Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-04-18

REsPoNsIBILIrIEs.-The National Convention of the
Democratic party, which is to assemble Mt 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. 1t
is charged with responsibility, of the greatest mag
nitude involving not the success or defeat OF po-
ltical 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 clection-the
cess or defeat of the several nominees Judging
from the best lights at present attainable, and from
such information as we have been enabled to gather
from all sources 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 in
a concltory 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 political assemblages.
The time is Of peculiar interest, when the
public mind has recently been inf1amed, and when
sectional animostics have been engendered to
degree rarely if ever equaled in the history of the
country, and when slight causes may produce re-
suits which, on ordinary occasions, would not be
likely to flow fiom trivial circumstances. The Dele
gates have, however, in many instances, been cho-
sen under state of facts highly favorable to delb
crate action and will go to Charleston with indvid
ual preferences doubt but at liberty to act in ac
cordance with an enlightened jud gmcnt,-to select
for candidates men who arc not only sound on the
great principles of the party, but whose availability
is unqueStoncd, 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 in the Convention of favorite
candidate for the Presidency that considerations of
the graves character demand their attention; 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 selEsacrificing spirit
must govern and control their proceedings. The
question for Delegates who wish cOnScentiouSly and
integently 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 into 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
one mainly Of judicial character and be willing
to adopt the principle that whatever rights the set
tiers of Territory have under the Constitution,
the rights which we should be willing to accord
to thcm and that the determination Of this question
may appropriately be left 10 the legal tribunals. 1t
would therefore DC manfcstly unwSe for the friends
of protection the friends of prohibition to press
their peculiar views upon the Convention with such
pcrtinacity to disturb its proceedings or to en-
danger its harmonious action, unless they pre-
pared 10 accept the consequences necessarily result
ing from such policy-the disruption of the party,
and the election of Republican PrcSident-conse-
QucnccS which individually every delegate must de-
p!orc, and which all the delegates collectively have
the power to prevent by prudent action at Charleston
We know how strong arc the preferences for in
dividual candidates; how confidently all men
liable to predict the un5oundcd popularity ard the
unqucStioncd success of particular statesman
We have learned to respect and to make due allow
ance for such preferences and such anticpations OF
success; but nevertheless deem it proper tn urge
upon all who are charged with any responsibility
for the choice the necessity Of mOderang their par
tiSanshp, of meeting in friendly consultation and
honest deliberatiOn those who differ from them in
opinion, and of cndcavoring, 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 successful campaign. Impressed
with the deep Importance of this policy and the evil
which mi ht and probably would result from an OPP
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. preferrng 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 question of locali
", no compcatng interests respecting the appoint
ments likely to follow election, should be allowed
to interfere with the selection of candidate sound
in his views 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 Magistracy 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 prccedc
political victory. 1t is useless TO expect the cleo
ton of the Char lesion nominees, unless they shall
possess the qualities to commend them to the public
confidence That once established we see no good
reason 10 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 Noyember.--NeW York
Journal Of Commerce.