Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-07-06


Fslstaf knew "the true Prince" BY instinct. dis
tuguished politician of day vas Of opinion tina,
W6zs might recognize each other "by the instincts o.
gentlemen" But this very valuable attribute appears
wholly 10 fail when applied to the detection Of the true
Democratic nominee for the Presidency Of the million
or so Of LocOocO employed in the endeavor to
scent the highly important secret seemingly near
na point 70 Breckenridge and the other larger proper
ton TO Douglas Thus far in the canvass the inferno
cine discussion has turned not much upon the
question whether Douglas OrBreeknridge IS the more it.
competent and Trustworthy for the Presidency
nor whether the platform Of the or the other be the
cauonical creed Of the Pary-but whether the former
or the latter is the regular nominee and gitaas can
dase Of the party-whether Douglas Breckenridge is
the duly anointsd Of Democracy. Viewing the matter
As we do we confess We should DO compelled to think
Las. avoraby Whatsoever Ofhem might establish the
best claim If We we're compelled to trust Democrat,
We should think i, something in his favor that DemOera-
sy itself would not trust him. But do not expect
the followers Of that extraordinary deusiOn to be gov
srned by 50 wise rule
However benevolsntly disposed, We can do nOshirg
We fear 70 retrieve the painful embarrassment Of those
who are engaged in solving this issue Of legitimacy
Such questions have often perpeIed the politics Of
monarches Of Europe and unfequenty have event
uated in contests At arms in which while the Lion and
the Unicorn were 6gang for the Crown, some little Dog
has Jumped up and knocked them both down. Contrc-
VERSES Of the character even when peacefully conduct
ed are apt Ike proceedings in chancery to be very pro-
traced and can offer no encouragement for the hops
that satisfactory solution Of the trouble viii reached
by next November.
Though as We have already remarked, We do not e1-
pect 70 throw any hgbt upon the subject The anxou
aud labored exeogadons Of our city contsmPoraries,
especially the EraHinsr induce Us TO suggest that IL
Assang Douglas, because Of he doubtful regularity Of
bis nomination, gun may be fred that viii kick tie
owner over. Was Brecknridge's nomination any more
regular than that Of Doug? Were the usages" Of TIE
party and their conventions any better observed in biz
case than in that OF Douglas II the adoption Of q e
"unit rule at Charleston wrong, did not Virginia
participate in that Erong by voting for it, and by
naming in the convention after its adopted-and can she
now impeach the nomination Of Douglas, if accom-
pshed through the agency Of that rule9 Nay has not
the rule itself been one Of the avoHe eanons and "us
ages" Of the Virginia Democracy? Again. if the uou
nation Of Douglas Is void and his candidacy spurious,
for bo reason that be did receive the votes Of 22
delegates how is {, with Breekiurdge' Did he get that
number Of vo,es9 And if nomination can only lie
binding when made in strict obedience to the "lOrg
tabhed usages Of the party let ask if secession is
among these usages?
Tae ErBaier concludes BY invocation in favor cf
the principles Of the party" But there lies another rul
What are the principles Of the par,y-wbieh its platform
Abou, this the EeIu,iasr and others would differ 3
widely as they DO u7on the ques,Ou-wheh Is the
Gidase Of the party Looking on from disinterest
a IL hi 90
adopted ia full convention a, Charleston before the
vas any secession, the true platform Of Democracy
snd-euuncates the real principles OF the party albeit
Squatter Sovereignty be chief among them. Is this
OF the prncples-aud is that the platform that the Err
araasr calls upon is friends to maintain If not. by
what authority does the Examiner designate any other
&c. Of doctrines as the principles Of he partyf Was
not the platform Of the Secedes rejected and repudatd
BY formal deliberate and decisive vote Of the original
Convention al Charleston before there a sOlits
Withdrawal and While it represented every electoral d.
trict in he country and spoke authoratvely the voice
OF the Democracy Of the Baton' There may be sCns
dou5; about VIA; are really the principles Of the par
ty bot there can be none 70 what ROt-at least
ogoa9 those contained in the Seeedsrs platform. Beyond
an question or doubt, Democracy has dsayOwed the
principles there proclaimed 10 way that excludes
them a. distinctly from the creed Of the party,
as Mshometanism or MOrmOuism Is excluded from
the faith Of the Pope Of Rome. The Withdrawal Of
Yaneey and the rebellion Of the minority, the rePuc
afion Of these principles AZ Charleston, did not nyal
date in The leas, the Sqaa,er Sovereignty platform that
vas adopted-or il one Of the "loog established
Rss Of tse party" that majority shall declare Wha; the
principles Of the party are. Upon this question then, il
t man the ober-Wbieh Il the regular nominee Of the
party-ve can be positive and emphatic. As the other
Is beyond province, If not our power, to decide
We suggest the usual expedient for getting Of similar
dlsmmas. Let the party, rather parties, abandon
both Breckinf.dge and Douglas ard take up man
Let them unite with Us and the patriotic hosts that
Hockng to the standard Of BILL and EyEEErr, in the
glorious effort to overthrow the Black Republicans, BY
elsctrg the only national candidates nov before the
countryside only candidates those Of the Repub
leans Who stand the least chance Of success