Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-06-19
The Value of Platforms

Whilst tho National Union Party has been ar
rs;rned by Democrats and Republicans, by ex-
trsm;s,s in both sections of thu Confederacy, for
not having put forth an elaborate platform OF
principles, (as though the platform constructed
By Washington, Hamilton. Jay. Madison. Frank
lin. and their illustrious compcers were not sound
and comprehensive enough We find both these
parties wrangling about the construction Of the
platform they have respectively made. In New
York, the TWO leading Republican organs, the
Tribune and Erening Posi-, the first of Wing ante
ceden,s and tariff procliyi,es the other, always
An earnest advocate Of Democracy and free trade,
ARE, or have been, engaged in discussing the
Chicago platform; the Tribune insisting that it
contains tariff plank; the Post as dogmatcally
asserting that it recognizes no such thing. What
shall b done when the doctors difery How
are the rank and file Of the Black Republican CO.
horts " determine this grave question. when two
astute doctors and old rcampaigners like Greeley
and Bryant disagree! True, the Convention gave
the best running commentary. the most sensible
solution Of its own ac,iou,by placing an old Wing
with tariff predictions, and whlom Democrat
Of anti.tarif convictions, upon this hermorphra
dite platform. Lincoln and Hamlin, Ilamn and
Lincoln represent the two negatives Of this mod
81 invention, attributable. originally. to the Dem.
ocra,ic party; for infringing whose patent tho
Black Republicans deserve TO he prosecuted. This
is The history OF the Chicago platform; but from
period whereof the memory Of mau runneth not
to The contrary, We have had the same experience
of Democratic platforms. Adroilly worried, with
ambiguous phrase Susceptible Of aln,os, any inter
probation, they have been construed in the North
to mesn one thing, and in the South to mean an"'
ther, until, after the election neither intcrtreta-
tion was regarded any further than the interest
Of the party. or the exiginccs Of the times would
seem TO indicate.
Il is Tor this reason, and because some persNns
who, believing that professional politicians could
be honest. took their assurances as the real ex-
preston Of their opinions, and were deceived un-
til they can he deceived. no )onger,-that the De.
mocratic leaders and thimlle-riggers now find
themselves involved in such in~urmountablc din.
culties. II 10 because, as the Southern ContcdeT-
acy, Democratic jonrpal saws, platforms arc
never carried cut. and always admit Of various
constructions that sensible honest people arc
growing SICK ol tbem. ii men Win tucn record
as John Bell and Edward Everett can boast; af-
ter having been identified with the public service
during the lifetime Of one whole generation,
not be relied upon. We would not trust all the
platforms that could be framed between now and
the end Of time.
We offer to the homes. conservative masses of
the country. all the guarantee that they will re-
l,,,o
~, in these degenerate times. been presented Ivy
any party. We present them no such dubious
and Elusive arguments as those found in the Kaue
or Nicholson letter, but offer them statesmen tr.
ed and true; men Of ripe experience, Of the first
order Of intellect and the rarcs. public and pri-
yate virtue, upon platform as broad and COM
prehensive as any patriot could desire.
This platform aud these Candidates will, we are
sure, commend themselves to all who. in these
troublous times are willing to adopt the sures,
and best means that promise peace to q distrac
ted country.