The Shasta courier., 1860-03-10
" Straws Show" &c.


The Beacon remarks thereat, What presump-
ton But straws show which way the wind
blows" If our neighbor will just please to re-
member that it takes two-third vote in con-
yention to nominate, and that Douglas already
has more than one-third of the entire vote in
structed for himself, he will not think our re-
mark SO full of presumption after all. We here
repeat that if Douglas is not nominated, he will
have have the power to say who shall be. In
fact be already has the power SO to say.
But the allusion of q straws showing" &C., is
nonsense. We do not hide our opinion on this
point. With the present lights before US, we
believe that Stephen A. Douglas is the strongest
Democrat in America, and hence hope the
Charleston Convention will nominate him.
We admire Mr.. Dickinson. Ever since we
have known anything of political matters he has
been favorite with the Democracy of our ma
tive State, Virginia. We think him one of the
purest and ablest men in America. We believe
him to be eminently national man. But we
do not thiak him as strong as Douglas.
What do the " straws show" in his favor? =? The
New York Herald-au organ of Mr.. Buchanan,
and an ardent friend and defender of his admin
istration-says Dickinson can't touch bottom in
New York. The New York delegation to
Charleston is not for Dickinson, but for Doug-
las. Twenty-three out of the thirty-fve votes
from that State are for Douglas, and the dele
CATION is instructed to vote as until Califor-
mia is the only State that has declared for Dick
inson. What, then, are his chances for a nom-
inaton? Poor, indeed. But if the Charleston
Convention nominate him, then we will believe
that he can carry New York and thus win am
election. We have confidence in the wisdom of
such body of Democrats. We know that in a
National Democratic Convention, the motto is
Everything for the cause-nothing for men,"
No one but an available man will be nominated.
If the Convention, after comforting together, be-
lieve Douglas to be that man, Douglas will be
nominated. Aye, will he, Notwithstanding Judge
Hinckley BLACK Republican, in the Shasta Re
publican, and the Beacon SO long endeaYored to
make it appear tina; Douglas was not worthy
Democrat.
The straws" in favor of Douglas, so far, are
Ohio, % Indiana, l3; Illinois, IL; Mime
sofa, 4; New Hampshire, 5 Massachusetts, ID;
New York, 35; Vermont, 5-total, 100 votes for
Douglas. Iowa, 4 Wisconsin 5, and Michigan 6,
are also certain for him. Maryland, s, and Ar
kansas, 4, are also most sure to be for him.
Tennessee. with her y votes, is for him as their
second choice, their first choice being their own
Senator, johnson. He will also, presume,
stand the best show of getting the Maine and
Connecticut delegations, and it may be por-
ton or the whole of the Pennsylvania delegation.
If these surmises prove true, then Douglas will
have majority of the Convention on the first
ballot. These are the Douglas straws."
Now what are the Dickinson straws2" Cal<
ifornia, with herd votes, has declared for him,
while New York, his own State. hdsn't-nor has
any othhr State, north south, east or west,
done so. These are the Dickinson straws or, to
speak more properly, this is the dickinson straw.
And yet forsooth, a mans Democracy is to be
impeached because he may be friend of Doug
las the man whom the Democracy of the North
and West almost unanimously claim as their
great leader
In conclusion, the Convention at Sacramento
recently declared that Dickinson was the first
choice of the Democracy of this State. We find
no fault with that resolution. We will support
him, if nominated, with our whole heart, and
will contribute more toward his election than
many of those who are now loud in his advocae
cy. But, with the present lights before US, be
is not our first choice, and Douglas is.
Nor VERY PIoUs.-On the first day of the as
sembling of the State Convention, while the
delegates were in the theatre, one member, on
being informed that Mr.. Benton's church could
not be obtained because it was the house of the
Lord, exclaimed 'd-n the Lord After the
members got into the church their profanity did
not seem to decrease. What with the confusion
uproar, cat-calls, stamping, cursing and swear
ing, and SO forth, as reported in both the Union
and Standard, it would appear that many mem
bers were pretty smartly druak-and more fit to
be in some low doggery than in Democratic
Convention.