New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-14
DOUGLAS AT CHARLESTON.

Mr. Douglas is evidently pluming himself On his
Charleston prospects. He has won the hardly con-
tested State of Indsns, which Messrs. Bright and
Fitch. his mortal enemies, have lattery carried in
their breeches pocket. And he has exhibited popu-
lsr strength in the Kentucky Democratic Conyen-
ton against Messrs. Guthrie, Breckenridge, and
Company. To be sure, his relative strength is
small in that State, but it is something for him to
hayefriendsin Slave State which has NO candidates
of is own in the field His friends at Washington,
it IL said, claim that he has already majority Of
the forthcoming Convention. 1t would not surprise
us to find that when it comes to assemble he has
half of that body nOminally in his favor,
perhaps even a majority. But OF that
number we expect to see many of
easy virtue, who will stick to Mr.. Douglas just so
long as it will pay, and no logger. When we find
the janizaries of Democracy in Ncw-England, for
example as well as in New-York and some other
quarters holding out on q principle we shall ex-
pect 10 behold millennium very soon. Let the
man turn up at Charleston, who will have Office
and patronage to bestOw, in prospect, and the
length of mis- legs as running candidate will be
found much greater than those of Mr.. Douglas.
Above ALL let few, very few, of the Southern
States show their teeth in the Convention and the
way the Douglas votes in several quarters will go
under, viii be spectacle only matched by what
We are told may be seen at the seal-hoes in the ice
Of the Arctic regions. They will 60 down so
quick they cannot be counted.
We d. not wish to discourage Mr.. Douglas or his
friends, but if they are in earnest in expecting a
nomination at Charleston, and have any tears to
spare, they had better be preparing to shed them
lust about that time. Even should Mr. Douglas be
able to count up clear majority of delegates at the
first start, it must be remembered that under the
Democratic regime it takes twothirds to nominate.
So that, without this proportion his prospects are
Just as dim as if he could muster more than
third of the body. In fact, we were about to say,
that Douglas could not be nominated even if be
should find two-thirds Of the votes of the Convention
willing to support him. There are certain Southern
men and Southern interests that do not intend to
90 for him under any circumstances whatever.
These parties belong to the controlling wing of the
party, and have so long had their own way in Dem
ocratc National Conventions that we believe they
intend to maintain their position at all events in
April at Charleston, and TO do cs they have always
done, coerce the body into submission to themselves,
or rebel aud Iepudiate the proceedings of the Con-
ventiOn. Brown of Mississippi ayows this to be
bis position, substantially, and the Alabama Demo-
cratic Convention has just promulgated it as their
ultimatum.
With all the encouragement the signs of the
times offer to tine Douglas men, and all the crafty
ing incidents Of the canvass for delegates, which 30
charm, and delight, and encourage that wing of
the bogus Democracy, We are compelled to say
that in our Judgment, they denote nothing sub
slant al in the way of getting the shortlegged gen.
teman on the track at Charleston. They are but
fog banks, and not solid land; and the wary poti-
cal mariner must beware how he trusts 10 their de-
cetful appearance.
If We are asked who is likely TO be the happy
man--who will be selected by that prospectvely
most harmonious sssemblage, we politely beg leave
TO decline all response. 1tisan easier functiontopre-
diet what that body will not do than what it will DO
Is negative results are far more pOpable to the eye
Of prophetic vision than its affirmative conduct. In
this, whole ocean opens before US, and what way
the Convention may conclude TO steer il would be
temerty indeed to predict. All We are sure Of is
that it will take in full freight Of the negro, and
filling the upper hold, lower hold, poop, and deck
wherever there is sitting room or standing room,
and the Douglas men and all other men who 60 to
the Convection, have got TO submit peacefully TO
the company or go overheard.