Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-05-19
THE CONSTITUTIONAL UNION FYzzLE

THE CONSTITUTIONAL UNION FYZzLE.
After the disruption of the democratic party
at Charleston the attention of politicians was
directed to the convention of hybrids and polit-
ical nondescripts which assembled at Baltimore,
last week, under the sonorous title Of "The
Constitutional Union Party" The unexpected
result of the first convention gave to the pro-
ceedings of the second Fictitious Importance,
as in certain quarters it was hoped and appre-
hended that candidate would be proposed on
the 9th instant, who would answer equally well
for the forces so terribly shattered at Charles
ton. Apprehension was felt in certain other
quarters that effort to forestall the action of
the Chicago convention would be so successful
that the republicans would be compelled to ac-
cept the candidate named at Baltimore. Had
either of these probabilities been realized the
entire complexion of the campaign would have
necessarily been changed.
The Convention has been held and its results
have become public. 1t was chiefly composed
of men who once acted with the wing party in
the capacity of leaders, but who, upon the dis
banding of that organization, were reduced to
the ranks and placed on the same footing with
those whom they so often led. Between 1852
and 1856, the political cards received ii new
shuttle, a new cut and new deal all around
A new set of men came into power-men who
had less reverence for the effete elements of the
thar, for fba Evipo ,.ito1 ;eeuac nftb a
ent; men who could see no good in constantly
lamenting the degeneracy of the age, and in
signing over the thought that times are not as
they were; but men who felt that there was
work to he done and the necessity of employing
the best means with which to accomplish their
desired ends. AS natural consequence a GER
tain class of men, who like the officers in the
British army believed that they were born with
prescriptive right to office, were left out in
the cold, and since the organization of the re-
publican party they have done their best to give
aid and comfort to its enemies.
Assembled more with the expectation and for
the purpose of placing obstacles in the way of
the success of the republicans, than of exerting
any direct or party influence upon the political
economy OF the country, the constitutional
Union Convention" did ample justice to the po-
litical character and reputation of those who
instigated it and carried it into execution. Its
nominees are men of eminent personal respec-
liability. They respectively fulfil all the condi-
tons of "an Old Wing" They combine great
amount of learning and experience, with very
small allowance of stamina or pluck, and a very
feeble apprehension of the political necessities
of the times. The platform adopted is weak
and puerie. 1t may answer well enough to
define the duties of passive President but it
entirely ignores the issues which divide every
state, county and hamlet in the country, and
upon which all intelligent live men have strong
and deep convictions. 1t evades all the points
of principle and of legislation now before the
country. Its policy is that of inaction, of in
ertness. No one can suppose that such posi-
ton as this will be regarded as satisfactory by
any considerable body of people in any section
of the country. Issues cannot be settled BY
being ignored and the controversy growing
out of slavery having reached such point as
to divide the democratic party and rend it in
twain, both the North and South feel the abso.
Lutte necessity of coming to some distinct and
definite understanding in regard to it.
1t is quite evident that the leading members
of the convention did not nominate this ticket
with any special purpose of eleotng it, nor with
settled intention of voting for it themselves
As it is aptly said by the New York Sun, 'tht
men who controlled the convention are mer
who have, for some years past, occupied posi-
ton in politics analogous to that of 'mercena
ries' in war;" Their object is primarily, as We
have before remarked, to defeat the republican
ticket. If this can be done better by voting
for Bell they will vote for him; if not, they viii
vote for somebody else. Ex-Gov. Hunt, tn,
President Of the Convention, distinctly an
nounced ~ bis closing speech that he SHOULD
not bind himself to THIS nomination. He SHOULD
preserve his independence, and remain perfect
ly free to vote as eGergenaiss hereafter to aris
might require, Erastus Brooks. of the New
York ErpreSs, and TIE chief leader In this con
yention, since the nosjpaton has pubAsbed al
address to the people Of Ney York in behalf o
Sam Houston, and in 81 editorial article calm,
attention to the same Gays; ave invite partic
slar attention to the address. and We have t.
add that the movement will be followed up i