New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-23
To CANDID DEMOCRATS.

Suppose John C.. Breckenridge had been chosen
President last November, would one Of his friends
have dared to say to him. Mr.. Breckenridge,
you were elected on platform which affrms
"the right of any stakeholder 10 take his slaves
Unto any Federal Territory and there hold them
in Slavery under the protection Of the Consti-
"tution; but il you undertake 10 administer the
'Government in accordance with that doctrine,
the Union will be dissolved; for the Northern
Estates will not stand it, We urge you, there
:" fore, TO discard the principle on which you
"werc elected, aud administer the Government
on the Douglas or the LIDcOln Platform" we
have but general knowledge Of Mr. Breckin-
ridges character; we have always been his
political adversary; yet we believe il would have
been unsafe for any political friend or Toe to
have approached him with such proposition.
We believe Mr. Il. would have regarded and re-
scented it az IN impeachment Of hIs mtegrity-a
stain upon his personal honor. And If any man
had yentured to tell him that party platforms
were but gul-traps, so that one that served TO
win an election upon might be utterly uusuited
for further use, and should therefore be set aside
as announcement we think that man should have
first taken care that the door was open behind
him, and he fairly out of reach of the Presi-
Dental boot.
If Mr.. Douglas had been elected, it ia quite
possible--judgiDg from what has transpired since
eection-that he might have been induced to
desert hrs own platform for that Of the Breckin.
ridge men; but he is an exception to all general
rules. ANY other man likely to be run for Pres
ident having been nominated on a platform,
made the canvass upon it, aud been elected,
would feel constrained to stand upon il after
election, SO long as he could stand at all.
What the Republicans are now required by
their adyersaries to do, is calculated not only to
dishonor them but involve all politics and poll
ticians in common disgrace and distrust. If
President just chosen on one platform may dis
card it next day for one more acceptable TO his
opponents, and thus avoid peril aud difficulty
platforms, parties and politics will thencefOrth be
the scorn and jest Of the masses. "This is oil
every fine, Mr.. Speechmaker, the soyereigns"
would say: "yOu talk well and make fair prom.
I" Uses; but what assurance have we that you
will not renounce all your present professions
" and Wanted principles the day after you sue
" coed Suppose you advocate general reduc-
+" ton of salaries, ind we support you on that
ground, how do we know that you will not
" increase salaries instead Of diminishing them
Since platforms are only vote-catchers, to be
" discarded when they have secured tie victory,
"why shall vote for party whose platform
"approve rather than its opposite Why not
" vote rather for the party whose tcnets / con-
denim, since, when that comes TO be discarded,
90 to purchase tho submission Of tho yanqushed
" faction, the Government will be administered
"as wish to have it 2"
Democrats! you may deem it wi,e party
move to bully the Republicans, if possible, into
deserving their principles and their platform; but
you will yet think differently. We ask you to
do as you would be done by.