The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-05-15

easy victory. DouslAs is already In the Geld
being placed thsss BY his friends, aad be vii
continue to be candidate TO The end Of the
cbspser, no matter what the Baltimore or Rich
mond conventions may do. II the Baltimore
Convention should nominate him he will run
though the Richmond Convention should nomt
nate different candidate If no convention
should nominate him, he will nevertheless run,
On the ground of his having obtained MAORI
ty Of one and q half In the Charleston Conven-
ton. 1t may therefore be Get dswn as fixed
fact that Mr. Douglas Is candidate; and an
other fact may be set down a. equally fixed
that the Southern democracy and consider
able portion of the Northern will run an oppo-
sition candidate against him, which VIII
prevent his election by the people, and
perhaps have the effect of electing the
republican candidate-an event which most
of the Southern leaders say they would prefer
to the elevation Of the Illinois Senator. Some
of the Douglas enthusiasts insist that be can
Ike elected by the North without single Elec-
torsl vote from the South. But this is simply
absurd, unless indeed he should receive the
republican nomination. If such q convention
as we have indicated should meet and nomi-
nate candidate, Douglas would be shorn OF
his strength. and the Southern fre-eaters would
be deprived of the formidable position which
they new occupy.
Under these circumstances, therefore, it re-
mains for the democratic members of Congress
to Issue call for new convention. II is the
only solution Of the dificulty-the only way OF
preserving the integrity of the party, aud the
only means by which there is any chance OF
elecdng democrat or preventing the election
of the neminee Of the Chicago Convention.
Perpisxftfes OF the Poiftfcfa esstty
Of Courtsng tho Conservative Vote.
The politicians In Washington, as well as
those scattered over the country at large, are
all in a state of complete perpiexity rs to the
proper course to be pursued in order to win
back the confidence of the people. In their di
leuma, the Washington cliques look for some
bright spot elsewhere in the country-some de-
velopement or act that.msy give them clue to
follow-while the local managers turn wistfnlly
to Washington for some reasonable word of
command that can be feasibly obeyed.
The adjournment Of the Charleston Conven'
ticn without making a nomination is the first
instance Of its kind in the history of the de-
moeratic party; and however men may differ
as to the strictly legal power Of that con-
vention TO adjourn to a failure day with
out making a nomination, after having, by
the ultra course of bare majority, driven
q large portion of the delegates from the body,
the practical effect Of the adjournment is al
ways the same. The Convention met for spe
cifc object which il did not fulfil. II adjourned
for six weeks If this action is legal, the majo-
rity, when 1t meets again, may adjourn for an
other disappointed term, which operation it
may 60 on repeating until it becomes too late
for the party to make nomination. II this
were the act Of that portion of the delegates
representing party majorities in the local popu-
lar vote, II would be simply an act Of party
suicide but when II Is the act Of delegates
who represent only minorities Of the local
popular vote, and who cannot promise to their
candidate even one certain electoral vote, 1t
becomes party murder, pure and simple, and
as such do the people consider 1t.
The adjournment of the Charleston Conven-
ton, therefore, Is = practical turning OF to the
people Of its hair-splitting controversy, and
the personal quarrels OF the pretend
ers to the nomination. The people,
instead of accepting this Pandora's box,
in the present dangerous crisis in public
affairs, and taking up the discussion of its con-
tents with zeal, treat them all with supreme
indifference, and consider the ties which once
existed between them and the imaginary unit
great mass hold no allegiance to either faction
among the leaders, aud should these come to-
gether again TO nominate q candidate, he will
have 10 rely on his own merit and the conser
vstive nature Of the platform he stands upon
to obtain the popular support No clique of
politicians, no faction among selfappoirted
leaders, Can give him any strength. In fact
these will have TO rely upon their candidate TO
return them to the confidence Of their disunited
and doubtful followers
What success th nay obtain In such pro-
ceeding requires to be examined under other
| considerations. There are In the Union 70 day
very nearly, u not quite, Eve millions o.
votera or these not more than one Million OF
at most million and half can be said strict
~ to belong to any party. The balance Of
three and half or four millions vote acme.
times with one party and sometimes with an
athar mr. do NOT vota AZ all II Ia a,oono ,l.s..
that the conservative spirit il at this the rife
holding them in sbeyance towards eli parties
until all the party organizations shall have de
monstrsied their positions. IL Is not q loud
babbling and demonsuative spirit, but one of
subdned and quiet feeling, which runs deep
and viii tell with immense effect a, the polls 10
| November next