The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1860-05-16
The Approaching Conventions.

hercnts been SO completely at sea in rcla-
ton to the probable SUCCESS or defeat of
their respective schemes, as they are at this
! particular period. The split of the Democ-
racy at Charleston has completely unhng-
cd previously CONCERTED plans and thrown
into confusion the arrangements, upon all
Sides upon which u Presidential campaign
Is usually based aud conducted. The re-
suit OF that division, none can divine; wheth-
or it will inure to tho benefit Of the South,
will depend mainly upon herself !. and the
Importance of unanimity among the South
ern States, always great, was never more
so than now. -
-Four political Conventions will meet
during the months of May and June. One,
the Opposition, or Union Convention, met
on the 9th instant, further particulars Of
which, We publish elsewhere. The party
OF which this Convention is composed, is
| opposed 10 both the Democratic and tn G
Hack Repubiisan parties. 1t IL n small af
fair and not likely to carry more than one
State (Nlaryland) and that doubtful.
The Back Republican Convention will
assemble at Chicago, 90 the 10th inst
The grand feature of this organization is
opposition to slavery. Their programme
commences with Congressional prohibition
of slavery in the Tefrtories-confne the
institution to its present limits ana total
emancipation will be reached in due time.
This party has 4 far prospect Of being able
TO carry every Northern State. : In point Of
importance, it was second only to the Dem.
ocrntic party, and since the split in the lat
ter, il is superior to it.
The Constitutional Democracy, in pur.
suanee Of a call from the Southern dele
cations who seeded from the Charleston
Convention, will meet IN Convention at
Richmond, Va, on the llth Of June This
Convention, if II succeeds according to the
wishes of those who proposed it, will rep
resent that portion Of the Democratic party
opposed to the SquntteF Sovereignty dog
trines of Judge Douglas and his followers.
This Convention is By no Means n sectional
one ms many seem to regard it the call
was made 10 tse people OF al, the States
SoShn and South, who are Wiling to recog-
nine the equal rights Of the States in the
Iicommon Territories OF the Union. The
Rma oritv Platform submitted to the Char
lesion Convention, will be adopted by this
Convention. II will be composed OF new
delegations sent up directly froia the peo-
pie State Conventions and primary Coun-
ty and District meetings must be held. lust
rs was done 81 forming representatives to
the Charleston Convention. The Executive
Committee of the Democratic party Of this
: State met in Columbia ON the 9th inston..
The duty of that Committee, under the ir-
structions Of the Southern scceding deega.
tions in Charleston, was TO cali a new State
Convention and designate the time when the
primary District meetings should be held.
They have directed that State Cnnvcn-
ton be held in Columbia on the SOrh inst.
The Chairman o. each District Delegation
to the recent State Convention, is rcqueste ed
TO call II meeting in their respective Dis.
tFIcts, at some convenient time before the
3Oth, FOR the appointment of delegates to
the proposed State Convention. The
indications are thai the State generally
will go into this measure-no. only
those who favored tha Convention pol.
icy before, but others who were then op.
posed TO Conventions. 1t is time that our
people were becoming more united upon
this matter; for if we are 20 await the uni
ted action Of the Southern States, it is
plain that we must fight our battles in the
Union for some time yet The late Char
lesion Convention ard its results have de-
veloped the fact, tha: While the South is
scrupulously and firmly devoted to prnci-
pie, il is none the essdeyoted 10 The pn;on.
No particle Of Gisunion element was visi-
BILE in the seeding demonstration in Char.
lesion, and the leaders in that move disa.
vowed any such sentiment or Intentions
South Carolina should act as unit in 90
ing into the Richmond Convention.
QD ke'lSth' of June, one week after the
meeting ofthe Richmond Convention, will
assemble the Squatty Sovereignty Demo
cratlc Convention, pursuant to the adjourn
ment in Charleston. There will be r. strong
effort made 10 induce the withdrawing del.
egations to resume their places, or TO- have
their places filled by other delegates less
devoted to principle. Herein lies the great
danger which threatens the South ifshe
stands by the principles which governed
her delegates 10 retiring from the Charles
ton Convention, and goes into the Rich.
mond Convention as n unit, her chance for
success 10 ths Presidential contest 10 at
least equal with that Of Apy otaer party :
but if she falters--yieIds tn tho overtures
from the other wing of the Democracy and
is represented in both Conventions, diYis
ions among ourselves rnd hopeless defeat
will follow. ,.s .. .'"... .!'.
| ~ - -
Demonstrations have been made in Sa.
| ynnnah Eolumhne NVoynaabn., onI o,Lo.