The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-07-18
Fernando Wood on the Presidential
- Election.

We have before US the letter from Mayor
Wood Of New York City-of which the teie-
graph made mention few days since-on
the subject Of the Presidential imbroglo -
The Mayor, who is unquestionably the con-
trolling spirit of wing of the New York De-
mocracy, premises by setting forth the posi-
ton which he holds in reference to the prin-
cipIe upon which the split occurred in the De-
mocratic party-as follows:
1t is due, however, to myself that should
say that on the principle which appeared to
have been originally involved IN the contro-
versy, my own views were decidedly with the
National Democracy and against those assum-
ed by Mr.. Douglas. l am, and have been
from the start, in favor Of the interference of
the Federal Executive for the protection Of al
tho constitutional rights of the slave States,
the Territories and recognize slaves, as
property, to be one OF those rights and fully
entitled TO this protection. ! was also in IA
yor Of IN open declaration Of this principle by
the late Democratic National Convention, and
if myself and frienns had been awarded seats
in that Convention, we should have voted un-
aninously for such a platform. We should
Uaf6 Also VOlCu fOT CdHuIldtC " llo SukCI tHAii-
ed the same opinions.
But in an evil hour others were admitted
to seats to our exclusion, and the result is now
before tine country in the disorsanization and
decentralization of the party.
1t is to repair this first false step of the
Conventi0n-a step which led it into all its
subsequent difficulties from which it never be-
came extricated until its dissolution-that
should be the study of us all--how shal. we
recover ourselves p AS matters now stand
the election of Lincoln appears to be inevi-
table.
He proceeds to suggest the remedy for this
threatened calami:y-thus
Now how shall we prevent such calamity? ?
In nv opinion there is but one way, assum-
ing that both of the gentlemen now in the
field will continue as candidates, and that is,
that in the doubtful States the Democracy
shall be united, so that a Democratic electoral
ticket shall be elected in them if possible. 1t
is generally conceded that New York, Penn
sylvsnia, Connecticut and New Jersey can
be carried for US if we are united. In these
States, then, union should be effected at all
events 1t appears to me that the Democra-
tic opponents of Mr.. Douglas have so deep an
interest IN keeping -LneSe oCateS Out oI Tile
hands of the Republicans that they would be
willing to vote for that gentleman as the on
ly way to prevent the election Of Lincoln by
the Elec ,ral Colleges. Better that the friends
of Breckenridge shall. all support Mr. Douglas
in these States and give them to him, than
that by running Breckenridge electoral tick
ct they shall be given to Llncoln.
Mr.. Breckenridge cannot get votes enough
in the South to prevent the election Of Lincoln;
nor can he get any electoral votes out of the
South if Mr.. d. is run against him, as it is
very evident his friends intend. Nor can eth
er Mr.. Douglas or Mr.. Breckenridge get votes
enough to prevent the election of Lincoln
As between Breckenridge and Douglas, the
former is much the stronger man in the South,
while the latter is the stronger in the North.
Why not, therefore, let each run sin;;ly where
he has the most strength Let there be no
Douglas ticket run in the South, and no Breck-
/ inridgt ticket run in the North. Thus will
We secure for them jointly majority Of the
Electoral Colleges and if this majority cannot
be concentrated upon either. it can be upon
some other person.