The Nevada Democrat. [volume] (Nevada, Calif.) 1854-1863, 1860-08-08
To the Democracy Of Nevada
County.

1e@e~
word Of advice and counsetfrom the Undersigned TO
their fellow democrats Of Nevada County.
On the sd day Of June Of the present year, the
National Democratic Convention, ct Baltimore, af-
ter having adopted platform Of principles, com
plsted their labors By nominating STEPHEN a.
DOUGLAS Of Illinois for the Presidency, and HER
scHHL v, JOHNSON Of Georgia, for the Vice Presi-
dency.
On the same day, number Ofpersons who had
seeded from the regular Convention, assembled IN
the same city, and put in nomination John u Breck-
inFidge Of Kentucky, for President, and Joseph
Lane, of Oregon, for Vice President. =. s.s.,
On the Goth ult., the Central Committee OF the
democratic party of the State Of California, met
IN the city of San Francisco, and the majority
Of such committee, forgetting that their functions
were purely executive; forgetting. moreover, their
allegiance to that party, whose servants they were,
proceeded to endorse the nominees Of the seceders
as the regular candidates, and their platform OF
principles as correct exposition Of the doctrines OF
The minority of the committee, very properly, re-
pudated the action Of the majority, and refused to
acknowledge any longer as democrats those VINO
had so wantonly betrayed their trust. 49,
Under these circumstances we feel assured that
any suggestions we may make to you viii not be
out Of season. 30
1t seems novel and strange proceedingi in demo-
crats to publish to the world the reasons when IN
party 1t is for boilers to justify their treason and
fortify their conduct with printed excuses.
But the peculiar circumstances which surround
the present crisis and the fact that the chief oppo
sition TO the party nominees originates in party
itself, under the leadership Of men who have hith-
erto enjoyed its confidence will authorize the step
we now take. We are called upon to defend the
democratic party against those who have heretofore
ranked as democrats, and who have received many
favors at its hands.
We support Judge Douglas and Governor John
son, First-Because they are the candidates OF the
party, duly selected in accordance with party law
and usage. Second-Because the platform upon
which they stand embraces sound National and
Democratic principles.
We are aware that there are those who deny the
regularity of the Baltimore nominations. The
friends OF the Seceders' candidates. while admitting
that TO them the odor Of regularity does not per-
TAIN yet contend, that the nominations OF Douglas
and Johnson were made in defiance Of party forms
and usages, and are therefore not binding upon the
members of the party. 5..a ..al g ....rsF 1.
This miserable sophism would not deserve the
slightest notice at our hands, were it not for the
source whence Il springs. The President OF the
Uuited States who, II we are to believe the news
papers, has for the first time in history, descend
ed from his high position, to mingle once more IN
the dirty pool Of politics" in speech delivered re-
Gently in the Federal City, informed bis audience,
that the party had no nominees, and that every
democrat was at liberty to follow the bent OF his
own inclination in selecting the object Of his sup
port. ,....--,.,
The cue, thus given, has been seized upon with
avidity, and repeated in every form, by the numer-
GUS band of Office holders in this State, whose very
bread depends upon their compliance with orders
from head quarters, and whose connection with the
party itself is limited by their hopes Of Office, from
the beginning Of one Presidential term to that OF
another.
But. notwithstanding the source whence springs
and the holiness with which it is repeated, nothing
can be more certain than that Senator Douglas and
Governor johnson are the true and regular nomi-
nees of the party. Ifthey have rot been regularly
nominated, then it is manifesy the duty OF the Ma
tional Committee, to call Convention to make
nominations-for otherwise, the democratic organ
zation, and with it, the democratic party have ceas-
cd to exist. -
Who ever heard before OF the party being without
candidates for the two highest offices in the GIT OF
the nation? The very idea implies dissolution OF
all party ties. The party, and the party organiza.
ton are convertible terms. Mere community OF
opinion does not constitute party-bu in addition
thereto an organization is required to bring together
the scattered and isolated elements, and give them
strength and consistency st .sr.
The organ and chief agent OF the democratic or
ganization, is the National Convention. This body,
which assemblies once in every four years, was in
stituted for the purpose OF promoting in the best
manner the success Of the party and its principles;
its chief duty consists In the selection Of candidates
and the adoption of a platform Of principles to be
supported by the party In il, ul sections and in
terests are represented; in it. local passions and
prejudices are made TO yield to the general good,
and the friends Of rival aspirants compelled to COM
promise their claims in obedience to the wishes Of
the majority. The very nature Of its organization
precludes the idea that its nominees should be the
FIRST choice of all the delegates. Were this the case
there would be necessity for conventions, since
the chief object Of their existence is to reconcile diff
ferences Of opinion. Every delegate enters the
vention with the implied understanding, which also
extends to his constituents, that his private judg-
ment shall yield to the Judgment Of the majority,
and that he will abide by its action.
Such being the nature and object OF the National
Convention il is obvious that when it TO per-
form its functions, the party, as an organized pot-
ical body, ceases to exist This conclusion, fellow
democrats, involves considerations far more serious
than any which merely concern the merits or de-
merits OF particular men, and their success or fall
ure at the ensuing election. II that great party,
which under the leadership Of Jefferson. Madi-
son, a Jackson and Polk, fought and overcame the
heresies Of federalism and whiggery which has be-
come the peculiar guardian Of the constitution and
Of the rights of all sections Of the country, has fall
en-, what well founded hope can we have OF the
permanence Of this Union Of which it was the prin-
cipal prop and supports
Those who in this manner contend that the DEM
ocratic party is in temporary or permanent state
Of Reorganization, predicate their position upon
the alleged fact that Douglas and johnson did not
receive vote in the convention sufficient, under
the two-thrds rule, to nominate. a more inbound
ed assumption than this, cannot be conceived
The truth is, that although the opposition to the
democratic nominees, is the result ola ioregone
conclusion, and would have been the same, hadthey
received every vote in the conventions still the bolt
ers are fully conscious of the feeling which the rank
and file Of the party entertain in favor Of the action
of convention, and hence all their efforts are di
rected towards mpeaching the validity Of the nOmi
nations, and by such means, beguiling all who arr
weak enough to listen to their assertions, into tn
support Of their candidates.
The two-third rule, as it is called, is undoupted.
founded in wisdom and well calculated to protec
minorites against the oppression Of maiorities
But what is the rule thus invoked asa palliative
and excuse for party rebellion o al.
The answer to this question is neither Difficult
nor unsatisfactory.
The National Convention, II is true, may consis
of a. many votes rs the electoral college, but is
essential that it should in fact consist Of that mum
bef-for IL that were 50, the smallest State in III
Union by refusing to send delegates, might proven
the meeting of any convention at all II is notori
Gus that South Carolina has often been without
representation in the National Convention, yet n
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