Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-05-11
IRASBURGH, FRIDAY. NAY, II, 1860.
The Charleston Convention.

solved. After protracted ana stormy
session of nine days this hybrid assem-
bly, closed its labors on Tuesday of last
week, to the deep grief of the hotel
keepers in Charleston, and the utter dis
may of the unterriied" democratic vo-
tiers scattered throughout the county,
Our readers have heard of the noun
tain" that "labored and brought forth
mouse" The national democracy has
initiated tie example of the q mountain"
in its tremendous "labor," but unlortu-
nately for the existence of the party, it
has failed to produce its "mouse." So
this nine days wonder" has come TO
nought, after having split into two dis
tinct conventions, so that each faction |
could be accommodated in its peculiar
views Of the great and all-absorbing
question of slavery, for be it understood
that that is the wedge which has split the
democratic party, and "squatter sover-
eIgnty" the last straw which has broke
the " Little Giants" back.
Events have been transporting for many
months, in fact ever since the attempt Of
the president and his INSCRIPTIONS ad-
herents to fasten slavery upon the people
of Kansas by means of the Lecompton
Constitution, and when Judge Douglas
broke ground with the administration by
resisting that dastardly neutrality-suspicious.,
we say, have been transpiring which have
pointed with most unerring certainty TO
this result. Such have been the signs of
the times yet though the omens have
been so fearful for the hopes of that par
ty which has been in power so long, we
had never dared to hope that the affairs
of the democratic party would assume
the shape that they have thus far, for We
have known many a quarrel TO arise in
that party and be healed again, and know
ing as we do their facility heretofore at
patching up truces by surrender of prin-
ciple for success, we had really supposed
that they would once more smother their
ill-feeling, bury the Ratchet, adopt plat
> form more pro-Slavery than the last, nom-
mate Judge Douglas or some other pro-
: slavery demagogue, and once more en-
deavor TO steal a victory by holding uE
! false issues and representing the standing
t of their candidate as location and inter
: est demanded. We confess ourself some
what disappointed in the convention ter
l. minating as it has done, for that thu
n "great and glorious democratic party
&c that has Tor so long a period "kept stel
z to the music of the union" should con
81 vene and break up in row, was NOR
y than we have ever been prepared to heal
D. But it has come, and we shall not weeT
n. but democrats "who have tears to shed,
r' will "prepare to shed them now" Ths
re party which Calhoun once said wa
10 bound together by the cohesive powe
IS of public plumber" is broken into fra.
''o ments, and has fallen to pieces throug
~ the weight OF its own rottenness.
The party having now divided in
3" northern and southern factions, what b
Id comes of the sectional" cry which o.
'of opponents have taken so much comic
eu in charging the republican party witt
That is a question which at the prese
led moment we consider quite pertinent
eat the coming contest, and We should
vas pleased to hear some one of our dem
II cratic contemporaries answer it. No m;
ton ter if it is not answered in spirit
lis good temper, for under existing circul
TO stances we can pardon few irreguIa
ave lies of speech.
on However badly the members of I
Charleston Convention acted general
Emu we think a majority of the northern d
'hs' egates are deserving of much credit
en- refusing to yield to all the demands
the south, as they have heretofore in
men many instances shown a willingness
do. The south demanded a slave CT
ZION for the territories, and the northern q
also egates refused the demand. They W
Iwn' also asked in effect to legalise and rev
'reu the African slave trade, but they prom
-ion' ly refused to do so. The southern u
the demanded an endorsement of the supre
L MS court decision in the case of bred Sc
Vi and this too was refused, although M
were willing to accept that decision ;
l'eSo plank in addition TO the Cincinnati p
H'o" form, which was substantially reaffirE
III" at Charleston before the seven south
he'd, s,o,a. s.o.d..d e.o,, ,ho oonn,;o.
'''o think, however, that this rare exhibi
"e' of spunk is not attributable to any p
ciple Of theirs, but from motives of
- icy alone, for how could they, repres
2 of ing large free soil constituencies, vot
her give countenance to such abominable