The semi-weekly mountain Democrat. (Placerville, El Dorado Co. [Calif.]) 1860-1860, 1860-08-25
Not Binding.

form to the usagcS which have been long
established and found TO be correct in the
experience Of the past. But this con-
formity to uSagcs, must be subordinate
to a higher motiveviz: Obedie"'e Z" PT'"-
cjpIts. Where the latter is sacrificed to
the former, there will be decentralization
and final defeat. So long as the Demo-
cratic party agreed in their views of what
constituted sound doctrine, their fcalty TO
partisan organization secured them sue
cess in political contests. II Is sheer non
sense to say, that the one, more than the
other cOntributedto their triumph, unless
it he admitted that the first, was the main
cause. In fact, obedience to the demands
Of OganizatiOn can only spring from one
source, where the members Of party are
honest, and that source is harmony Of be-
lief in the same creed. Destroy this una
nimity of sentiment, and organization
and usages, cease to be Of any binding
force. This Is no new doctrine. The
Douglasitcs may howl about it as they
will, now, that for the first time in Cali
fornia, they have come within some dis
lance, however remote, Of the Irregular
organization. It Is not our purpose now
to tannt them with their rebelliouS con.
duct In the past Nor do we design at
this time TO discuss their favorite propO'
stion, that they are the regulars OF to-
day, instead Of the guerrilaS they have
hitherto been. What We mean at present
to demonstrate, is, that the dictates OF
party uSagcs and organization should he
puwcrlcSs TO control the action uf men in.
ducing them to cooperate, Wht" they
d;Htr ." pri""iplr On this point, the
remarks Of Hon. Josiah Randall. Of Penn
syivanin, in a late speech in that State,
bear so forcihly. that We reproduce them
as the best argument, which can be used
in the premises. Mr.. Randall said:
The common and most tnrcible argument
daily used in favor If Mr.. Douglas is. that he
has been nominated bv the Democratic party
according to its established usagcS and organi-
Zaiiun.
The argument is unsound in itself, ind not
supported BY the facts.
The principles Of n party never can be- dc.
pendent on the fiat 81 cen veniI"n. Each man
must Judge for himself, unless he il willing I"
become "a slave IL the opinion Of "ihrrs. M
doubt when two individuals protesting the
same principles are presented tn convention
i''r nomination I" office. the decision af u ma
jority should he binding; but when a great
constitutional doctrine u at STAKE. mr. unc is
bound by u majority, uhIe1''he holds the d"c
trines promulgated by the body
Mr. douglas has been nominated as the rep.
resentaiire II sq,iattrr >"Vercigntt. and II"
metnl'er n The Democratic party Is bound 10
support him who is MT prepared Ia give his
adhesion IN that doctrine
Mr.. Douglas himself last year enter
taincl precisely such opinions, as will be
seen by the following extract from the
DEMOCRAT Of the 9Sth ult:
At the Douglas demons tration On SATURDAY.
night last, Judge johnson produced and read
10 the devoted few who were gathered around
the stand, letter from Senator Douglas in re-.
Epon'c {" one addressed 10 him by judy" j.
Sometime last SUMMER ar fall We do not re-.
member the exact date, Judge j.. Nruic Ia the
Little Giant Ia ascertain his VIEWS with
reference tO the course II the Douglas party in
this State. under the lend Of Mr.. Frederick.
during the last campaign. In reply, Senator
Dnuglns. after diSclaiming any disposition 10
NEEDLE with the politics of nnv State other
than Illinois. SAYS, in substance" Partisan
organization is II matter to be- left Ia the judi:
ment ~ each individnal-nn that Sc"rC. each
man NAV act aS hc thinks best i; but he should
never abandon principle"
Will the followers Of the Illinois Scna-
tor, have the audacity to deny the pro.
pricty Of his views: If so, Democratic
authority Of still more commanding char.
actor can he adduccd. The immortal
jackson. in 1875. when the Democratic |
party under his Slo' ious lead was in the
full pride "f place and power, and when
the theory Of partisan organizations was
just being understood and earnestly ncul-
rated as the basis Of future success, even
lien. jackson nPPr"rni III" nh'"d""mrnt
oF that "rgn"j'3''om wh,n M b,hexts
'"m' !" conflict wiN prinripls.
For proof Of this. we again quote Mr..
Randall, in the speech 10 which We have
above alluded:
In the year 0f S:;i George Wolf having Gerv.
ed two terms, was rc-nominated bv the Demo. |
cratic Cons NJ FennpylvaniM for the ofFice
If Governor. Doubts we're entertained a. 70
his orthodox principles upon the questions then
pending before the country.
ndcr the sanction and with the approbatIon
of Gen. jackson, Sir. Muhlcnburg was nomina.
ted and presented IN the Democracy, as the On.
P"nent Of Gov. Wolf both candidates were
defeated, but subsequent. in lA44. Mr.. Mullen.
burg was nominated with great unaninitv bv
the entire Demncfacv If the State, and would
undoubtedly have been elected Governor but
f0r premature death.
Here is precedent which no Ucmo.
crat can deny to be of perfect validity.
Is it not time, then, to cease this vapor
and cant about Irregular nominations"
and conduct the present political canvass,
solely with reference to the great princi.
pies about which the parties of the dav.
differ: Seek to convince the people, not
that tlriS, that, or the other man was Greg.
ularly nominated" hut that he is the cx
poncnt Of sound, conservative doctrines,
whose elevation to the Presidency, will
tend to perpctuatc the integrity Of the
glorious Confedcracy Of States.
$~OOS -
W ATCII As WELL A. DRAv-W'h.Io N,