Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-02-11

R0IzgfeaI Views Of an Old Stager.
Editorial Correspondence Of the New York Tribune
DAVENPORT, IOWA. Jan. zs. 1899.
I have been looking through and taking
notes in each Of the States Northwest OF the
Ohio, Minnesots excepted, during the past
fortnight; and, though seldom place pre-,
dictions on record, now make one when 4
would not have credited when L LETT New
York. predict that Stephen A. Douglas
will be nominated for President at Charleston
next April, and that most of the slave States
will give him their Electoral Votes Lei
these foreshadowings be noted and compared
with the events- -.r-s
II see also that the Anti-Douglas side viii
have the advantage in the Convention, first IN
settling the con; ested seats, then IN framine
the platform. But, after making allowance
for these make-weights, still hold the Little
Giants nomination TO be all but inevitable,
because
la National Convention always nomi-
mates to win. 1t is largely made up OF men
who would like 10 be Cabinet Ministers, EN-
bassadors, Collectors, Marsbals, or at least
Postmasters. These quite well understand
that if they are to obtain what they aspire
TO. il is essential that they should nominate
ticket shat can be elected. National Con-
ventions are often. blind to transcendent
merit, rarely or never to superior strength
H. Mr.. Douglas is still, in the eyes OF the
Democratic masses in the Free States, the
champion and embodiment of the principle
of Popular Sovereignty by which they were
reconciled to the reputation of the Missouri
Compact. That Reputation was never rel
isbed Dy them per Sc; nor did its manifest
object commend ii to their appreciation. But
the suggestion that each separate communi-
ty, whether termed State or Territory, should
be at liberty to manage and dispose oil It's
own negroes-to have slavery or not have IL,
as il should see ft-was and is popular with
the Western Democracy.-And, having Long
recognized Mr.. Douglas as the author, ex-
FOUNDER and champion of that doctrine, they
will not be disposed to scrutinize very nicely
the Platform if he is placed conspicuously
thereon. With Mr.. Douglas as their candI-
date, the Democracy will contesteyery North
western State with energy, and most OF them
with confidence. They will not consider one
of them absolutely lost until its popular votes
for President shall have been cast and count
ed.
III. But, should Mr. Douglas be defeated
at Charleston, the very blindest mole VIII
understand that the principle wherewith bis
name is identified is ignored and cashlered-
that the National Democracy no longer holds
American citizens located in Territory,
eauaily with those in State, at liberty 10
legaliZe and establish or to exclude and for
bid slavery within their respective limits. In
that case. the stereotyped Democratic ques-
ton of IS54-'5-'6, "Why should not Ameri-
can citizens in a Territory have equal rights
as to slavery within their respective ilml
with those of State w will be turned against
them with fearful effect. Mr.. Douglas may
work-as be doubtless sciU work-desperate-
Iy for any candidate who may be nominated
at Charleston no matter on what platform;
bat he can not secure for hearty Lecomp-
tonite one electoral vote in all the North
west.
Nv. Through all his mutations, Mr.. Doug
las has hitherto stood by the principle
of Free Homesteads, or the grant of quarter
sections of the public lands 10 actual settlers
without charge. That principie-always
stronger in the free West than any party
has gained immensely in power to control
votes from the pecuniary disasters of the last
three wears. Thousands who were grabbing
all the land within sight of their log-cabins "a
few wears since, and fondly expecting to be-
come speedily rich by land speculation, have
suddenly awaked to a realization OF the fact
that their land-grabbing has ruined them
and that thew have a hard chance before them
of obtaining even a livelihood. To these,
and 10 tens of thousands beside, the Home
stead bill seems of more consequence than
all other topics OF political controversy NO
other Democratic statesman than Douglas, un-
less it be Andrew johnson, of Tennessee,
could hope for their support. Mr.. Joe Lanes
ugly record last winter renders him conspic-
uousIy unavailable. Mr.. Douglas, on this
question, could probably hold his OWE gainst
a Republicans; no one else but johnson could
begin TO do it.
V. The minute division of his adversaries
gives DOugla a great advantage in the strug-
gle. Out of some six hundred votes in the
convention, over two hundred will at all
events be thrown for him on the first ballot,
while the opposing vote will be divided be-
tween Hunter, Wise, Guthrie, A. Johnson,
Breckenridge. JEFF. Davis, Stephens, Cobb
&c; Mr. Douglas plurality at the start must
be very large, and this cannot fail to tell on
the succeeding ballots.
That the events and developments of the
next ten weeks may change all this, fully
understand; but, if matters move along az
they are now going. Mr.. Douglas nominal
ton at Charleston seems hardly avoidable.