The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-05-12

Eaatortal Correspondence.
Chdrlesfon Convention and the Douglas
| iies- Desps, alton Of the Jaettons-J Judge
| Mclean and the hepnblscdas--Prepara-
lions for the Great Contention at Chs.
| cdgo
| CHICAGO, May s, 1860.
| left Washington a week ago to-day,
| tuesday. On Monday morning neither
Douglas nor any discreet friend OF his had
scarcely the least idea that he stood any
chance Of nomination at Charleston. On
Tuesday morning their hopes had revived,
and they were almost as jubilant and oonf-
don't as ever The long contest, however,
though it had not much abated their conf
dence, had nearly destroyed their enthusiasm,
and they we're awaiting the result with sort
of sullen interest II is the last end Of q
desperate game, in which, If they are beaten,
they feel that they have their revenge in the
destruction of the party, and will not, there
fore, 10 the event either of success or defeat,
be without degree of satisfaction. That
feeling, may say, also, is heartily recipro-
GATED by the other wing Of the party. Be-
tween the two, the party seemed bound to de-
struction.
Up here, after the events which have since
transpired, his partisans seem pretty much
to have abandoned hope. If no truce should
be patched up by which Douglas can be NOM
mated, large numbers of them are earnestly
DESTROYS that the Republicans should nomi-
nate some radical man, that they may re-
venge themselves on the South by assisting
us in elevating the man most obnoxious to
their late confederases.
Our own friends at Washington, at the
time left, under the pressure Of the many
recent important events bearing upon the
canvass, were almost unanimously Of the
opinion that the man for us TO nominate in
this emergency, was Judge Mclean. have
seldom seen party judgment any where or at
any time so unanimous. | suppose there
were those who thought differently, but for
week previously had heard not one person
declare himself otherwise. | find, too, that
the same opinion is quite extensively enter
tanned here, and 10 evidently increasing.
suppose however, since the confusion and
, adjournment at Charleston, the friends Of
other Republican candidates at Washington
are more active and confident, and feel that,
under existing circumstances, we can afford
to risk something for more decidedly rep
resentative man. should, however, consd.
er it misfortune If the casualties occurring
| to our opponents should cause US to forget
, the value OF prudence, or to feel that the cir
cumstances of the time justified US in failing
. to select the suresf man, who is sound 10 the
faith, whoever consultation may decide that
man to be. We take no advantage OF the
. enemy, If we are careless in proportion ia
the opportunities that their quarrels and dis.
traction offer us. We are mad, If we throw
away che chance at such an important period
4 The general opinion at Washington was
. that If Mr.. Mclean was nominated the Re.
: publicans were morally certain of success
} There were not many Douglas men, in fact
who felt much confidence in defeating him
with their slittle giant" OF no body else
did they seem afraid, but they did not hest
: tate TO express their fears of him, while tbs
a other wing of the Democracy and the Soutt
!. Americans and independents generally con
coded that our success with him was scarcel,
!. doubtful matter. Judging from that stand
. point, spectator would be apt to conclud,
that if nothing unknown in bis antecede emit,
turns up before the meeting of the Chicago
Convention to mar his prospects, he woult
> be certain of being the favorite of that body
:. But week in these hurrying times, is suii
cient TO make or mar the prospects OF almos
any man. Let US hope for tho coolest an,
wisest oounsels here, during the coming week
: The Republicans Of Chicago have got the
great wigwam nearly ready. 1t is of capa
- city sufficient to accommodate 5000 to 10,
a 600 people, and arrangements are made 70
= a grand good time, which | doubt not the,
IS will have. 1t is intended to give the Eastern
people specimen of western hospitality an
enthusiasm, and Eastern Republicans an ink
! ling of the grit and lberality Of their West
a ern cousins.
y The S#eEssfoN1srs.-t meeting called i
y New Orleans, to condemn the secessionists
was postponed several days, and shereupo
u the Delta calls for the name of every on
who is ready to condemn and repuiate th
N action Of the secessi opists. 1t SAYS the 90
he ceders retired from the Convention becaus