The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-07-13

We gave our readers last week the result
of the labors of the Democracy at Baltimore,
eliminating in double nomination Of Presi
dent and Vice Pre- sident, together with such
attending circumstances as We had space
for.
If others have been taken by surprise by
this intelligence, We have not. 1t is precise
ly what We anticipated, and what We repeat
edly predicted through the columns of THE
CALEDONIAN, as all our readers know.
More than year ago We distinctly point
ed out the great schism in the Democracy
which was then forming. and which from its
nature, We pronounced to be incurable.
When the rupture at Charleston occurred
We could not fail to see that it was the natu-
raj and necessary consequence OF the first
great divergence i'll principle, which had at
tracted our attention. 1t would have termi-
mated then as it has now, in radical divis
ion and a double nomination ha it not been
for an anxious desire both within and with
out, especially among the Northern portion
of the party, 20 avert the dreadful calamity
of the final ruin of the party, involving the
loss of the immense patronage of the gov
eminent and of the endless incidental "steal-
ings" out of which the leaders have enriched
themselves.
1t was the fear of this loss which first orig
mated the idea Of al adjournment to a future
day and different place, AID the first sug-
ges,ion of it was from Washington. 1t
was hoped that in the mean time something
might turn up to smoothe the troubled Wa
tiers and avert the impending doom. Moth
ing of the kind turned up. The Northern
wing clung to Douglas with the energy of
drowning men.
After craveny yielding for years to the
successive and continual! recurring demands
OF the slave power, they were suddenly
brought up with round turn when required
to concede Congressional protection to slave
property in our territories doctrine which
was in truth but the Legitimate corollary
from the decision in the bred Scott case, to
which they had given their adhesion.
The Southern wing insisted on this doc
trine, and would have nothing to do with the
man who, though he had rendered them the
most signal services in breaking down the
Legislative obstacles to the advancement of
the "Heaven-born institution north of Sc ?
80, yet boggled when they were about to re-
allze the natural advantages of the grea,
measure he had originated for them.
When the leaders boggled the Northern
Democracy sudden assumed an unwonted
courage-,hey had rushed blindly to the
verge of the precipce: but dared not take
the final leap.
They had tamely swallowed the detestiblt
Supreme Court dogma that the constitution
of the United States recognizes the property
in slaves as it does any other property in tht
territories, and appeared to be willing te
pledge themselves in advance to sustain an!
future judicial absurdites of like kind tina
the slave judges might impose upon them
But they could not admit the logical conse
quences of their own position.
Here then was fix, and precisely in thi!
state of things the grand National Democrat
lc Convention re-assembled at Baltimore
pursuant to adjournment.
If there was anywhere any ground to hope
for harmony it must have been in the idea O
accommodating the differences between tn,
two platforms, which occasioned the break W
at Charleston. In point Of fact the Conven
ton did not reach that point. 1t fairly BROKE
down on mere preliminary question of or
ganiza,ion, question ordinarily Of form on