Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-04-18

TIE CHARLESTON CoNvENTIoN-ITs DUTIES AND
REsPoNsIBnIrlEs,-The National Convention OF the
Democratic party, which is to assemble at Charles
ton in less than four weeks from this time, will be
in some respects the most important body Of the
kind which has ever convened in this country. It
is charged with responsibility, Of the greatest mag
nitude involving not the success or defeat of pc.
litical party merely, but possibly, in grave and
material sense the welfare and permanency OF the
country and its institutions. Upon the selection OF
candidates made by it, must depend IN great de-
gree the result of the Presidential eecton-the sue
cess or defeat of the several nominees. Judging
from the hest lights at present attainable and from
such information as we have been enabled to gather
from all sources, we do not deem it rash to predict
the success of the Charleston nominees, provided
the Convention is conducted with prudence and good
Judgment and provided its discussions carried on in
conciIiatory and courteous spirit and its candidates
selected in accordance with the Judgment OF the del
egates rather than the passions and the PARTISAN
ship which sometimes pervade poticai assemoiages
The time is one Of peculiar interest, when the
public mind has recently been nfamed. and when
sectional anilnosities have been eRgcndered, to a
degree rarely if ever equaed in the history of the
country, and when slight causes may produce re-
suits which, on ordinary occasions, would not be
likely to flow ON trivial circumstances. The Dele
gates have, however, in many instances been cho-
sen under state of facts highly favorable to DELHI
crate action and will 90 to Charleston with ndivid-
ual preferences no doubt but at liberty to act in ac
cordance with an enlightened judgment, to select
for candidates men who are not only sound on the
great principles of the party but whose availability
is unQuestioned,- and adopt platform upon which
all national men, in every section of the country
can stand with the possibility of harmonious action
at the polls.
The Delegates from every State in the Union
should understand and appreciate that they have
higher and more important duty to perform than
to secure the success in me Convention Of favorite
candidate for the Presidency that considerations of
the gravest character demand their attentions that
if they would save their party and ticket from defeat
and the country from the evil of Republican rule at
Washington, a patriotic and selfsacrificing spirit
must govern and control their proceedings. The
question for Delegates who wish conscentiously and
ntelgently to discharge their Duties is not so much
what candidate will best please themselves or their
immediate constituents personally, but which. Of all
the distinguished names presented to the Conven-
ton, will best unite the Democracy of the whole
country. and cement iEto homogeneous organiza-
ton the friends of the Union in all its parts.
And so with respect to platform. There may
be sections of country where the principle Of pro-
lection to slavery in the Territories is the prevailing
sentiment, and other sections in which the opposite
principle of prohibition would find favor while the
bulk of the people, perhaps, will regard the subject
as one mainly of judicial character, and be willing
to adopt the principle that whatever rights the set
tiers of Territory have under the Constitution,
are the rights which VIC should be willing to accord
to them and that the determination of this question
may appropriately be left 10 the legal tribunals. 1t
would therefore be manifestly unwse for the friends
of protection the friends of prohibition to press
their peculiar views upon the Convention with such
pcrtnacity to disturb its proceedings or to en-
danger its harmonious action, unless they are pre-
pared to accept the consequences necessarily result
ing from such policy-the disruption Of the party,
and the election of Republican Prcsident-conse.
quences which individually every delegate must de-
plore, and which all the delegates collectively have
the power to prevent by prudent action at Charleston
We know how strong are the preferences for in
divdual candidates; how confidently all men are
liable to predict the un5ounded popularity and the
unquestoncd success of particular statesman
We have learned to respect and to make due allow
ancc for such preferences and such anticpatons Of
success; but We nevertheless deem it proper to urge
upon all who charged with any responsibility
for the choice the necessity of moderatng their par
tisanshp, of meeting in friendly consultation and
honest deliberation those who differ from them in
opinion, and of endeavoring. through the wisdom of
all the delegates and others assembled, to select
names combining the highest qualities of statesman
ship, with the indispensable requisite of available
ity, to ensure a successful campaign. Impressed
with the deep Importance of this policy, and the evil
which might and probably would result from an op-
posite course we have abstained in the past and
shall abstain in the future from all attempts to FORE
stall the action of the Convention in the matter of
candidates. preerring TO leave that subject open to
the most full, free and unbiased discussion, when
the delegates shall come together. In our judg
mcnt, no personal preferences, no question Of loca
~, no complcating interests respecting the appoint
mens likely to follow an election should be allowed
to interfere with the selection of candidate sound
in his views on national questions, pure in his per-
sonal character, possessing heart in unison with
the pulsations and patriotic impulses Of the people
with breadth of experience and craftsmanship fit
ting him for the high and responsible duties pertain
ing to the Chief Magstracy of the nation.
different policy may crafty individual localities
and sections of country, may indeed afford the high
est satisfaction to majority Of the party or of the
States-and yet, lacking that universal approval
essential to success, may lead to disaster and defeat
rather than to the enthusiasm which must precedc
political victory 1t is useless to expect the cleo
ton of the Charleston nominees unless they shall
possess the qualities to commend them to the public
confidence. That once established, We see no good
reason to anticipate danger to the public interests
what in the present posture of political affairs is
equivalent the success Of the Republicans in the
contest to terminate in Novenber.--NeW York
Journal Of Commerce.
CHARLESTON HospTALlrY.-We publish the fol
lowing extract from private letter to a friend in
this city, written by gentleman residing in Charles
ton, of high character and standing relative to the
accommodation to be afforded to visitors to that city
during the approaching Convention. Although thu
letter was not written with any idea that it woult
be published, we gladly copy it in order to correc
the erroneous impressions which have been indus
to1 kbo
| of Charleston
~ see there is great tpoW-WoW' about the pro