The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-07-05
OBSERVATIONS.

The present deadlock" in n.
Democratic Convention, at Bal,;,,o..
at this writing. sets memory work;r.
again; for I can recall the excellence.
over the Democratic Convention =.
Charleston, South Carolina in 1a6o
The long growing animosity between
the North and South over the oue.t;on
OF slavery. particularly its extension
into the Territories. with the lono
struggle over the formation of Stat
governments in Kansas and Nebrast,
whether with or without slavery h,d
received a great impetus by the John
Brown raid of Harper's Ferry tbe
previous year. The slavery party VIA,
exasperated. and the whole North "a,
set to thinking anew of the subject of
chattel slavery of human beings Tn.
Anti-Slavery sentiment was growing
throughout the North; and MANY Of
the Democratic party could not sym.
pathize with the policy of their leader,
over Kansas. and Douglas of illinois
was the recognized leader of that
wing OF the party; but not till the
Convention met at Charleston in April
1860. did the leaders of the two wing.
of the Democrats know how deeO
seated was the feeling for slavery on
the one side and against its further
extension on the other; but it was
supposed that the Convention being
held in the center of the slave district
that fact would dominate its delibera.
tons. Caleb Cushing, a Massa.
chusetfe man. was made president Of
the body, and the platform adopted
in Committee was in favor Of the
southern ideas; but when it came to
the Convention the Douglas men
overturned it. knowing it would never
DO to go to the Northern voters with
such extreme slavery views; but that
enraged the ultra southern delegates,
and those of seven states withdrew
from the Convention; that left the
northern men in control; yet there
were enough left who feared to affront
the radical slavery men, and they
adopted the two-thirds rule for the
nomination, which tied their hands
and prevented the nomination Of
Douglas; after long series Of ballots
IN each of which Douglass fell short
II the required number of ballots, the
Convention adjourned until June to
he city of Baltimore. 1t was hoped
hat the interviewing time would tend
o heal the animosities between the
wo wings of the party; but it did not;
instead it had deepened; and after
neffectual negotiations the CONVEX
ion divided permantely, and then
Vice President. John c. Breckin'
idge of Kentucky, was nominated BY
he slavery men. and Stephen A.
Douglass by the other wing. Later
he remnant of the old Wing party
altering to it's folds many Others
$ a Union Party" nominated John
'ell Of Tennessee; subsequently,
Wigs and Democrats went to the
Dung Republican party and voted TOT
Ibraham Lincoln.
Benjimine F. Butler was deleea"
rom Massachusetts, in the Charls!0n
Convention, and always claimed %"
'om what ne heard of the sent'men"
nd plans Of the southern leaders rs
as convinced they intended to seeeas
nyway. and that Lincoln's elecuo"
ould be only a pretext; and IN ~
ook he claims that the succee""s
inter he told Governor Andrew q
massachusetts, what he knew, weN"
d to secret session OF the Legislature
that state. with q message fro" ="
overnor. which resulted in an =.
opriation to put the militia On ~
citing, by reason Of which tac.s
pops were enabled to be aax
armed and equippe9 -. =.
Irried on to Washington. VINE" "
'esident called for them. .,,rv