Gazette and sentinel., 1860-09-01

1t must be remembered, too, that the tresls-
lance to Mr.. Douglas nomination was not
confined TO the Southern States. 1t was wide
spread throughout all the States, and was pre-
dominant in Oregon, California, Pennsylvania
and New Jersey-States whose votes, with an
almost united South, were essential to success
in the coming election. 1t was also predomi-
nant in Massachusetts. ".r.ni
Under such circumstances were his claims
vehemently urged for the Presidency. The
press, telegraph, and every art of management
was used TO secure the election Of delegates
favorable to his nomination. The maxim OF
the immortal jackson was reversed, and the
man was made to seek the Presidency, not the
Presidency tho man.
THE CHARLESTON CONVENTION.
Heretofore, the delegates chosen by the De-
mocracy of the United States met in National
Conventions as brothers, to consult together
IN Il spirit of harmony and conceSsion-to lay
down the principles of the party. and TO NOM
mate candidates for the Presidency and Vice
Presidency, not Objectionable lin numbers) to
any respectable portion of the party, and there
fore likely to receive its united and harmo-
NOUS support. For this purpose, was the two
third rule adopted in the first National Demo
cratic Convention that was ever held in this
country and actuated by the motives which
ONEOb ls NhC OiLO ~ 'OANlNtNN 1919
tiOnal Conventions, whenever a respectable
opposition presented itself, refused to nominate
some Of its ablest statesmen, and blythe nomi-
nation of others less Objectionable, have
marched on to victory, and the Development
and enforcement Of their principles. 1t will
be recollected that Mr.. Van Buren, received a
| considerable majority at the Democratic Ma
tional Convention in 1874, yet no one then
contended that he, therefore, was entitled TO
the nomination. On the contrary, the Con-
~vention, regarding the opposition Of the mi
nority 10 his nomination AS entitled to consld-
GRAFTON and respect, refused to nominate him,
but nominated Mr.. Polk, against whom there
was no objection and under his banner, the
Democratic party achieved one of its greatest
triumphs. 1t was this principle Of harmony
and concession of respect and consideration for
the opinions and views of the minority, which
bound the Democracy together with bands of
steel, and made them invincible on the day of
battle. 1t was the talismanie MOTTO under
which we marched to yietory-tle secret and
the keystone to our success.
Far different was the spirit displayed at
Charleston and Baltimore by the friends of
Mr.. Douglas. They came to nominate him, or
break up the Convention. Maw of their
prominent men boldly and openly ,vowed the
p~urpose-"Rule or ruin" was their motto.
They met the opinions and views If the sew
enteen reliable Democratic States, almost uni
ted in opposition to the nomination of Mr..
Douglas, with insult and derision.
The Democratic States were weddalt to no one
man. They had their f~avorites, but they put
forth no claim that even one of them should
be nominated. They were willing I. take any
one of the illustrious and distinguished states.
men of our party, except Mr.. Douglas. He
had made himself obnoxious TO then for the
reasons already mentioned, and they skedthst
he should not be thrust down then throats.
Was the request an unusual one? Our history
as a party shows that it was not. Was the
request an unreasonable one? Whowill say
so, when they reflect that upon thu States
which made it, chiefly devolved the task of
electing the nominees of the Convention ?
Yet the Douglas delegates not only turned q
deaf ear to this request, but in the mat high
handed and reckless manner with sachligious
hands tore down the landmarks Of tn, party
and trampled upon Democratic comfy and
usages, in order to foist that one man upon the
Convention. With any other Democrrt they
could have had harmony and union and pre-
scented today the spectacle Of a united and in
vihcible party. We put it to the conscience
rand the Judgment of every honest man, are
n they not guilty of setting up this one as
paramount to the union Of the States :, Are
they not guilty Of having divided the mrty?
Did they not thus take 1.-THE irsts fatal and
irrevocaBle stride towards disunion OF the
4 States ~ From this unenviable position no
ingenuity nor device, nor wholesale and leck-
less charges against Iethers, can relieve item.
"Inexorable logic'hlstamps the grave cline
upon their brows. 81 Representing States, nsrly
all OF which were hopelessly Black Rep,tli-
can, they claimed that they were entitlet to
dictate both the platform and the candidates,
nnd to this end the system of tactics, which we
r had witnessed outside of the Convention, vas,
for the first time in our history, land we ear
/ nestly hope the last, steadily and persistefly
' enacted in it. Rules were made and violaed
at pleasure. The decisions of an impartial
E President were adopted, and then overruld,
: as it suited their purpose. The usages of Deb
5 ocratic conventions were followed, and then
: shamefully violated, as it accorded with Their
designs. Everything was made TO bend to tie
: one great purpose for which they assembled
the nomination of Mr.. Douglas. 1t Gamma
r certainly be considered strange that honorable
O men, unused to such scenes, should leave th,
Convention, and that it was finally virtual!
broken UP. non .sr:. ,.rlvir
The first act Of injustice was o.. sd fa7. b.
. ~ THE UNI RULE a te-
!, The Committee on Permanent Organization
e reported the following rule, known as the uni
' rule That in any State which has not pre-
= yided or directed by its State Convention how
l its vote may be given, the Convention vii
recognize the right Of each delegate to cast hi
4 Individual vote" This rule was in violation
5 of the rule of all former conventions, whicl
left to the delegation from each State the RICH
\ TO determine how the vote should be cast; ant
it was Struggled into the report of the com
/. mittee and brought before the convention II