The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1860-02-16
Politics In the NOrth-Wcst.
Davenport. Iowa. Jan. 90. 1869

have been looking through and taking
notes in each of the States North west of
Ohio, Minnesota excepted, during the past
fortnight; and, though | seldom place
predictions on record. | now make one
which would not have credidited when
left New York Ipredict that Stephen A.
Douglas will be nominated for President
at Charleston next April, and that most of
the Slave States will give him their Electo.
raj Votes. Let these foreshadowings be
noted and compared with the events.
| predict Mr.. Douglas nomination. in
full view Of the fact that great majority
OF the Southern Democratic politicians in.
tensely hate him--that the leading par
!izans and favorites Of the Buchanan dy.
nasty detest him-that Mayor Wood will
have to promise to oppose him in order to
get his Hard Shell delegation admitted at
Charleston--tha there will be an anti
Douglas delegation claiming seats from
lllinois-that many of the delegates elect
even from the North Western States. in.
GLIDING majority of those from Mnnesc-
Jesse ID. Bright. Rice, Joe Lane, &c, who
have fer some years labored under the
halluciualion that they are leaders of the
North-Wesiern Democracy, would prefer
defeat with Lecomptoniie TO success
with Douglas. | see also that the anti
Douglas side will have the advantage in
the Convention. first in settling the con-
tested seats then in framing the platform
But after making allowance for these make
weights. | still hold the Little Giants
nomination to be all but inevitable be-
cause.
l. A National Convention always
nominateS To win. Ii is largely made up
of men who would like To be Cabinet Min
isrerS, ambassadors, Collectors. Marshals.
at least Postmlsiers. Those quite well
understand that, ii they are to ob ain what
they aspire to. is essential that they should
nominate ticket that can be elected Ma
tioaal Conventions are Of Ell blind To trans
cendent merit rarely or never to superior
strength.
III. Mr.. Douglas is sill in the eyes Of
the Democratic masses in the Free States,
the champion and embo limenl of the prin-
ciple of Popular Sovereignty by which
lh.y were reconcied 10 The repudia ion Of
the Missouri Cnmpac' Tha: reputation
was never rrlish,'d by them per Sc; nor
dill Is manfeS; object commend it to their
approba ion. BLi he suggestion that each
srpaiae community. whether termed Stale
OF Territory. sh"uii be at liberty to man
age aud dispose of its own negroes--to
have slavery or No; have it, as it should
see ht-was ani is popular with the Western
Democracy. And. having long cognized
Mr.. ID Du3 las a. the an hor. oxpoun'irr and
c anpion IF tha doctine. th..v will not be
disposed ~ scru liz very nicely the Plat
trom il he is placed ronspiruoaslv thereon.
With NJ. Douglas as their randi late. The
d -n.ocracy si. contest ~ ry North West
ern Saes with merry aud most Of them
one OF them absolutely LIST until vote foT
President shall have been cast and count
ed
Ill. Bul, should Mr.. Dougas be de-
ftated AT Charleston. the very biniest
mole will understand that Tie principie
wherewth his name is identified Is ignored
and ca,hierel-thai the National Democracy
no longer holds American citizens located
in Territory equally with those in a State
at liberty to legaIze and establish or to ex
clude and forbid Slavery within their re-
spective limits In That case the slereo-
yped Democratic qnrs lon of 1915 6.
"Whv should not American citizens in a
territory have equal rights as 20 Slavery
within their respective limits with those in
a Safe p will be turned a..ains, them with
fearful effect. Mr.. Douglas may worh-as
he doubtless acW work -de> perately for any
candidate who may lie nominated al Char,
lesion. NO matter on what pla form. hut lie
cannot secure Tor Il hearty Lecomptoui,e
one Electoral Vote in all the North West.
~ Through all his mutation. Mr..
Douglas ha hi herto stood by the princi
pie OF Free lIumesiead or the grant Of
quarter sections of the Public Lands 10
a. nal settlers vi hout charge. That prin
ciple-always stronger in the Free West
than any parly-haS gained Immensely In
power 10 control votes from The pecuniary
disasters Of the last 3 years. Thousands
who were grabbing a the land within
sht Of their log cabins few years since.
and fondly exper,ing to become speedily
rich by land speculaiions. have suddenly
awaked Ia IA res,liz1 ion If Tie fact that their
land grabbin. has ruined them. and that
they have hard chance before them of
Obtaining even E"elihood. To hose
and To tens of thousands besides, the Home
stead bill seems of more consequence than
all other topics OF polite controversy.
No other Drmncra ic Salesman than Doug.
las. unless i, be Andr Johnson "f Tenn.
could hope f"r their SUI port. Mr.. joe
Lanes u. " record last winIr renders HIM
conspicuouslv unavailable. Mr. ID on his
question: could probably hold hiA own
against R-publicanuo one Else Tut MIR.
A Johns, n could begin L. d"
V. The nj RUE divisions of lis adver-
sares give ID 'u.as great advantage IN
the struggle Out # some six hundred
votes in the Cunvcnjirn over two hundred
viii; al AL events BE- thrown Tor him on the
frs ballot. while tie opposing vote will
b. div led b., we-n Hunter. Wise. A john
sou. Guthrie. ckindridge. jeff Davis.
Stephens Cobb &C., and il is even said
that there are incumbents or expectants OF