The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-06-19

The first DAVIS session of the Convention, and
the developments of public feeling and OPINION
which attended it, have but served unequvocahy
to confirm the views which were indicated III o"i
editorials of yesterday. We desire, certainly ~
do no inipstice to other mems motives or honest
nreGerences and we Of course concede to all o'ileiS
tho ean,o absolute freedom of opinion, winch We
ou. Co. ,,rsoIves but we cannot resist the con-
o,.;o, that the struggle which has begun Is
,...o.od into a naked and simple contest be-
.r.oo, fine integrity and success of the Democratic
party on the one side, and the triumph of indi-
vidual purposes and the qualification of personal
ambition upon the other. No matter how
Justly the friends of Mr.. DOUGLAS may claim for
him the high qualities which are demanded by
the station to which he aspires it is, to our minds,
perfectly evident that the opposition which is ar
rayed against him is Of a nature so steady and I'm
comfortable as to render his election next TO an inn
possibility even should the energy of his adherents
be successful in procuring his nomination. What
ever may be the cause-whether it he resistance
to the doctrine he espouses, or personal hostility
to the man-we have never seen anything in po-
litical luminosity TO equal the resolute dctermlna-
ton of the array which is marshalled against
him. None the less deep, because not loud,
it seems to have become a part of the
minds and hearts of those who enter
tain it, and we believe we speak the almost undi-
vided opinion of impartial spectators and auditors,
when we repeat that, in view of it, the Triumph of
a Nomination would give TO Mr.. DOUGLAS but
barren sceptre and worthless crown Nor is it
easy TO disguise from ourselves the truth that the
feeling of which we speak is due, in the main, to
the character of the support which has been rallied
around Mr.. DOUGLAS from one end of the UNION TO
the other. Disseminating themselves, IN great
degree from the great ends and purposes of the
Democratic Party, as national organization, IN
the present crisis-hinging aside conciliation-ig-
noring that spirit Of concession, without which
no great cause can be upheld, and no
man be satisfactorily chosen 10
uphold 1.-THE friends of Mr.. DOUGLAS have been
imprudent enough TO make it manifest, beyond
all peradventure, that although the selection of a
Candidate for the Democratic Party is the public
purpose, the selection of Mr.. DOUGLAS, as that Can
ddate, at all hazards, is the real one. This is u
ground upon which men cannot meet Personal
friendships and poll teal predictions are well
enough, but there is something higher and better
than thew. The Presidential canvass before
us is dark with forcbodings and surrounded on
every side by solemn questions and grave
issues. 1t is struggle, more than any other
that has ever shaken the country, in
which personal interests and trumphs are
comparatively so insignificant, that it is
scarcely compatible with patriotism to lift them
into the SCALE Men shudder at the thought that
the glorious opportunity-the proud duty which
is before the Democratic Party--of treading Sec
tionalsm into the Dust now and forever, should
be bartered away for the success of any man, or
any mans friends. We trust that injustice has
been done to Mr.. DOUGLAS in placing him in such
a positon--but still he has been placed there,
and the consequences are before him, and will be
before the Party in the coming contest, should he
be chosen to lead the fragment of its broken
strength--which we fear will be all that will
follow him. 1t is, therefore, with anxious hope
nay, with confidence almost undoubting-that
we look to the patriotism of the Convention, 10
raise itself above personal considerations of all
sorts, and TO heal, by an acceptable and worthy
choice, the wounds already widening fast as
soon to be beyond all healing