Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-04-06
The Presidency.

Loo, eltHeF tue II ift VI tHc iCi1 A"o ~ w
taken, and palpable line Of separation de-
;ignated The aspirant Of the Opposition
who presents the most modified and plausi-
bic claim, By reason of his geographical po-
sition, is MI. Bates, of Mo-. who has re-
Gently written letter which fully throws
him into the embrace of the Black Repub.
lican party, and places him in the position
Of formidable competitor with Mr. Seward
for the Chicago nomination. There is moth
ing in all the tactics and pretensions of the
Opposition which discourages the idea of q
programme being adopted at the National
which will make all other is
sues and questions subsidiary to the allen
crossing one Of opposition to the Demo
cratic party and the interests and institu-
tons of the South. Any difference of opin-
ion which heretofore may have existed up
on questions Of governmental policy, is to-
tally ignored, and the painfully significant
aspect presented of party seeking and de-
termined to make the next Presidential con
test hinge upon an aggression, on the one
part, of the Constitutional rights Of one
section, ard on the other, defence of those
rights. There is not an organ in the con-
fdence of the Opposition which does not
freely admit that there is not the shadow Of
a hope for carrying the electoral vote of a
single State south Of Mason & Dixon's line
If successful at all, they expect to attain it
purely by sectional vote--an expression Of
deep-seated and aggressive hostility to the
Southland upon principles SO entirely an
tagonistic to, and destructive Of, the equal
ity of the Southern States, as to make that
success the synonym of dissolution.
This being the position ofthe Opposition,
defantly and boldly taken, it only rests with
the Democratic party to again come to the
rescue of our Inheritance Of constitutional
freedom, and again vindicate It's claim to
the proud character of being the only ma
taoaal organization known to the country
This solemn and momentous duty thus press
ing heavily, it will be a question Of the
concern, as to whom the Charles
ton Convention will designate as the proper
person to be presented for the sufrages of
the people of the United States. The great
battle of the Union and the Constitution
against the heterogeneous mass Of corrup-
ton which compose the Opposition, will
have to be fought in New Jersey, Pennsyl-
vania, Illinois, Indiana, and Minnesota
There are 303 electoral votes, 1872 ofwhich
will be necessary to secure an election. Of
these. 120 are cast by the Southern or slave
holding States, which can be safely claimed
for the Democratic candidate. evil then
have to secure 80 more votes to achieve
triumph. If we carry Illinois, Q1) Tndi-
ana, Q3) California, (4) Oregon, 90 Min
nesota, 90 and New Jersey, % we viii
have then 161 votes-more than sufficient
by 8 to elect Or even should we lose New
Jersey and Pennsylvania, and win the 9TH
srs, we will still have snrplus Of two votes
It will thus be seen that the contest will
necessarily be thrown into the ron-save-
holding States we have mentioned, aud the
important duty willdevolve upon the Charles
'on Convention Of selecting candidate who
IAN carry 80 of the IS votes cast by the
rec States enumerated.
We are free to confess that our predilec-
ions are strongly ia favor Of the nomina-
ion Of some sound, conservative Southern
nan, not only for the reason of confirmed
'aith in the safety of such nomination, but
or the additional consideration that it is
Justly the due Of the South upon the ground
# reciprocal claim and courtesy But the
ssues involved ia the action of the Charles
on Convention, and the result of the No
yember election, loom up in such grand and
proportions, as to make all cues
ions of individual preference or sectional
recollection pale into insignifcance, and
present in bold relief the great paramount
dea of the success Of the Democratic party
md the defeat otthe Black Republicans. =
That is the question. lien are mere cy-
hers save only in the proportion of their
blity to achieve that end. That is the es-
ence-the Alpha and Omega the issue,
nd he is the proper person for the nomi-
ation--be he from the North or South,
Cast or West-who can the more surely Sc
ure so desirable result. /
1t is duty as sternly incumbent upon
he delegates to Charleston to go there in
pirit of Cancellation, free from individual
artizanship or captious prejudices, and
pen to the light and infol nation which
must necessarily food in upon them, as it is
or them to consult the interests of the De-
nocratio party, and respect the dignity and
Importance Of the position they will ell. IF
is made apparent, or even probable, that
Southern man cannot carry sufficient /
lumber of electo al votes in the free States
0 secure his election, then, by every con.
of policy and patriotism, that man
gho can receive such votes, Should, with
ordiality and unity, be chosen. It is made
1,tx or4 M