The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1860-08-04
ExELAH

names of JouN BELL ana EDWARD LNHE-
EFT as candidates for tie highest Offices
in the gift Of the people, we deem il
duty briefly to explain the reasons Tor '-'
course we have thought proper to pursue.
Party principles and party organiza-
tons have recently undergone marked and
important notifications; but neverthe
less there must of necessity be III
every popular and free government two
sets of opinions-the one radical, disposed
to innovation and to hasty progress; the
other conservative, adhcring to the wise
policy which experience has sanctioned
and indisposed to advance otherwise than
by degrees and with due regard to TIE
diffusion Of Intelligence among he MASSES.
Hence amidst the disruption Of parties
Which has occurred in our Republic, tie
thoughtful mind may still discern thc two
great antagonistical principles ofradicali-m
and conservatism arayed agaiu-t each
other In former years the noble " Aig
party was the permanent and frequently
successful brcastwork to the ..c.oaoLmcnts
of the wild and reckless spirit Of radical
Democracy That organization rs a party
made its last effort in 1872, aGd then sunk
into inactivity and dissolution. Northern
sectionalism had vastly impaired It's
strength, and had left little more than the
debris of its former existence. On the
ruins of Whiggcry arose the American
party--an organization, which. with
sound and some excellent views, sowed the
seeds of its own anniLila;ion by intermcd-
ding with those questions of religion
which the Constitution has properly left
to individual conscience and Judgment.
Meanwhile the radical principle in the
North continued to be manifested in the
intolerant and aggressive character Of
Black Republicanism and in the Sou.h
in the fretful impatience at Constitutional
restraints and a growing desire on the
part of rash and unscrupulous politicians
to dissolve the Union. The alhcrcnts of
conservatism bcholding these dangerous
exhibitions Of sentiment, believed for 7
while that in the Democratic party might
still be found a stcadflst and iuyircille
supporter of the Constitution and The
Union. But alas their hope, were futile.
They had not reflected on the violent per
sonal antagonisms which pevadcd that
party, and ON the deep seated corruption
which had Slapped its integrity to Tie very
core. Ike history of the desperate faud
between the Northern and the Southern
wings of Democracy, began al Charleston,
and continued with intense maiignity At
Baltimore, until il cu.niratel in a hopeless
disorganisation, and an irroucdialic
schism, with double SGT Of candidate,
demonstrates too plainly tha; Democracy,
like Whiggery, has bcf,ae ci.Jlr AID
powcrlcss, and that it Is totaiiy inc pable
Of Offering eiiectual r,si-.cE either TO the
Abolitionists Of the North, or TO the Dis.
unonisls Of the South.
In this extremity, however, the provi-
dence which has ever watched over our
beloved country did not desert Us. 1t mas
raised up new and potent organization
which, standing midway between the in
temperate fanaticiSm Of the advocates &c 4
Higher Law, and the desperate principles
Of the Scccssionisis of the South, rrocla.ns
its infcxiblc adherence TO the Constitution,
its determination to perpetuate the Union,
and its untiring advocacy Of the enforce
meat of the laws. Rightly named the
Constitutional Union Parry composed
If all men Of other parties who love their
country and detcst political treason, ytnal-
ity and corruption, tbs oirolnzation has
selected as its standard bearers and cham
pions two Of the pures. and nohest citizens
of our broad Republ.c-IONN BELL, Of
Tennessee, and EDWARD EVERETT,
of Maasachusetts-the one known and
honored for more than a quarter Of a cen
fury in the councils Of the nation--a true
man, inhexibly honest, with a judgment
of proveIbial souudncss, and patriotism
that compreheuds within It's affections tie
entire Jnion-a cowpeer Of CLAY, WEE
51ER and CALHOUN, statesman without
a blemish, Il citizen without Ieploach :
ihe other with Il fame that spreads all over
The Union, the pure patriot, tie illustrious
orator, the able statesman, who in long
and unbrollen career OF literary and pOliti-
cal trirunphs, has never had a siur cast
upon his spotlcss reputation. These are
the leaders Of the great Constitutional
Union party; these are the true-he9rled,
high-ruindel Americans, whom WEivs and