Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-08-02
"DOugIas or Defeat.v

Ever since Mr.. Douglas failed to secure
the nomination for the Presidency at the
National Convention at Cincinnati in June,
1856, his friends have determined that the
contest of 1860 shall be "Douglas or de-
feat'-that they would only be bound by
the decision of the Convention, if their fa-
vorite was nominated-if not nominated,
they would bolt and run him as a candi-
date against the nominee of the Demo-
cratic Convention.
The Plain Dealer, the Douglas organ,
its Editor candidate for a Cabinet ap-
pointment from Douglas when elected, on
the 10Th of April last, had the following: !:
GAS we now view the Presidential con-
troversy from this Northern stand point,
it presents to the Democratic party but
one issue, douglas or defeat" Of course,
if this issue be so understood at Charles
ton, the contest will be very quickly decid-
ell there, for the South, who alone present
any formidable opposition, would much
prefer Douglas to black Republican Pres
ident." ..r....
The issue of "Doulas or defeat" made
up to force the nomination of the. little
sovereign squatter," was no now new
thing with the Plain Dealer. Speaking
Of Mr.. Douglas possible defeat at Cahrles-
ton. the Editor, on the 18th of January,
said:
"That there will be a popular sovereign
ty candidate in the field for the next Pres
ideucy, and that there will be a popular
sovereignty party to support him, are
events certain as that Presidential cleo
tion will take place. IF the Charleston
Conrention does not furnish such can
didate, and the Chicago Convention re-
fuses to do so, if the extreme sentiment
North and South prevails,in these Conven-
tions, and candidates are nominated COM
mitted to Congressional Intervention the
one pledged to legislate slavery into the
Territories, the other to legislate it out,
there wM be a third party, greater than
either, pledged to 'allow the people of a
Territory, like those ofa State, to regulate
their Domestic Institutions in either own
aUay, subject to the Constitution of the
United States He that is wisest can
penetrate the future deepest"
Here we have it boldly averled that if
Douglas was not nominated the candidate
should be defeated-that to do this, Doug
las would accept the nomination at Chi
cago if he could get it, and run as the
Republican candidate, in order 10 defeat
the nominee of the Democracy. The two
extracts from the Plain Dealer declared
these facts in language so plain that he
who runs may read.
But we rely not on the Plain Dealer
alone to prove the settled determination to
carry out the rule or ruin policy of the Doug
las leaders, Mr.. Pugh, Senator from Ohio,
and the only man in that body that supports
Mr.. Douglas, in speech on the 18th of
January, one week before the last article
above quoted in the Plain Dealer, ap-
peared, said:
at is immaterial to me and 10 the en-
tire Democracy of the Northwest, whether
the honorable gentleman does or does not
support the nominees of that Convention
for President and Vice President. We
intend to support them, unless, indeed
southern fanaticism, carried to the pitch
of mere folly, should drive as from the
Conveation before any nominations are
made. If you concur in OUR choice for
President, the candidates will be elected,
and all the more triumphantly for the op-
position of the Senator from Georgia and
those who sympathize with him. If you
nominate men 0ho are not acceptable to
Us, but who, in their anxiety to be NOM
mated, or for any cause, have sought all
manner of ways, regular or irregular, in
season and out of season, to profess their
devotion toward the strange gods which
Mr.. Buchanan has lately set up to be
worshipped, l give you distinct notice
Mate they aUiU be DEFEATED as sure
as the day Of election shall arrive.