Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-05-02
rhe NatIonaI NImI .. Charle.ton.

The National HInI ut Charleston.
The irrepressible conflict has broken ou
viruently in the Democratic party at Charles
tom il has split on sectional issue into sec.
tional factions, and now there is no national
party. Hope for season has hidden tn,
world farewell and the freedom shriekers ar,
laughing "demnibly" at the forked condition
ofthe Democratic party. After all its scoff
at negro worship, the Democracy has fnall,
inundated itselfon the Congo altar. Ofcours
no sacrifice is too great for principle, an,
there must be great principle at the bottom
of this. The South demand platform re
cognizing their right to the protection of tbei
slave property in the Territories. The North
ern Democracy concede that the Constitution
recognizes the right of property in slaves
Mr. Douglas, in his Dorr letter. conceded
that it was entitled to the same protection a.
other property. Can the right to other pro-
perty, in State, be destroyed by taking il
into a Territory In which all the States have
equal rights, and which is under the juris-
diction Of the general government Ger
tainly not. Then wherein does Mr.. Douglas
differ from what the South demand? And il
there is no difference, why split the party
on 1t?
The South, as compromise, offered q
resolution agreeing to be bound by the de-
cision Of the Supreme Court and leaving the
whole matter to them; but to this the North
ern Democracy objected that, as Mr.. Payne,
ofohio, said, it would set up the Supreme
Court above all other departments of the
government. He was willing to agree to in
dorse what they had done, but refused to be
bound for the future. Yet, at the North,
about the worst charge which the Democracy
make against the Republicans, is that they
refuse to accept the decisions of the Supreme
Court as n finality. 1t strikes us that Mr..
Payne and the Ohio Democracy wish to play
iast-and-loose with the Supreme Court.
The Ohio State Convention which elected
and instructed the delegates to Charleston,
did agree to submit the whole question to the
Supreme Court. How is it that Ohio Democ-
racy is so much more rebellous at Charleston
than at home? And are not the resolutions
Of the Convention, on principles, Just as bind
ing on the delegates as its instructions how
to vote on the candidate7
But the Supreme Court has already de-
clared that the owner has right, by the
Constitution, to take his slaves into the
Territories, and that neither Conere, nor
Territorial Legislature has any power
over this right, except the power coupled
with the duty to protect it. Although
this may not have been technically
decided, yet such declaration of opinion
from the Court which has the power to de-
eide, is practically decision of the question
To the decision which incorporates this
opinion, Mr.. Payne and the Ohio Democracy ,,
have agreed to submit; yet when the South |
wish it plainly expressed in the platform, Mr.. |
Payne and the Ohio Democracy bolt. It is
true, the Southern delegates actually left the
Convention, but the boiling from principles
was done by the Northern Democracy.
Mr.. Douglas is willing to have the platform
indorse the Dred Scott decision. Mr.. Doug
las does not, of course, mean that the Ma |
tional Convention should indorse that which |
is claimed as the only point technically de-
clded-that negro can not sue in the Courts
that would hardly be material for even a
Democratic platform; he means to indorse all
us opinions and their logical sequences
This is all the South ask; only, to avoid cheat
ing, they want the specifications put tsauarely
in the platform. The Northern Democracy
admit the principle and offer to indo-se il
indirectly, but refuse to put it in the form
Of sound words, and on this have split the
party. ..s r. .p.. -, f-grI
We are not able to see how it can be de-
nied that the South have all the principle on
heir side; while the Northern Democracy
admit the justice of their claims, but demand
an evasive platform, on the pretence that a
plain declaration of principle will prevent
heir carrying any Northern States. We
ioubt If this pretence has any founda-
ion, for Northern Democrats who have
'een faithful to the party through the
rials OF the last six years will hardly be
iriyen from it by any possible contingency,
Except the loss of the control of the General
government and to argue that the Northern
states would be lost to the party by the diff
erence between direct and an indirect ex-
'ression of the same doctrine, or by putting
democratic practice into Democratic plat
orm, is placing a lower estimate on the in
diligence and integrity of the people than is
warranted by any experience.
I#.