Gazette and sentinel., 1860-09-01

and admired?
1t must be remembered, too, that the sresis-
lance to Mr.. Douglas nomination was not
confined to the Southern States. 1t was wide
spread throughout all the States, and was pre-
dominant in Oregon, California, Pennsylvania
and New Jersey-States whose votes, with an
almost united South, were essential To success
in the coming election. 1t was also oredomi-
nant in Massachusetts,
Under such circumstances were his claims
vehemently urged for the Presidency. The
press, telegraph, and every art of management
was used to secure the election of delegates
favorable to his nomination. The maxim of
the immortal jackson was reversed, and the
nan was made to seek the Presidenc., not the
Presidency the man.
II CHARLESTON CONVENTION.
Heretofore, the delegates chosen by the De-
mocracy of the United States met in National
Conventions as brothers, to consult together
In a spirit of harmony and concessioi-to lay
down the principles of the party, ane to NOM
mate candidates for the Presidency md Vice
Presidency, not Objectionable lin n%unbers) TO
any respectable portion of the party, md there
| fore likely to receive its united and harimo-
NOUS support. For this purpose, waffle two
third rule adopted in the first NatiOnsl Demo-
cratic Convention that was ever heb in this
country and actuated by the motivs which
begot it, the Democracy have repeatedly in Ma
tional Conventions, whenever a respectable
opposition presented itself, refused to nominate
some of its ablest statesmen, and by tie nomi-
nation of others less Objectionable have
marched on to victory, and the deveopment
and enforcement of their principles. 1t will
be recollected that Mr.. Van Buren, received a
considerable majority at the Democratic Ma
| tinpa1 Convention IN 1914 yat No on than
contended that he, therefore, was entitled to
the nomination. On the contrary, tn Con-
v~ention, regarding the opposition of ne mi
nority TO his nomination as entitled toconsid-
Grafton and respect, refused TO nominae him,
but nominated Mr.. Polk, against when there
was no objection and under his banter, the
Democratic party achieved one of itsgreatest
triumphs. 1t was this principle of hrmony
and concession of respect and constellation for
the opinions and views of the minorit, which
bound the Democracy together with ands of
steel, and made them invincible on th day of
battle. 1t was the talismanic NETT under
which we marched to victory-the seret and
the keystone to our success.
Far different was the spirit displyed at
Charleston and Baltimore by the trends of
Mr.. Douglas. They came to nominatSin, or
break up the Convention. Many { their
prominent men boldly and openly avGed the
purpose-"Rule or ruin," was their motto
They met the opinions and views of te sew
enteen reliable Democratic States, almst uni
ted in opposition to the nomination IF Mr..
Douglas, with insult and derision.
The Democratic States were weddedtno one
man. They had their favorites, but thy put
forth no claim that even one of them hould
be nominated. They were willing to tae any
one of the illustrious and distinguished tates-
men of our party, except MIR. Douglas He
had made himself obnoxious to them fr the
reasons already mentioned, and they askathat
he should not be thrust down their thoats.
Was the requests an unusual one? Our htOry
as a party shows that it was not. Wa the
request an unreasonable one! Who wi say
so, when they reflect that upon the safes
which made it, chiefly devolved the tas of
electing the nominees of the Convenbn !
Yet the Douglas delegates not only turnd a
deaf ear to this request, but in the most hgh-
handed and reckless manner with sacriligpus
hands tore Town the landmarks of the patty
and trampled upon Democratic comfy nd
usages, in order to foist that one man upon he
Convention. With any other Democrat tey
could have had harmony and union and Pc
scented to-day the spectacle of a united and a.
vincible party. We put it to the consciene
and the judgment of every honest man, ae
they not guilty of setting up this one man S
paramount to the union of the States? Ae
! they not guilty of having divided the party
Did they not thus take 'sthe first, fatal, AM
irrevocable stride towards disunion of tn
States - From this unenviable position n,
ingenuity nor device, nor wholesale and reck
less charges against others, can relieve them
"Inexorable logic stamps the grave crime
upon their brows Representing States, nearly
all OF which were hopelessly Black Republic
can, they claimed that they were entitled II
dictate both the platform and the candidates
and to this end the system of tactics, which W,
had witnessed outside of the Convention, was
for the first time in our history, land we ear
nestly hope the last, steadily and PERSISTENT,
enacted in it. Rules were made aud violated
at pleasure. The decisions of an impartia
|, President were adopted, and then overruled
) as it suited their purpose. The usagesof Dem
) ocratic conventions were followed, and then
: shamefully violated, as it accorded with thei
1 designs. Everything was made to bend to tn
: one great purpose for which they assembled
the nomination of Mr.. Douglas. 1t canno
r certainly be considered strange that bonorabl
D men, unused TO such scenes, should leave tn
Convention, and that it was finally virtual
The first act of injustice was
. THE UNIT RULE.
The Committee on Permanent Organizatio
E reported the following rule, known as the Uni
= rule THAT in any State which has not pre-
' vidcd or directed by its State Convention no,
/ its vote may be given, the Convention wi
, recognize the right of each delegate to cast h
individual vote" This rule was in violatio
! of the rule of all former conventions, whic
left to the delegation from each Statethe RICH
! TO determine how the vote should be cast; an
) II was smnggled into the report of the cen