The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-05-10
The Aspect OF the Country-Necessity OF
Union Among the Conservatives.

Il
That the breaking up Of the Charleston Con-
vention was the real and practical breaking up
of the old democratic organization, and vir-
tual return to the people of the powers they
had tacitly conferred on the delegates, IL be-
coming daily more evident to all; and II i'm
poses on the public and representative men al
Washington the imperative duty of recognizing
the existing state of affairs, and taking action
| equal to the emergency.
Nominally, the Charleston Convention I'D.
journed to meet at Baltimore, after a majority
of the delegates had driven off the repre-
sentatives of large popular majorities; but, In
fact. by so doing, they turned the discussion Of
platform and nomination over to the people
and the aspiring politicians. The moment the
delegates adjourned to q subsequent day
they lost the power of settling these i'm
portant questions. Already has the dis
cussion of platforms extended to every
nook and corner of the country, wherever
two or three meet together, and every public
place. from the floor of the Senate to the low
est drinking shop, resounds with arguments
and disputes, counterpart to those that took
place in the Charleston Convention. Passions
Uttered, new and unforeseen divisions are
coming up, and the rank and file of the democ-
racy present everywhere the greatest disorder
and confusion. The delegates that went to
Charleston may come together again at Balti-
more, but it will be in new character-as sup
plicants for the popular approval to such politi-
cal ideas and nominations as they may agree
to present. They no longer represent united
party, and their new scheme will come before
the people on its merits alone, and not as the
united voice Of vast organization.
The debate and quarrel that were surrendered
by the Charleston Convention have been also
taken up by the candidates themselves, and
Senator Davis has led of on the ultra Southern
side, to be followed by Senator Douglas in
defence of his peculiar views. Though the
Mississippi Senator may be the taller man
and have the longer reach of arm, the Senator
of Illinois has before now shown wonderful
power to endure punishment, and no rejecting
man will look for anything more between them
than drawn battle, like that between Heenan
and Sayers The fight in Congress for the po-
litical championship will have the same result
with that Of the fight for the belt-no winner,
and othing but hot blood and mutual recrimi-
nation among the partisans OF each. Instead
of being productive Of harmony and good
feeling 1t will only lead to q disposition to
have innumerable minor fights among the par
tisans, and thus increase and extend the free
fight that was opened at Charleston.
In thipstate Of affairs 1t becomes us to look
matters squsrely In the face. Four separate
Conventions will probably present candidate
for the Presidency within few weeks. Thes
are the
Baltim ore Convention, now In session.
Chicago Convention, to meet May Is.
Richmond Convention, to meet June IL.
Baltimore Convention, to meet June Is.
OF these the Chicago Convention Is the only
one that speaks for strong political organi-
zation. TIN party Is purely sectional In It's cha
racter, ard Is animated by theories aggres.
sive to the Southern States and destructive of
the constitution and the Union. II il organized
thing for the triumph Of an impracticable idea.
and unscru?ulous politicians who would over
throw everything to obtain power. Opposed
to them stand the solid phslanx Of the South.
ern States, united by the instinct of selfde-
fence and the great conservative interests of
the Central and Northern States, which see no
profit to any one in the revolution and civil
war that must follow the success Of the black
republican perty. But the conservative mases
are divided and distracted with the contending
conventions and quarrelsome politicians who
assume to speak for them, and the presentation
OF three nominally conservative candidates
can only result in the triumph of the Northern
sectional fanatics.
1t lisa vain thought for the politicians To be-
lieve that they can manufacture platforms
that shall make the issue 10 be pre-
sented to the people. That issue has
been made by the union Of the fanatics
and ambitious demagogues on the sectional
black republican scheme TO obtain power. IL
is this, and this only, that sgitates the people,
and against which they desire TO unite, because
all the minor issues, tariff internal improve
ments, foreign policy, all, are involved In the
preservation Of the confederacy against the
transitory mania that has taken possession of
so many in the North. This truth has been
demonstrated by the results of the recent cleo
tons in several OF the Northern and Western
States, and the politicians should not ignore
its existence. They should open their eyes TO
the true aspect Of the country, and the only
truly conservative representative men now
available-the Senators and representatives in
Congress should give up weak reliance on
partial conventions, and issue q national ad-
dress to the people, setting forth the emergency
Of the case, sinking all the old minor issues,
and calling for national conservative conven-
tior 20 me ef In Ney York In ganAauahox uaxx