmANCE" ARGUMENT,
We are snre that our readers have marked witt

popular favor which every where attends the nom
ination Of the Constitutional Union party It i
one ofthe peculiariies fthe pending canvass that
while each of the organizations competing witt
this party has its peculiar adherents and specia
patrons, they all alike unite in accepting the pocy
and the candidates of the Constitutional Uniol
movement as their second choice" The arden
friends OF Breckenridge and Lane Douglas an,
Johnson, Of Lincoln and Hamlin, in default Of SC
with compIacency upon the success Of Bell and
Everett. The fac; is not without its easy explana
ton and constitutes in itself Incritcd tribute not
only to the high personal worth Of the candidate
thus distinguished by the preferences of friends
and Of opponents, but also bears strong .esiimo
ny to the prominently national and satisfactory
public sentiment which they represent. The e1
poncnts of policy which look to the pacificatior
of the sections so long arrayed against each otbe,
in an antagonism unnatural in its beginnings
as needless in its continuance these honored names
are already accepted by the conscnting voice O,
their countrymen as the barbinger of repose. il
only repo9c be deemed matter of the FIRST uccess
| ty. AS no practical interests Of either section.
according to the admission of those who respect.
lively profess themselves the peculiar champions Of
each, are suspended upon the success OF defeat Of
either the Republican or the Democratic cand;-
dates, il remains to be seen whether the deIusve
force of party names will prove sufficiently strong
to repress "the sober second thought which pro-
pilates the favor Of political opponents in behalf
Of q policy whose triumph it is recognised by all
would secure the ends ofjusiics, moderation, and
peace
The only opposition which the Constitutional
Union party seems called TO encounter in the
Northern States is based the alleged paucity Of
its supporters in that quarter. II would thus an
pear that Conservative Republicans at the North.
IN common with Union-'oving Democrats at the
South, have no charge to bring against Bell and
Everett which they cannot remove bv giving 70
these eminent statesmen the hearty aud united
support which they are admitted to deserve at the
hands of men in all sections and Of all political
denominations One OF the most intelligent, rs
certainly one among the most candid of the Re
publican j0uTnals--wc aude to the New York
Commercial Advcrtiscr-has not hesitated TO adj
NIT that the Constitutional Union party adopts
the standard which should represent the popular
mind, be true that, owing TO the evil of The
times it may not be said to take the standard
which docs represent the actual state Of the irria
ted sections. To this purport that excellent Jour
ua recently remarked as follows, in speaking IF
the party we have namcd
Connected with il are some of our countrv,s
best Incn and sinccrest patriots, but they have
fsllrn into The error OF surprising that they car
make party because oftheir high personal char
actor and positions in The country. For their
platform they look within themselves. instead cf
into the popular mind. They take the standard
hgt should represent the popular mind instead of
that which DOES, and the inevitable consequences
is that instead of.rallying the masses around them
thy muster in their ranks only the select few,
md weaken other parties without becoming
party themselves"
Recent events have greatly modified the seem
ing force of the only allegation here brought for
ward in excuse cfwithholding from 'he Constitu-
tional Union movement the support to which Il
Is admitted to b. entitled on grornls of moral OBJ
legation, il only The moral obligation can be con
ciliated with the practical wisdom which respects,
IN their due subordinaton the facts as III arc.
We 10 not know that we are called in the forum
Of politics. any more than in the
forum Of n5c;encs to lower The Standard
Which IolLl represent the popular
The popular mind in order to msl,e way fJc that
which does. The casuisty which demands that
,!s't shoultas' be proved the crPedient before IT
msy Justly challenge the homage of mon has long
since been driven in disgrace fcm the schools,
though from the attention recently given BY sosle
of our contemporaries to calculations Of political
chances and probabilities, it would seem that there
is still one domain in which Il is not deemed safe
to strike brayey for the tight unless as urc6 hat
the strongest bat,alliors arc also arraycd on its
side. For the benefit Of such haltlnr spiyits we
have only to cite the Virgiian maxim which points
the inspiring force Of high resolve In the prospect
Of prize held up IS the incentive and the reward
ofmsnly ard pcrscvering efforts possurt q,da
posse rideninre For fit were true that any con-
siderable weight should have been justly given at
any time to the mo chance argument" as il has
been satirically called, 1t must be conceded that
ths time has now passed, ana that the friends Of
Bell ard Everett may every where labor for the
success, OF their chosen candidates under auspices
which afford the reasonable hope Of success in the
Inc fpatriotic duty.--Nat Int