The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-04-13
DOUGLAS AND DEMOCRACY.
The Tide Setting In the Right Direction
A VOICE FROM PENNSYLVANIA.


A VOICE FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
The following is the concluding portion
of the speech of Hon. WIN. MONTGOMERY, of
Pennsylvania, on the Presidential question,
and in reply to Mr.. CURRY, of Alabama, in
the House of Representatives, delivered
March rs, l66O:l
The honorable gentleman tells US that
Alabama will not submit to the nomination,
unless we endorse the doctrine Of congress
ional Intervention. am persuaded the del
egates from Alabama will not withdraw from
the convention. But if they do, and, if that
is agreed upon and settled, for one would
say that they should not be permitted to take
seats in that body. 1 recognize the right of
no set of men to 60 into convention by
whose action they are not willing to be
bound. That is not Democracy. But if
they are admitted, and if they do withdraw,
and Judge Douglas is nominated-aDd
assure the gentleman from Alabama that he
will be nominated as certainly as the con-
vention assembles-he will still carry Ala
bama at the election; and not only Alabama
but every other southern state. The hearts
of the people of this country are with him.
And such shout of joy will go up over his
nomination as has never gone up since the
nomination Of General jackson. I have
heard it said that some of the delegates from
Alabama would not withdraw and have
heard it said further that although all of
those delegates will carry out, in good faith,
their instructions, yet, that after all hope of
nominating their candidate has been relin-
guished, some of them would support the
nomination of Judge Douglas.
lam well aware of the game of brag which
is being played by those who oppose the
nominate of Judge Douglas. Small poll
ticians az. professional place seekers assure
their friends that their favorite candidate
will certainly succeed. With an air of pro-
voking wisdom and self complacency, one of
these men will assure you that his candidate,
who has carried just half state is as cer>
tain of the nomination as if he had it; an.
other, with prophetic fervor, announces that
his candidate who lost his own state, and
has carried no other, will become so popular
at Charleston that the presidential mantle
will by common consent be cast upon his
shoulders. These are the little tricks of
paltry Office seekers, and are believed by no.
body, and can deceive nobody. The man
who has no popularity but such as he &C.
quires at Charleston would be a sorry CAM
didate for the Democratic party. The man
who is nominated should bring his nomina-
tion from the people who stand above the
delegates, and we should shun conspiracies
and combination as we should shun the lep-
rosy. This is the government of the peo
pie, and the people shall and will rule. Your
delegates may conspire and combine to make
nominations; but what is the advantage of
a nomination when it only brings defeat and
dishonor
There can be no mistake about the popu.
lar feeling on this question; all men know
it. To attempt to disobey it is to invite de-
feat. When | hear delegate say that be
"intends to keep his mind suspended until
he gets to Charleston" set him down as
man who is ready to enter into conspiracy
to betray the people he represents. For 1
know that he knows that there is no intel
lectual bonfire at Charleston to enlighten
his understanding as to the proper choice of
candidate. When 1 hear a man say he
will support certain candidate if he finds
the South will submit, 1 set him down
as apoor, miserable "dough face" who,
instead of choosing the candidate his own
people want, will let others dictate his
vote and control his influence by their
threats and violence When hear that Ger.
tain delegates will refuse to obey the instruc-
tions given by their state convention, 1 am
satisfied that they know their price, and
have found purchaser. But woe betide
the recreant traitor who betrays and insults
his people. Their curses, Kissing not, shall
follow him through life, and roll lik lava over
his grave when life is done. Conspirators
may plot, combinations may be formed, and
nominations may be made, in violation OF
public sentiment and the popular will but
the day Of election will be day of rebuke,
disaster, and irretrievable defeat. But I
hope for better things. I will not believe
the rumors of knaves and imposters. Men,
whose names stand high on the roll of fame,
will not bring down on themselves an eter-
nifty of infamy by the polluting touch Of
disgraceful conspiracies. I will not believe
it; such things dare not be done. Our del
egates are not marketable commodities.
They are all honorable men, and will do their
duty. The will of the people will be re-
garded. The nomination of Judge Douglas
is foregone conclusion, and gentlemen may
as well prepare to meet it. "Coming events
cast their shadows before" aud the shadow
of his overwhelming popularity is now upon
US.
The gentleman from Alabama could not
close bis remarks without dragging up the
ghost of the Lecompton constitution.
thought that question Was put forever to
rest. We buried both Lecompton and anti