Year: 1860




receive the united vote of the Americans, Fill
more, and Douglas men, taking it for granted
that if MIR. Lincoln does not receive the eleeto-
raj vote of this State, the election will go to
the House. 1t is not pretended, / believe,
that any other candidate than Lincoln stands
in any serious danger of an election by the
Electoral College.


Iu the first place, let us examine into the
feasibility of the plan proposed to defeat Mr..
Lincoln


Who knows that the Douglas meu are will
ing to enter into such an arrangement am
sure do not know it; neither have been
able to find any one who does. There may be
some who are in the secret | confess | am
not, though have been very dilgent in seek
ing for intelligence about the matter ! have
heard il stated generally, that the Douglas men
are willing to enter into kind of copartner-
ship with US in forming an electoral ticket but
have not been able to find any one who could
inform me that it was positively so much less
give me any idea of the amount of capital that
we or they were TO have in the concern. True,
| may be without the pale of the wire-workers
and rope-pullers in this honorable enterprise,
and some knowing ones may shrug their shold-
ers, look wise, and say, "You are kept in the
dark; you are not trusted with such important
political secrets" 1t may be So Yet | as
sure you | do not believe that the Douglas men
will agree to any such arrangement, unless they
can have such proportion of the electoral
ticket in the State as will render iE probable,
in case of success, that, with the States they
expect to carry toE their candidate beside, be
will be made the third highest in the Electoral
College.


What the Douglas men really mean to accom-
plish by entering into such au arrangement fif
they mean anything,) is to get their candidate
into the House, third best. They are conVinc-
ed that Breckinridge will carry large najori-
ty~of the Slave States, aud that be will be seo-
ond highest in the Electoral College. They
have no idea of assisting Mr.. Bell to the ex-
cusion of Mr. Douglas. They hope that, as
between Lincoln, Breckinridge, and Douglas, a
combination can be made 10 the House that will
elect Dir. Douglas. On any other basis / do
not believe that the Douglas men viii unite
With the Bellsnen Ia oIrhiug etectoral ticket.
Aside from this they have nothing to gain, but
necessarily much 10 loose. They do not pre-
tend that there is any bope for the success of
their candidate in any other event. As mere
demonstration of political strength, such
movement can avail them nothing. Coalitions
are known to weaken parties that form them,
and the Douglas men know that they would be
demoralized by such coalition. They could
not demonstrate their strength by it, because it
would not be definitely known. The Bell
strength would be exaggerated by the opponents
of the Douglas men to their dsparagement,
while they would be subjected to the reproach
of uniting with mel betwlxt whom and them
there are no political affinites whatever. The
Douglas men have less political sagaaity than
give them credit for, if they enter into such
bargain for any other object than such as |
first suggested. And Ineed not add, presume,
that | do not believe that there are any Amer.
leans, at least, who are willing to be used for
the attainment of such an object


III the next place, suppcsing there is such
combination made on an electoral ticket, does
any man who can see an inch before his nose,
believe it can succeed Certainly il cannot
succeed. The Breckenridge party is increas-
ing in strength, and it will continue to increase
while there is no gaining to the Douglas ranks,
but on the contrary constant losing Saga
cious Democrats begin to SEQ that the Breckin
ridgo party is destined to be the dominant Dem
ocratic party of the.country, and that the man
who wishes to identify Ills political fortunes
| with Democracy, must give In his adhesion to
the Brackinridge dynasty. If were about to
enter the list as mere political adventurer,
| regardless of principle, among the Democracy,
| most certainly would enroll my name among
the Breckinridge men. The Douglas men must
| suecumb. After the next election, having suf-
fered an overwhelming defeat, they will dis
perse, and disappear before the ascending dy-
nasty of Breckinridgc, like the morning mist
before the rising sun. And such as have any
conscientious scrupes remaining, whereby they
are restrained from approving and advocating
Slavery extension, slave code, and the revi-
val of the slave trade, will flee to the Rebubli-
can ranks; while those who have no such re-
straining scruples, but are prepared to yield
their necks to the yoke, and bow in uncondi-
tional obse9uiousness to the slave power, win
seek admission into the ranks of the Southern
| Democracy.


| 1t is very clear to me that the Democracy
must, for some time a. least, depend mainly
upon the Slave States as the seat of its power,
and the source of its policy. The slave power
will quickly repair the breach, and unite the
| divided ranks of its friends.


| The theory of the Pro-Slavery Democracy is
| plain and it is polite. 1t intends to entrench
itself IN the slave States, and in Presidential
| election make foray into such Northern States
IS may be doubtful. and by tact and money
carry enough to elect Democratic President.
Aud in this way they intend to hold possession
of the National Administration, with its mil
lions of patronage, as we'll as the control of the
army, navy, and treasury of the nation. Its
adherents in the North will be rewarded for
their loyalty by appointments to the offices in
their various localities.


| 1t is argued by some that the doctrine of
non intervention concerning Slavery, of which
Mr. Douglas is, improperly, proclaimed the