The New York herald., 1864-11-02

Il
| We give considerable portion OF our
available space this morning to the proceed
ings in council Of the old line democracy yes.
terday at the Cooper Institute, and our reason
for this will be found In the interesting char
aoter Of the proceedings Themselves. They
involve a political movement OF far greater
| importance than any Of the ordinary partisan
assemblsges Of the day. Whom such old line
democratic as General Dix, Francis B. Cutting,
Moses Taylor, Henry G. Stebbins, the Rooss
vets, Vanderpools, Stewards and Wadsworths
assemble together on the political issues Of the
crisis. they meet for practical work.
From the call Of this convention and mass
meeting of the democracy opposed to the Chi
cago platform" it would appear that their
purpose is to rally against the Chicago cand
dates all those old line democrats "who deny
that the American democracy was fairly repre-
sented at Chicago" all who believe that the
war is not "a failure;" all who believe that
''the immediate cessation Of hostilitics" should
| begin with Southern traitors and "not with
| Northern patriots" and that we should first
exhaust the rebel armies before we attempt to
"exhaust all the resources Of craftsmanship in
behalf of peace" But, broad as is this ground
for political action, this movement covers
| broader margin. The maintenance OF the
national cause is the immediate purpose In
view; but the ultimate object is the reorgan.
zatiop of the democratic party on a sound and
consistent, solid and durable national Union
platform
General Dix in bis very able historical
| review OF the rise the power and glory,
and the decline, collapse and degrade
ton OF the democratic party, shows pretty
clearly that the work contemplated is
that Of thorough reformation. He shows
| how the party was first dcmoralzed by resort
| ing to the low tactics Of availability in its
Presidential nominations; and how "the evils
the country is now suffering, beginning in
loose and unsteady administration OF the public
affairs, and ending in reasonable attempt to
overthrow the government, are all due to in
competency and inexperience" on the part Of
our rulers since the time of Jackson and Van
Buren,. He also shows that "for eighteen
| months after the commencement Of this war
the course Of the democratic party NORTH was
worthy Of its traditional patriotism;" and
how, "under the malign influences which since
the fall elections of 1862, have controlled the
executive policy Of the State of New York,
and through it the democratic movements in
other States, its leaders have lost sight Of the
vital issues involved in the contest and
have gone, step by step. from hostility to
the government to hostility to the war = and,
finally, how the democratic party has been be-
tr,- l., tha
erous platform builders Of the Chicago Con-
| vention.
| We must, however, take issue with General
Dix in reference to the part played by Cover
nor Seymour in this melancholy business. We
think that the Governor, instead OF being the
leader Of the peace copperheads in these demo
cratic departures from their war platform Of
1862, has been only the submissive follower of
boIder men. The Northern copperhea ad leaders
who, in 1861, came from Congress filed with
the pernicious democratic doctrines Of the rebel
Breckenridge, are the responsible parties, such
as Vallandigham, Pendleton, Voorhees,, and
the Hon. Fernando and Ben Wood. Breokin-
ridge remained to the last moment OF safety at
Washington to instruct them, and then left
them as the guides Of the Northern democ-
racy on constitutional principles while he went
of to join the rebel army. These are the
men who, taking advantage OF the democratic
successes in the elections Of 1862. on = war plat
form, slipped in, and assumed the control of
the party, East and West, on their peace plat
form. But, had they not more strongly desired
the success OF JEFF. Davis than the success OF
their party, they would have abandoned their
| peace hcresies after the reactiorary elections
| OF 1868 Instead of doing so, however, they
| persistently laborcd to secure, on their
disuniou and revolutionary peace projects.
the National Democratic Convention of 1864,
and the result is before MS in the infamous
Chicago platform.
! This, with the additional dead weight OF
| Pendlcton, is the heavy burden which General
Mcclellan has TO carry, in spite Of bis honest
endeavors to cast it of. II successful in this
contest bis will.be the most remarkable case
OF personal popularity since the time OF
| General Jackson; if defeated, he will
at least have the consolation Of knowing
| that had his platform been adopted at
| Chicago it would have saved the democratic
party. As he stands, the war democracy from
| the Cooper Institute proclaims him identified
with the Chicago platform, and that their first
purpose is to assist in securing its reputation
by the people, and . judgment in favor Of the
suppression OF the revolution by force Of arms
Next, looking to the reorganization OF the
| democratic party for 1868, these war democrats
propose platform embracing the selection Of
the ablest and best men for ofice an amend
ment to the constitution providing for the cleo
ton Of President and Vice President d.
recuy by the votes Of the people; an
other amendment limiting the President
10 one term, and the maintenance of the
i lrninn as n bond which cannnt lie hrnLnn This