The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-06-13
coSanEssIoNAL CONVENTION.

Congressional Central Committee.


S. e. 2fNN,
Congressional Central Committee.
Who ~ te be the Baltimore omi m 9 !.
AS the time for the Baltimore Convention
approaches, it seems to US that the indica
lions grow faster and thicker and stronger in
favor of Stephen A. Douglas. Ii must ap-
pear to the leaders and delegates of the par
~ almost past hope TO elect any man, and
thAt luck and chance are likely to do as much
for Douglas as for another. Besides, it is
clearly impossible for the party, in conven-
tlon or out, to agree upon both the platform
and the candidate. And, as the matter now
stands, majority of the bona fde delegates
to Baltimore are enthusiastically in favor Of
Douglas, and their strength will be increased
by bogus delegates, from several Southern
States, in sufficient numbers to secure two
thirds vote for the Little Giant.
Taking it for granted, then, that Douglas
will have majority of actual delegates in
the Convention, and thus be enabled to con.
troll it's organization and subsequent action.
the programme seems very plain. The Con-
vention will, By fair means or foul, by hon
est, straightforward voting, or, il need be,
by fraud and violence, nominate Stephen A.
Douglas and re-affrm the Cincinnati plat.
form with the bred Scott decision by way OF
rider.
Douglas can't afford TO be defeated, for
defeat would be death-blov to his political
prospects. Douglas friends the Locofoco
politicians o. the North--cannot afford to
have him defeated and squatter sovereignty
formally laid on the shelf, for they would
sink with him TO political depth which the
hand of resurrection would never reach
While, on the other hand, the nomination Of
Douglas would give him and his friends the
asohndenny In the party, would put the party
IN good fighting trim throughout the North.
give il a majority in a few Northern and a
number of the Southern States, and an act.
i've organized aud hopeful minority party in
all the rest OF the States of the North. And
as IT Is out of the question in any event 10
nnste the now discordant party by any legsr-
dermaln 60 satisfy the shareholders of the
South and secure the votes Of the masses in
the North, the Douglas Convention Of Balti.
more will face the lesser evil and risk the
chance of some Of the Southern States nefa-
mating slave code candidate of their own,
And they will do this ell the more readily in
the confidence that the seceders will be abls
10 carry only very small minority of thu
Southern States and In the further conf
depee that, If occasion requires, Douglas car
manipulate the Supreme Court into direct
opinion 10 their favor, and then make such
terms as will secure their support, shoulC
the election 20 TO the House Of Representa-
tives.
Now we do not say that all these ideas ar,
correct, but we do think they are such as viii
enter into aud control the deliberations O
the Baltimore Convention.
snpposlng, then. that in view Of these
amongst other motives and considerations
The Baltimore Convention should nominat
Douglas, we can not agree with many Of on
friends IN the idea that he will be weake
candidate and easier beaten than Dickinson
onthrie or some one acceptable to the AID
ministration. lie will, on the contrary. b
toe strongest candidate in the North the
the Convention could possibly select, an
more especially will that be true of the North
west, including our own State.
Those who calculate that the Administers
ton will crush him, strangely ignore the IN
nois campaign of 1858. Then Buchanan
Administration was in the flush tide OF an,
ceas and power, and new il has reached d
most the iast ebbing wave OF it's imbeci
close II In the early flush of it's vigor, wi
both hands full of fat Offices and ell its pool
cts stuffed With corruption funds, the A,
ministration proved utterly powerless, VIII
can DO expected from it now, in the last q;
piring days of it's rotten but impotent 90
ruption. The ofheeholeers will no lonp
obey the bchests Of Buchanan, and shou
such politicians rs Senators Bright and Fitt
and Others that might be named, act then
selves against Douglas, they will be crush,
under the feet of the well drilled and enth,
siast'c masses Of the party rsllyiug 10 Il
support OF the regular ticket under ii