Year: 1861

needs firm and uncompromising support.
To disband at sucha time may be condemned
upon sound msxims and reasoning priori
the most unhappy auguries may be drawn
from the proceeding. But we need not 20
back to principles when we have effects be-
fore uf; and it is easy to see already the ten
denotes that have been insugurated by the
cowardice Of the Republicans.


The pretense for the dsbsndment was to
produce greater upsnimity, and afford the
Government more decided and energetic aid
than 1t could receive under the Republican
organization. Is there any appearance that
this hope will be realized2 Not a particle.
The party has retired in favor of one that
has put the weakness which it felt into
platform. The new organization has institu-
tionalized that moral cowardice which its
predecessor did not, in terms, admit. Instead
of lifting up, there is a letting down. This
is equally visible in the proceedings of the
Convention, in the platform and the csndi-
dates.


The Convention was made up of men who
had been dropped out. Its President is a
superanuated politician, who rode his party
until it was tired of him, and who since,
while pretending a Conscientious retiracy,
has been shifting and trimming, beating
here and there, in hopes to catch populsy
current that should carry him again into that
official haven for which alone he has any
regard. He sees the prospect of Senatorial
election next Winter, and thinks to supply
the place of one Of the boldest and frmest
friends of the Administration with one o.
whom it only can be predicted that when he
should be brave and steady, he will be timid
and vacillating.


It's Secretary is a gentleman of whom it
is enough to say that he could ever find in
the hope to occupy a seat in the municipal
council of the city of his residence, suffi-
cient reason to work thorough revolution
in his political views aud principles.


It's leaders and active men were the sotts
of both parties-Democrats upon whom
Democrats could never rely; Republicans
upon whom Republicans men not of strong
measures nor of no measures, but of hall
measures-men who in the Legislature
while protesting the utmost zeal for the IN
ion and the State, were unwilling to vote Q
dollar for the defense of either; and who
when forced to give by the overpowering
pressure of popular opinion, gave as little
and as grudingly as possible.


The proceedings of the Convention were in
character. Its speeches were all for the
Union, and nothing for the Administration
Its platform is the essence of party poltroon.
cry and office-seeking conservatism-at once
timid and inconsistent. There is nothing in
it that is free and outspoken. In one of it!
resolutions it hides behind Mr.. Urittenden-
like one coward thrusting another forward
to face danger that he fears to meet him
| self. In another it makes similar use o
| Mr.. Holt-a Drawer man-to keep it in coun
tenance. 1t is a patchwork of borrowed
phraseology-a melange of borrowed ideas
made up by men who either wanted the con
stancy to affirm or the ability to originate.


The candidates are as might have been ex
pected. We except the nominee for Gov
ernor, who is, we have heard brave an,
right. minded mantle thing to be wondere
at being, how he happened to fall where h
is. The others are gentlemen irreproachsbl
in private life, and doubtless of ample capa
city to perform the Executive duties tina
will devolve upon them in case they ar
elected. But something more than this
demanded in these times-and according t.
the programme. They are, in general, mel
of scruples-men whose parties have fount
them unreliable in times of difficulty AM
peril. They do not come up to the idea @
representatives of new party organize
with an especial view to unite the peopl
upon the policy of strong and energeti
support of the National Administration i
the great and perillous war in which it
engaged. We say this in sorrow, and i
sincerity. These men will be elected. W
shall get respectable State Administratio
out of them. But in the light of nations
politics, taking into consideration what wi
wanted, and professedly sought the who
thing is failure.