Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-03-29
Repairing the Platform.

FiSSo; du ctteV u u OtudtUtt1i CaucuS
at Washington, seems to be regarded /.
BY many as work of supereroga-
ton, if not Prescriptions. The ST.
Louis Republican, which is good |
Democratic paper, ard faithful de- /.
fender Of the rights of the South, goes
81 far as to question the authority Of
the S. natorsreferrei ito make plat
form for the party at the Charleston
Convention. The Republican even
says:
THE names Of the Senator'S, in our
opinion, do not embody the wisdom,
or the prudence. or the talent, of
1.-THE Democratic party in that body,
and this would be a sufficient ground
Of objection to anything they may
report. But we deny to Senators
any right to meet in caucus at Wash
{iugton city, aud FIX up platform for
the Democratic, or any other party
THAT duty has been, and we hope
will continue to be, entrusted TO a
convention of delegates fresh from
the people, specially empowered for
the purpose, and Senators at Washing
ton go out Of their province when
, they attempt 10 precipitate matter
of this kind, 10 caucus or any where
else. The people will not stand it
I, for it may be safely assumed thai
the platform will be made for indi
viduals, and not the party, to stan(
!, upon. But We object to the exercis,
Of any such privilege.
"Our impression is, that Senators
!, can very well employ their time il
= the performance OF the duties fo
which they are paid, Instead Of gOinI
!, outside of those duties TO max
e! Presidents ami platforms
= That staunch old Democratic paper
> the Harrisburg, Pa, Patriot an
= Union, says:
- different Senators have preser
:. led series of resolutions regardin
os slavery and the powers OF the Tel
ritorlai Legislatures. The newsp;
!. perS assert that those resolutions al
.; intended to serve as platform f.
:. the Charleston Convention, and tia
the Senators will determine in at
:. vance the position which the part
~ must occupy upon this Territeri
" question. Now, We have great faii
- in the ability and patriotism Of gra,
~ Senator's, but seriously doubt the pr,
a priety Of their attempting to dicta'
n to the immediate representatives
- the Democracy ofthe country, assen
- bled in convention.
- - "We should, indeed, regard II
:, :, act as in bad taste and likely to re-a'
!; to the injury Of the Senators. Thi
10 it will ipjure the party we have Mt
The slightest doubt; for it tends
continue these unfortunate dissel
: !sions about unimportant abstraction
- at a time when it issbsolutely esse,
- tial that q solid front should be pr,
:. sented to the cohorts Of fanatieisn
The contest Of next fall will not
). on any Territorial question, upo
=, y non.interven.ion or popular soye
u eighty, but it will be clearly defl
" ed battle against all the shades Of al
ti'slavery passion. As we have
s. meet the enemy with this gener
10 banner Of hostility to slavery and Ii
g South, the Democracy must fight u
4 der an equally general idea Of cor
s. servatism, Of public peace, of Soutl
l. err safety.
IS 1--WE must fight for the Union. an
ii defence Of Southern society itsel
% against a mad fanaticism which hs
;. taken possession of the greater poi
II lion Of the North. In this terribl
Ie struggle. the chances are, at this tim,
against the Democratic party, an
Southern Senator's should well ponde
ID before doing anything which may j
k the slightest degree weaken tn
= HANDS of the Northern democrat,
Northern Democrats are friends {
= The South, and will risk everythin
10 defence of her rights and soci.
y peace. but they wish to do this upo
10 the main issue, and not to be divide
5 and distracted by side issues and at
10 stractions
;. We give these extracts merely a
3 indications of popular sentiment. W
J see uothing 10 condemn in the resc
. lntions referred to; but we must sa
} that we have ever regarded the Dem
q ocratic platform as it now stands, an
i the support Of the decisions of tn
I Supreme Court on the subject &
= slavery, as sufficient tests Of Democ