The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-04-27
Tho Charleston Convention.
Who Is to be the Man!

All ofour readers will understand that his
torical events are better data upon which to
make statements, than speculations which vi
brste this way or that according as preferen-
ces govern. or fancy indicates, or even rumors
that want the essentials Of positive evidence
The Democratic party is in travail. Down
South in city which "once on time" was
going to nullify the laws OF the Union, and
fight Old Hickory's administration, with a few
condemned cannon and some spent gunpowder,
in short in Charleston, in the empire OF South
Carolina, the land Of the Quattlcbums, and the
Brooks, the delegates of the Democratic par
~ from the different States in the Union are
holding convention to put forward some man
to head their column in the Presidential con-
test. There Is heat without and heat within
The Thermometer indicates from goo to goo as
the range Of the weather, and the political
thermometer in the same place, isa point above
boiling heat. There is, so we learn from the
telegraphc dispatches. outside excitement, and
inside observation-disclosures in the streets,
and excitement in the parlors OF the hotels, IN
the committee rooms, and in the Hall where
the convention is held. Brethren professedly
of the same political faith who should walk low
ingly side by side, and have sweet converse to-
gether, are wrangling and quarreling about
what they believe, and trying to circumyent
each other in arranging political platforms, and
in taking steps to select leader. Plots and
countcrplots are the order Of the day, and
through all, looms up the spectre of that SIRE
pressible conflict" which both history and
Philosophy alike teach. exists between Freedom
and Slavery. Flashing over the electric wires
10 the most distant sections Of the country so
the truths asceItained, coupled with the spec
ulations Of the ever ubiquitous conductors Of
the press. who are on the ground to give the
people intelligence of the doings OF the grand
conyocation, and to let them know at the earli-
est moment the name of the man who is to head
the Democratic column. And what variety
ofspeculations and how diverse and contra
dictory, indicating that they originate in pre-
conceived notions, and personal preferences
rather than in carefully matured opinions made
up from matters that have occurred since the
convention assembled.
A difficult man indeed would he be who could
not pick out of this extensive assortment OF
speculatons, goods to suit his taste. Who is
"a be the man! Thus far we should like TO see
the person who could. make up an accurate
opinion. One dispatch says Douglas, another
equally reliable says emo chance for his NOM
nation" Now Douglas goes down, and anon
he is up. In the same dispatch there are con-
Trajectory opinions expressed, and such beau
tiful variety of rumors and speculations as alb
solutely to preclude all possibility Of forming
n definite opinion. We have devoted consider
able space to the publication Of these spccula-
tons, and some space to the doings Of the con-
vention so tar as 1t has progressed, and to the
doincs of its comm ittces. We learn from the
whole that organization has taken place, the
platform Is to be made before the ballot the CON-
mittee on credentials have decided the contes-
ted seats, and that the Platform Committee
have rejected the Cincinnati Platform, "pure
and simple" brought forward by Mr.. Butler
Of Massachusetts,, (votcd down II TO l6l and
that sundry other facts Of trivial Importance
have taken place. This is all the accurate
knowledge We have up to this time.
Up to the time OF writing this we have seen
nothing that is worth anything to aid us in
forming n definite opinion as to who the man
is TO be, and as we like historical events better
than loose spcculations, we shall patiently
wait for thee events to transpirc. We can do
SO with the more patience because il Is quite
immaterial to us who is nominated. We have
no preferences, and care very little whether il
be Douglas, Hunter, Guthrie, or some as yet
undiscovered individual who may be picked up
In the hope of another successful Pom or Pierce
dodge. II makes very little difference, looking
ut the matter in its broadcast view, to the Re
publican party, who the Democratic nominee
may be. We are not among those who fear
the nomination of Douglas, or who think him
the strongest candidate the Democracy can
present. He Is the most vulnerable OF all their
men, and in many points the weakest. and al
though in some quarters where IL is necessary.
for the Democratic party, TO make Roadway at
all, to give out some indications Of feeling IN
favor Of freedom in the Territories, he may be
more popular than any other man, taking the
country at large he has no popularity above
other men OF the Democratic party; indeed he
has less. But We have not space for giving
grounds for opinions. The man who is res
ponsible for the repeal ofthe Missouri Com
promise. and stands confesselly chargable with
all the agitation which the country has felt on
the Slavery question since 1854, in our judg.
ment cannot be the strongest man the Demo-
cratic party can present, and should he be
nominated We do not believe the Republieans
should OF would feel that their chances for spo-
cess were diminished. With this declaration
which We have put on record in advance Of
anything which indicates the result, and which
10 but the expression ofan opinion long enter
tanned, we wait with the indifference Of Doug
las himself on the subject Of Slavery. who does
not Che says) "care whether IL is voted up or
down." the coming Of that historical event,
soon to take place, which viii answer the ques-
ton which makes the caption Of this article.
Own me Rvra.-B. p Hamilton represents