Year: 1868

soon as 1t was discovered that the mares stables


were on fire the doors were thrown open, but she


was found already burned to cinder. She was


matched to trot in the June races.


The Democratic Candidate-Where Shall we


Find Him-NIr. Belmont on the Crisis
A letter on the political st''ation, dated


March 2, from August Belmont, chairman OF


the National Democratic Executive Committee,


to democratic brother in the Northwest, has


at length found it's way back to the East, and,


in default of anything better or later from


its author, we propose briefly to consider its


salient points in reference to the programme


and Presidential prospects of the perplexed


democracy.


Mr. Belmont reminds his friend that the
National Democratic Convention is to meet in


the city of New York on the Fourth of July.


The place is the right place, but the time is too
far of. On or about the 1st of May Andrew
johnson will doubtless be superseded in the
White House by "Old Ben Wade" for the rem
nant remaining of the Presidential term, which
expires March 4, 1869. This change in the
Executive Department will unquestionably be
followed by great effervescence among the
federal office holders and Office seekers, and
among the loose political elements of the coun-
try which are waiting to see the drift of the
tide. If the democratic party, through it's
managers, shall remain inactive till the Fourth
of July, the mass of these floating elements
will most likely be attracted to the party in
power, which is organized, which has
popular leader, which will have the spols for
| immediate distribution, and which will thus
have every prospect of carrying the succession
| against the unorganized opposition forces. In
this view it would surely be a wise proceeding
on the part of Mr. Belmont to call meeting of
his National Committee Immediately on the re-
moval of President Johnson, if not sooner, in
order that as early day as possible may be
appointed for national convention of the
party, SO that it may take its position in the
Presidential field without further needless loss
of valuable time.


The National Committee Mr.. Belmont frankly
confesses, ''is very desrous that an earnest
appeal should be made to the conservative ele-
ment throughout the Union which has not here
tofore acted with the democratic party" Has
not acted with it Why not? Because the
democratic party heretofore has been too
strongly seasoned with copperheadism, includ-
ing the peace dogmas and State sovereignty
heresies of the Chicago Vallandigham platform,
and the ''so-called time-honored principles of
the party" resting upon the constitution as ex-
pounded in the Dred Scott decision. If the
party can get rid of all this claptrap and rub
bish, the conservative element" referred to
will be substantially secured. By this simple
process of publication the democracy may
bring together in the impending contest, as Mr.
Belmont desires, 'the combined strength of all
those who are opposed to Congressional usurpa-
ton and negro supremacy, and who wish the
restoration of peace and unity between all the
sections of our common country, under the
blessings of the laws and the constitution for
which our brave soldiers and sailors shed their
blood and the nation poured out its treasure. I"


Let 1t be clearly understood and proclaimed
that the democracy, in ''the laws and the con-
stitution for which our brave soldiers and sail
and the constitution in force before the deluge,
and they will find it not impossible to ''drive
the radical party from power in the coming
Presidential election" If we can get dis
tinct declaration from the democratic party
which they have never yet made-that they
hold that African slavery is legally abol-
ished in the United States-that, in other
words, the constitutional amendment on
that subject is part of the supreme law of the
land, and that the emancipated blacks are
entitled to the civil rights of citizens, but
that they are not qualified for universal suf
frage-the principal barriers will be broken
down which cut off from this party the balance
of power held by the fighting Union elements
of the war.


But, looking to this new departure, the
greatest want of the democrats is their want
of Presidential candidate equal to the
crisis. Their books will be open for bids
till the meeting of their National Convention
in New York on the Fourth Of July next,
unless Mr. Belmont and his Executive Com
mittee reconsider that appointment and name
an earlier day. Mr.. Pendleton, of Ohio, is
backed up by the democracy of all the great
West, and by Maryland and Maine; and it
is probable that all the Southern States,
inside and outside, will go for Pendleton. He
will thus have q majority in the Convention to
begin with; but as two-thrds vote is the
rule for the democratic nomination, Pendleton
will be apt to be swamped by the opposition of
Pennsylvania, New York and New England.
The voice of New Jersey is in favor of her
| own favorite, ex- Governor Joel A. Parker,
Pennsylvania, beyond feeble little squeak or
two for Hancock, has made no sign. New


York, through an obscure mouthpiece of Tam


many Hall, insists upon ex Governor Seymour;