The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-04-13
The Presidential Election.

sentatives of the National Democratic par
| ty of the Union will assemble at Charles
ton, S. c., 10 present TO the people Of these
United States candidates for the offices of
| President and Vice President under whose
| lead the friends of the Constitution are to
rally: and the interests involved in the
election will justify Us in calling the atten-
ton of our readers to some of the points
which appear most important in the con-
test. We do not desire or intend to speak
of the candidates; for, aside from the
question as to who is to be the candidate
being beyond conjecture, it is matter Of
minor Importance in comparison with the
principles which are to be determined
We desire simply to mention, for the con-
sideration Of our readers, few prominent
facts, which may be more appropriately
and effectively considered, now that there
IS a comparative composule i'll the public
mind. 1t is III times Of quiet and calm
that the people can best decide upon the
great fundamental principles on which de-
pend the present prosperity and future per-
petuity of our Union. In the next cleo
ton there are great principles to be deter
mined on-principles vital to the interests
of the whole American people-principle
involving not the temporary ascendancy of
any political party merely, but the faith
and integrity of the Constitution. And, in
view of these considerations, now is the
time for The people to begin thinking ear
nestly of the coming election; now is the
time for them to examine carefully the
character and principles Of the parties in
the field and now is the time for them to
determine with whom they intend to iden-
tify themselves and to vote.
Even the most casual observer must
have noticed the sentiment and feeling
which SO universally pervade the public
mind, that the next election is to decide
the veal or woe Of our country. The
whole mass of the people seem to be con
scious of an approaching crisis in the fate
of our Union. North and South, this has
been manifested in the primary meetings,
and through the columns OF the public
journals. In the South there are but two
partes-;he old National Democratic par
ty, and its opponents, who are known as
Know NoihiDgs or Americans; but in the
North every ism has separate clan, and
every mad fanatic has his followers; We.
there, as in the South, these men, whether
in detail or in combination, may all be
classed as the opponents Of the Democratic
party. Widely as they may differ among
themselves as to their various iSms, they
all agree in their hatred of the National
Democracy, and unite in their assaults up
on the Constitution. Underlying all the
many dogmasfor which these factions Of the
North clamor, there is one great question
which stands above, and is prior to all 9TH
ers. This is the question of NON INTERVIEW
TON OF CONGRESS- ON THE SLAVERY CUES
TIoN. Party demagogues may send forth
their incendiary appeals for the people to
arm against foreigners, or crazy fanatics
may rant about " the rights of women and
the ruin Of rum" and preach moral reform
by legislative enactments, but high above
these arises this all absorbing, er-present
question "ShaU CongrSss or tie People
hare tie right to determine upon the social
and domestic Institutions iii tie States and
Territories 1t is vain to attempt to foist
other issues upon the people. This ques-
ton is before the country. 1t involves a
fundamental principle in the Constitution,
and it has to be settled speedily. The en-
emies of Constitutional rights are determin-
ed to make this question the leading and
test issue, and the Democratic party, true
friend as it is to those rights, cannot, and
would not if it could, decline the contest.
The hour Of peril approaches; and now,
before the storm is upon us, every consi-
deration Of duty, honor, and patriotism,
calls upon national men, Of whatever par
~, and Of all sections of the country, to
join the Democracy, and rise up in defence
of truth and justice, the Constitution and
the Union.