The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-02-02

the frat great victory In the rising contest be-
tween the right and the wrong in politics 1t
is the presage of further triumphs and of the
ultimate rule of reason and the conservative
elements in the Union.
The Charleston COnvention-The Note Of
Preparation.
The National Convention of the democratic
party which will assemble at Charleston just
two months from to-day is now the point to
which the eyes of all the politicians in the
country are turned. The work of the Conven-
ton has already been commenced. Mr.. Doug
las opened it in the Senate last week with his
famous speech, wherein he recanted all his for
mer heresies, and came fairly and squarely
upon the administration platform. Mr.. Doug
las friends throughout the North and West
have been much elated with this speech, and
think that it will clear his coast at Charleston.
That remains to be seen. 1t is little too near
April for the South to take Mr.. Douglas last
speech as the law and the gospel.
The resolution introduced by the Senator
from Illinois remains, however, as the standing
subject for debate in the Senate, end as it re-
fers directly to the state of the Union, it gives
all the Presidential aspirants an opportunity to
put themselves right on the record. Among
them is Mr.. Robert M. T. Hunter, of Virginia,
who made an elaborate speech on Tuesday.
Mr.. Hunter is q conservative democrat a calm,
quiet, undemonstrative, practical politician
a marked contrast to his dashing and fiery
rival, Governor WISE The latter is con-
tinually making speeches and writing mani
festoes. The work he does in this way is some
thing wonderful Mr.. Hunter, on the con-
trary, speaks little and writes less. Without
doubt Mr.. Hunters speech on Tuesday
was carefully prepared, and is intended to
bear directly upon Charleston. On the ques-
ton of slavery proper, Mr.. Hunter takes the
strong radical ground on which Mr.. Charles
O'Conor stands-namely, that it is bene6cent
institution. He demands that the Territories
should be open to free and slave labor alike,
and argues from the Seward speech and Helper
book that the black republican theories favor
the abolition of slavery from the States wherein
it now exists. Although strongly Southern in
his sentiments, Mr.. Hunter does not 20 so far
as several of the Senators on the other side of
the line, and say that if a black republican
President is elected the South will secede i'm
mediately from the Union. On the contrary,
he draws glowing picture of the future of the
republic, If the government continues to be ad-
ministered according to the spirit of its
founders, and pertinently inquiries, care we to
be disappointed of such destiny Is this, in the
mad pursuit of distractions by moonstruck
theorists and crazy fanatics?" He believes
not, and puts his trust in the conservatives of
the North, who are very quiet until election
day, but who will not fail to vote on the side
of law, Union, fraternal concord and the Union
of the States according to the constitution.
Such is Mr.. Hunters platforms very sound,
sensible and good one. Like Mr.. Douglas.
speech, it is bid for Charleston; and as there
are several other Senators looking in the same
direction, we may expect similar offers from
Davis of Mississippi, Slidell Of Louisiana,
Toombs of Georgia, johnson of Tennessee,
Bright-of Indiana, Lane of Oregon, and so on.
There's no objection to this. While the House
of Representatives is quarrelling over the
spoils, it is well to see the Senate taking con-
servative and patriotic attitude With pru-
dent, firm and able Chief Magistrate, and the
check of an administrative majority in the
upper branch of Congress, the squabbles in the
House can do but little injury.
As far as the question of the succession goes,
however, these Senatorial aspirants are build
ing air castles. With the single exception of
Mr.. Douglas, who stands better for '64 than go,
not one of them has any strength where it is
most needed. The man for Charleston is Mr..
Buchanan. His administration has been 80
firmly and wisely conducted as to win
the applause of the whole countryside
politicians who have been disappointed
about the spoils alone excepted. In the pre-
sent crisis Of the republic the people look for
acts, not words. They find Mr.. Buchanan's
acts part Of the history of the country, and
they will command more votes than all the
speeches that ever loaded down the weary and
long suffering columns of the Globe The conser
vative Union men of the great Central States
will demand man whose election will allay
the foolish slavery agitation, restore confidence
between the North and the South, insure the
permanence of our institutions, and promote
the material prosperity of the republic. Mr..
Buchanan is this man. He will call out the full
strength Of his own party and the Independent
reserve vote. Mr.. Buchanan, then, should re-
ceive the Charleston nomination by all means.
NEFFIcIENCY OF THE EXCISE COMMISSION
We publish today two curious communica-
tons in reply to an article which appeared
in our columns few days ago relative
to the ineficiency of the Excise Commits
sion, one of them being from q commits