The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-08-27

Convention, representing Northern opinion mainly which
I erred 70 stand upon that platform, noniaAsed man
'innas be LEFT the question to be determined by the gu
Prems Court since then il has decided the question In
The hce Of thai decision, determines the question
against u. There Ia no ISSUE then, In regard to
the proprety Of preteEmitsng the question, nor is
II an Issue, 30 far "a democrats concerned, be
tween regular and an irregular nomination. There ia
no nomination OF united democratic convention there
were two conventions and two nominations. One con-
vention was composed for the part OF delegates
from States which, in all probability, viii give electo
composed OF delegates Of nearly all the States from which
we can reasonaby expect electoral vote for the demo
cratic party. No man suppose, can doubt but that
Ia In the States whose real delegates nominated Breckn
ridge and Lane The ISSUE therefore, regular
the two candidates, upon which they can justify
themselves in voting for Judge Douglas That
jor prefer Breckenridge to Douglas is not question:
INK to be disputed. Should the election 60 to the
House-which seems at present 10 be our best hopeI
suppose there be doubt but that he will command
The votes OF States in that body than Judge Douglas
hope do Nor the issue this election far
democrats consider it, of Union or II there
such an sue presented the for Breckinrdge
the most likely to save the Union. Suppose the
democrats of Virginia and of some other Southern States
10 divide this question: and Of them vote
In favor Of candidate who believed that the inhabitants
of Territory could exclude the STAKEHOLDER from it,
would such increase the Of danger
the UnionS On the hand, would II not remove the
restraints OF fear from the self styled republicans when
they the South thus divided the question
rghf And, on the other hand would not the discomfort
ed southern States be apt secede when they
such division in the South and bad thus lost all hope Of
united Southern support 10 the rights Of the sagehot
ing States under the cOnstuton And what would be
come Of their friends In the savehoiiug Sta,esso
gallant and truewho have stood by the assertion
Of constitutional rights They would dsband.
TO take again in defence, when they felt them
selves thus sacrificed by the divisions OF the SOUTH and
deserted by those to whom they had given dlsnteresed
support The only issue, then, presented by
this democratic division Is that OF slustter 50:
vereignty. l the phrase, not by way Of
derfion repro,ch, but as common term which saves
circunocuton Upon such an issue as this, can the de
mocracy OF Nik4 or OF tae SOUTH hesitate, or douor
That large majority OF the democrats Of Virginia viii
entertain no dJubts verify believe. But amongst the
democrats who maintain that the inhabitants Of the Ter
rtory before II is framed into State exclude the
stakeholder, ia 1t possible that there Nrgnians
enough TO defeat the party in this State which holds the
contrary doctrine and thus destroy ascendsncyy Such
event, such times, and upon such issues, should
regard as great public calamity for that would render
probable the defeat Of the whole party as past history
sho that hitherto has found in the Old Dominion its
chief and best place of defence For ourselves
il would be were humiliation and mor,ihcatian TO find
the prestige and Of the democratic line OF the Old
Dominion lost and destroyed by It's divisions and
dissensiops. that glorious old banner which for so
many years, and in 80 many contcts, Ike the white
Gratis throug bout the land, to be traied ignomin
ousy in the DUST and that too by the very hands which
should have been raised to support 1T And here in this
land rich in the trophies and Of the achieve
ments Of It's democracy we 10 witness its digrace in
a self Inflicted defeat will believe in such
suit until zee / have said before tina, could
despond. know Of able and prudent who have
we'll nigh lost hope and nothing but gloom in the u
ture The clouds which hang around our political
horizon they say but the storm sh idows
which presase the coming revolution. l have re.
fused 70 accept the omen hearken to the prophecy
still place my hope in the democracy Like the Scotch
woman at Lucknow, II can put my ear TO the ground
and hear the heavy tramp Of the coming hosts
above ALL If can hear the slogan Of my own native
and TO announce that her sons marching 10 the
cue, shall continue ~ hope for relief When
the old Virginia line coming into place. proud in the story
of its past achievements, and confident because IL has
known defest-and when behold State after State
mastering ts troops upon the ground In the general rally
Of the grand army Of the constitutions shall feel safe
even in the midst Of beleaguered camp besieged
city But fellow citizens If instead OF that proad specta
cle the democratic party Of Virginia sha defeat itself by
It's divsions and If members shall their
against each other shs then hardly how hope
will not say, after that will the deuge, but will
say that our political future viii then become "a great
perhaps" But the Virginia democracy win not fall
asunder by its divisions suffer defeat upon its
SOIL They will feel thai IL has devolved upon them
party and unite II upon sound and true principles
work worthy OF their past renown aud W maintain the
constitution and preserve the Union under IT, will become
the grand objects of her struggle Let Virginia
It's wonted post Of leadership in the great democratic par
y and when che sezes the trumpet let II give uncer
notes re echo through the valleys and
ring along the hills TO summon her the Hght To
such call they will not be insensble, but from the Caro-
lima 10 the Maryland, Pennsylvania and Ohio nesfrom
the Tennessee aud Kentucky border TO the Atlantic Shore
her sons viii come trooping in to defend the
rights Of their State, and 10 maintain tho
stitution and the Union. Let them do this, aud
hereafter shall praise them Yes, let this be done,
and rich Virginia Is in hstor; repown she will estab
sh yet another claim the admiration and gratitude Of
man. in the great triumph Of peace OF which she may
justly proud Wien 10 think Of the mighty in
erests which staked upon the issue involved In this
contest who does not feel that whoever may them
lover Of this country but of the friends of free gov
ernmept everywhere Toe work 10 great know, but |
Virginia, believe will have the spirit 10 undertake it,
and trust that the strength viii be given her 10 perform It,