The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-03-01
Prudential Electieneering Among ths
Democrats.


Democrats.
There is great deal of underhand work
going on among the politicians in the way
of preparation for the Charleston Convention,
which is to meet on the 23d of April next.
During the six weeks which will elapse between
this time and the meeting of the Convention,
the electioneering of the rival democratic fac
tons will be of the lveliest character. There
is to be great crowd at Charleston-gr greater,
undoubtedly, than the rush to Baltimore in
1852, or at Cincinnati in 1856. We hear of very
large delegations from the West, and, from this
port. steamer is to sail with an immense load
of political baggage, accompanied, of course,
by the baggage smashers. The great question
as to who the Convention will nominate is the
vital topic of the day. 1t is discussed in all
the hotels, saloons, barrooms restaurants, and
places of public resort; it is talked about in
the clubs and gambling houses (the keepers
of the bells have strong interest in the mat
ter), in the theatres, and sometimes in the
churches. The subject has been argued, turned
and twisted about until it is quite threadbare
If one could Judge of the drift of public
opinion by the journals and the current
talk of the day at the North and West,
he would at once be justified in saying
that Mr.. Douglas stood as the strongest
man for Charleston. But fortunately or
unfortunately, as the case may be, neither the
public nor the journals make Presidential
nominations. That work is done by conven-
ton of delegates, who are very often compelled
to disappoint their constituents. The friends
Of Mr.. Douglas know this we'll enough; and,
therefore, they spare no pains to increase the
outside pressure for their candidate. The mo-
ment that delegate is elected in any State it
is telegraphed all over the country that he is
Douglas man. In this way the whole of the
Northern and Western delegates have been
claimed for Mr.. Douglas, and no one has been
mentioned as being opposed to him, which is
rather curious circumstances as Mr.. Douglas
has been too long in political life not to have
goodly number of enemies as well as princely
retinue of friends The fact of the matter is that
good deal Of this Douglas enthusiasm is manu-
featured to order, and the idea of deceiving
any one who understands the manner in which
national politics are managed with such bogus
stuff is absurd in the extreme.
We do not yield to any one in appreciation
Of Mr.. Douglas undeniable ability. He is q
brilliant man, an experienced statesman, and
would make capital President But we be-
lieve that he made fatal error in opposing the
Lecompton policy of the administration. Had
he supported Mr.. Buchanan, Mr.. Douglas would
have stood o-day the only Northern candidate
with any strength at Charleston, and
might have absolutely walked over the
course. But he chose to take the OPP
posite way; and now, in the opinion
of the shrewdest politicians, he cannot
receive the support Of the South, and there
fore will not be nominated. We are well aware
that the friends Of Mr.. Douglas claim that he
was obliged to change his ground in order to
induce the people of Illinois to return him to
the Senate; but there was another error. Mr..
Douglas, had he been defeated upon question
of principle, and prosecuted for defending the
Interests and the institutions Of ali the States,