Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-04-26

The CHARLESTON CONVENTION
Correspondence of The Sta,.l

hot-like that of New York in August-and the
excitement of all the surroundings ma es its effect
upon all who have come hither on this occasion
from the North, much more visible in their flushed
countenancss and quickly heating walks, than If
they could do as Southerners usually do at this
season. devote their time to the task Of keeping
cool as possible. The upshot of the sudden change
OF climate, and over-indulgence in summer fruits
and vegetables, and undue excitement Of all sorts,
Is that dysentery and diarrhea are affecting quite
number Of the Northerners, Ike Fowler among
them. The sickness Of the invalids however
will probably cause these not yet sick to haul I'm
their horns, taking better care Of themselves
during the balance Of their stay here, it is to be
hoped How long We will have to STAY no man
knoweth. 1t is very certain that Douglas can
never obtain two-thirds vote of the Convention
as at present constituted, and the game of his
managers is apparently, to force a secession Of all
the South, If need be, that he may be nominated
by the balance of the Convention. They talk of
staying here for year, to prevent the nomination
Of any one else by united Democratic party
That is all CANNON, you may rely on It, When
ever his str sets, there will not be twenty-five
votes in the Convention comfortable by him. for
| any such purpose.
There was a meeting Of the Southern delega-
| tions last night; sort Of impromptu affair very
generally attended from the South without par
tcular invitation, and as If by accident Stve al
speeches were made-all the speakers taking
most extreme grounds against Douglas and squat
ter sovereignty. 1t is clear from what took place
then and there, that Douglas has no show what
| ever in the Southern camp; the views of John
Forsyth, the ConStitutionaIist, and Alexander
Stephens, who are regarded as the Douglas
Southern missionaries, having no more weight
with them than they would be likely to have in
the Seward camp at Chicago, when the Repub-
Hcan Convention assemblies there next month
The state of fixed determination on the part of
the South not to abide the nomination Of Douglas
manifested in that meeting, is but of piece with
all have seen since arriving here. Its effects on
the Nat onals from the North is very great Thus
many Northern delegates who came here with
secret or avowed leanings towards Douglas, are
| now prepared to set their faces against him
throughout the whole of the ballotings; thew now
comprehend that without the Southern States
there is really no such thing as a National Demo-
cratic party in existence. That is that If the
Northern Democracy attempt to stand alone they
must look to success only by becoming more We
hement abolitionists than the Republicans as
natural consequence Of their antagonism to the
Southern Democratic party if they break from it,
and that they will be beaten clean out of water
The Douglas leaders who comprehend now that
they may never hope to obtain the votes of the
southern delegations for their candidate. profess
to care little what the latter do-sayng that if they
secede they will beat them before their own con-
stltuents. But there is no sincerity whatever in
such professions on their part. They play to
throw Douglas into the House Of representatives
in the hope of obtaining southern votes there as
against Seward. They know well that if it were
possible to nominate him, which repeat is not
within the range of possibility as the Convention
is composed, seven southern States will at once
withdraw, with strong chance that all the rest
OF the South would follow them, and not few of
the North, headed by Cushing and John Cocb
rane, and tailed by the redoubtable Fernando
Fernando, by the by, keeps very stiff upper lip
and works with might and main against all ra-
against his delegation, though he expects to have
minority reportln his favor signed by the delegates
from the cotton States upon the credentials COM
mlttee principally, and that to be permitted to
make flaming speech before the Convention. in
which he will do his best to break the affair nm
In row. Fernando is very shrewd. He foresees
the Imminent disruption Of the Democratic party
ere the close of the week the slavery question
douglas and the platform; and knowing that New
iork city must inevitably go with the South
Pohucally, In such an event, he is determined to
oe on the top OF the heap there. But John Cocb-
rahe Dlos falr TO be an match for him at that
game even T. Is known to have been fighting
the battle Of the South in the meetings of the Soft
delegations with degree of energy and ahi,itv
that mark him for one of the first men in the
land-bearding Dean Richmond out-mansotng
Casger, and snubbing Cassidy; until he has fairly
obtained the mastery, having with the assistance
OF the whole Dickinson strength, so fixed I'D their
matt @l~1xs
matters DIS That 1t Is impossible that Douglas can
get the vote of New York if his nomination will
url'e any portion OF the South out of the Conven-
ton.
The smeHte between Messrs Richardson of
Illinois, and Randall, of PENNSYLVANIA. created
much feeling for the time being, injuring the
cause OF Douglas with the South. 1t was er-
ceedingly regretable, because Mr.. Richardson i,
really as noble-hearted a gentleman as the Con.
Ventlon embraces, and under ordinary circu,n-
stances would be the last man in the world to saw
all unklnd thing to one of Mr.. Randall,s age and
PfoverblaI dignity, courtesy and Kindness tn
al. Inc readiness with which the gentleman
showed fight" to the Colonel, proved his title TO
MS nigh reputation chivalrous gentleman
no less than did Col. Richardson's prompt anol-
osy prove that he was also actuated by that sense
VI honor which being conspicuous in his per.
oo"ol wearing In the House of Representatives
"u'ihs us whole career in Washington, earned
hih the personal confidence of all men of al,
parties In public life, to a signal extent,
fIace no confidence whatever I'm the bo,s, =,
'he Dougiasites that the adoption of the resolr-
uon allowing individual delegates to vote tb.,,
own sentiments against those of the m,;o,itv
when uninstructed to vote as unit will Give
douglas material strength. The platform. Won
VIII remember, is to be made before the nomin,.
uon. That will be as dead against souatter sov.
ereignty, as dead can be. That isLin effect the
senate platform which Douglas has freely de.
hounced thousand times, proclaiminp that he
cannot put himself 1t without dispracing
himself My opinion is that 1t will carry befo,e
the Convention by from twenty five to seventy.
nSe majority, somewhere-every Southern dele
gate being compelled by public opinion at home
TO vote for it (if not favoring it per se) and all
the carbohydrates Of the North instructed for
Douglas or not, voting for it, if but to render his
nomination impossible.
Ii II should not carry, you may regard il as
certain that Jefferson Davis will be nominated by
the votes OF considerable majority Of the dele.
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