Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-03-20
CHARLESTON AND THE DEMOCRATS.

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The democratic national convention is, ev-
cry way, subject of doubt and controversy
among those most interested in it. Not only
the platform to be adopted, and the candidates
to be nominated or rejected, are discussed with
vehemence, but also the propriety of going to
Charleston at ALL Every aspect of that con-
vention is stormy; but some things in the issue
made against Charleston, as place for hold
ing it, are amusing. 1t seems that the Charles
ton hotel keepers, with an aptitude for the
"main chance, which appears to be as largely
developed and active, in that part of the coun-
try as anywhere else, have announced an
intention to charge astonishing prices for board
and rooms, and, also, that they recognize no
obligation to provide accommodations lor tne
"backguard rowdes and hangers on VINO
may go to Charleston in the train OF the deie-
gates. And the special meaning is, that no
accommodations are to be furnished Tor the
"ten thousand outsiders who have talked OF
going there in the interest of Douglas. This
state of the case has given rise to talk OF
changing the place of meeting from Charles
ton to Baltimore or New York.
The comments of the Charleston press on
this proposition to change the place, are ex-
tremely characteristic. We find in them
ludicrous mixture OF lofty Indifference. There
is of course a dark hint at disunion. The
Charleston News says :-"Charleston has but
little affinity with the convention, and less
with the thousands who will come in its train,
and her people, however few might complain
at the removal, would be rejoiced if it were
assembled at another place )" and then, after
intimating that the southern delegates will
meet in Charleston, and leave the northern
men to themselves, the News goes ON thus -
"Would it not be a propitious event The
south, consisting of nearly all the democratic
states, and constituting the true democracy,
would lay down a constitutional platform,
nominate proper statesman for the presiden-
cy, and the inscriptions unsoundness of the
northern democracy being sloughed off into
the New York body Representing nothing but
themselves), would once more unfurl the con-
stitutonal banner, and under it beat back the
hosts of abolition, or give deliverance to the
southern states"
This is in reply to proposition to have the
convention meet in New York The descrip-
ton of our northern democratic friends is
rather graphic. Here is what the Charleston
Mercury says
From the Charleston Mercury, March Is.
An intense excitement prevailed in the city
yesterday, on the publication of our special
Washington dispatch, which in some measure
cast doubt over the meeting of the conven-
ton. Arrangements which had been in rapid
progress, were suspended in many instances,
and IN others family carried on, with frequent
reading Of the Mercury with surmises as to
what might happen. The last winters earth
quake was nothing TO it.
BY the tenor of other dispatches this morn
ing, it will be seen that the gentlemen COM
posing the committee at Washington, are still
scheming. One of our special dispatches very
shrewdly suggests the motive for the dis
cussion 1t is, therefore, in our opinion,
but the pretext seized by the friends of
Mr.. Douglas to transfer the convention, if
possible, to some city where they will be in
the ascendent. This movement commenced
many months since, when they prated of the
danger to be apprehended from personal vio-
lence in Charleston. This is, however, their
last card, and this will fail. Mr. Douglas
friends see plainly that a convention in Char
lesion will preserve southern aspect, and can
not be brow-beaten or bullied. The six hun
dred and fifty gentlemen who compose the
convention will be taken good care of, and the
preference given them. About one hundred
have already been invited to accept the hospi-
talities of our citizens, and many more un-
doubleday will be. But the myriad hangers on,
aoho are not admitted to the floor Of the contention
must take their chances for feed and Sleep 1t is
greatly to be desir' that their number may be
reduced to as small figure as possible
The convention will meet in Charleston but
If Mr. Douglas and his friends desire a north
ern convention, let them call one"
What democratic committee man will ven
ture to talk of holding the convention in New
York or Baltimore, after reading this "The
convention will meet in Charleston2 Do you
hear Douglas is not wanted there. He and
MS friends may stay at home and hold
Douglas meeting by themselves But, ''the
will meet in Charleston" And
ret the talk of holding it there, has raised the
rice of provisions in South Carolina, and
treated some apprehensions of famine. One
published letter reports beef at fifty cents
ound;" but this, we suspect, is an exaggera-
ion made in behalf of the high prices for
avs, "the prices of first quality beef range
rom twenty to twenty-five cents pound !" but
drovers are holding back their cattle and de-
handing high prices" all in consequence of
he convention.
1t Is not unlikely that this Charleston con.
Ventlon will be the last national gathering of
the democrats. Their old organization can
not last much longer. 1t has already outliyed
the issues that gave it existence, and has at
present nothing but the institution of slavery
to give it strength. There is in, that party an
irrepressible conflict, which breaks out on all
occasions. 1t comes even into this discussion
OF the price Of board at Charleston and the
temper which southern men bring into this
conflict, shows clearly that they are determin-
ed to rule or ruin.
Political.
The Importance of carrying the Connecticut
election is well understood by democrats