Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-03-01
fredericksburg.


We took occasion not long since to remark upon the
prematuriy of certain thngs-to wit much of the ag
taon about the question of slavery in the Territories
and about that of ad Ualore, socalled in this State
We may now add to these premature things the danger
of premature commtals the subject Of the Presden-
cy or Vice Presidency We except from this of course
the usual graceful and proper courtesy by which any
State may present. and to some extent press the name
of favorite citizen without any rrcvocable commit
ment invdious discrimination against other good and
prominent Democrats from other States The course of
angry committa for men or against men, is decided
reversal of the motto Of the party which teaches us to
for measures and not men, 1t is true that this last ak
iom like all mere axoms requires to be taken with due
allowance for while human nature continues to be
stituted as it is, we cannot wholly separate principles
from their adventurous surroundings hide from
selves that much of the success of measures must depend
upon the aithfuness and ability of those by whom they
are to be advocated and carried out 1t is not wrong
then, to look closely after 1t is wrong however,
to elevate the mere means from their justly subordinate
position to consequence greater than that accorded
to what ought to be the primary consideration
the end. Measures should be first in importance
and consideration-thep men should be looked after
most carefully with q view to ascertaning the
degree Of faithluness, energy, ability, and success
with which they will be likely to advocate sustain and
carry out such measures. Of course personal popularity
and all the other things that go to make up what is
commonly known as availability if combined with faith
funess energy and talent will be a valuable element in
securing success and it would be worse than folly not to
give to this element its due weghtno less than its due
weight, and no more But men must be selected with
reference to measures and ples-meaSures and prn
cples must not be DETECTED changed or abandoned to
suit men, we fear may be the case if to the discus
sion of the supposed claims of an amount of
of consideration is given superior to that justly due to
the principles and measures of the party.
Premature committals- clique influences and all that
sort of thing work personal as well as political evil
Men plunge ferocously in for the advancement of par
tcular person as candidate for the Presidencythey
surround him with their satellites, and he is actually
taught to think that all who do not 90 for hp for the
nomination although fully prepared to support him,
nominated, are only enemies in disguise. Why, old a
stager Mr. Buchanan u.s. and willing as we know him
to have been to deal JUSTLY could see the effect off
such influence in his treatment of the State of North
CarOlina-hiS neglect of her, as we might say North
Carolina was Pierce State-yea, North Carolina is
Pierce State to-day. Yet when Mr.. Buchanan was
nominated gave him her vote by larger majority than
had boon accorded to any presidential candidate since
jackson.
Now, we want of this sort of thing again. Let
the Of the Charleston Convention be the man Of the
country-not surrounded by any prcarranged and pre-
effected influences, that might prevent him, however
honest in intention from doing full and equal justice to
all members of the party, matter what their prefer
EuCes may bG DIT Charleston
But, however we may talk or think, politicians will
keep working and, the time draws near for the as
sembling of the Charleston Conventional is now less
than two months oH--peope will speculate about the
probable result rather about the present state of the
case with reference to that result Especially at Wash
ngton City, where politics is their daily business do
Presidential chances form the standing topic.
Nearly every State has its candidate for the Pres-
dental nomination with the exception Of North Caro-
lima. We need hardly go the list for OF course
many of these things must be regarded simply as the
workings of State pride the kindness of State comp
ment. AS anticipated, the failure of the Virginia
Democratic State Convention to recommend Wise re-
garded as giving the Virginia track to r. M. Il. Hun
ter of that State. Indeed of the Southern aspirans Mr.
Hunter appears to be the fayorite at least with the
North CarOlinians
The friends of Judge Douglas are making strenuous
efforts to rcnstate him in favor with the South and not
altogether without success. STILL however the Southern
members in Congress do not take fully to him yet, al
though he is not without many and strong friends-even
IN this section His endorsement by the Indiana State
Convention gives him the inside track over Gen Lane
at the North West 1t may be proposed to run some
ultra Southern man like Fitzpatrick, of Alabama, on
the ticket with Mr.. Douglas. These, however are only
surmises-he talk Of the President Makers Gen Lane
appears to be the second choice of the North West
We don't think Mr. Wise stands any chance New
York is too much divided and split up to present either
Dickinson or Seymour with any force. Mr. Guthrie's
leaning to specific duties may strengthen him in New
Jersey and Pennsy vania-in fact greet many things
are on the boards, but only as contngences-not as
regularly proposed and understood moves
If our readers can make anything out Of all this med
~ OF things we cannot, beyond ths-that Judge Doug
las will receive the largest number of votes given to any
one candidate the first ballot but that will not be
even majority, much less a two-thirds vote. When
the merely complimentary votes cast for State avorites
begin to be withdrawn, and the tug comes then we shall
see what we shall see but one of those things will not
be nomination without some considerable balotipr
The "DOrsnI nIOvemcnt,o
We stated few days since, that the D1,yfeezboro,
SO1Hhron, evidently speaking by authority, was after
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