Year: 1860

There will be held, in all probability, ac'
cordlng to published statements in numerous
prints throughout the country, COnstitu-
tional Union Convention in the City of Balti-
more on the 9th day of Nay next


This National Constitutional Union Conc
vention will, if it does anything, nominate
candidates for the Presidency and Vice>Presi-
dency. provided it does not endorse the
Charleston nominees. If it adopts the latter
alternative, good mag result from its action.
fit adopts the former and puts forth regu'
lar ticket, platform, ETC., much injury may
result to the South from the triangular con-
test which will ensue,


The South, as we'll as the Union itself,
has al to lose and nothing to gain, by three
parties entering the presidential campaign
circumstances, wholly beyond the reach OF
haman control, have given the Democratic
party the position and the only feasible posi-
ticwn hich presents itself--to fght the section
al hosts of Abolition with any assurance of
success This we may regret as strongly as
any one else possibly can but as common
sense men, appealing to common sense man,
we ask what is the use Of quarrellng about
that which is as fixed as destiny itself, or Of
acting in manner calculated to sacrifice our
section, be ause our party preferences are
impossible of realization? 1t is not likely
the Charleston nominee will be any favorite
of ours. Far from it. But, if the Consti-
tutiona rights of the South will be safe ln
his hands-if we are persuaded he will ad
minister the government justly and impair
italy, without regard TO section, latitude or
longitude if he is he the only man
with whom we stand the remote ST chance Of
defeating Seward or worse Abolitionist,
why should we not take him? "Half a
Loaf" to hungry man, ''is better than no
bread; !" and the Southern Opposition to the
Democracy, being powerless in itself, may
well afford, without sacrificing an iota of
principle, to support sound Democrat, when
the pursuit of any other policy could have
no other effect than to rebound to the advan
tage of the Black Republican candidate. 1t
is ON this ground, and this ground alone
that we deprecate the formation OF third
party in the ensuing Presidential struggle.


Suppose the Baltimore Constitutional Tn.
ion National Convention should nominate
irfeproachable candidates for the Presidency
and Vice Presidency, and publish to the
people an irreproachable platform Of princ'
Piles, what would be the natural we may say
the inevitable consequence, of their pro
ceedings? Why, the election of the Back
Republican candi late to the Presidency to
dead and moral certainty! There are now
but two parties in the United States pro
minently before the country, which will de-
termine the issue of the Presidential contest
the Democratic and Black Republican
parties. It's too late to set up another or
gauization, we're it desirable, which we con-
ceive is not the case. Consequently, the
battle must be fought and won or lost by the
parties We have mentioned. Hence, any
outside Interference can only result injuri,
ously to the party protesting allegiance to
strictly constitutional principles, while it
will corre>poudingly advance Northern
sectional organization, with Seward as the
standard bearer in chief.


Suppose the Convention should nominate
Critendyn, Everett or Bell for the PRESS
deney, and third party should vigorously
enter upon the canvass-what would be the
natural effect of the procedure? Why, withs
out carrying single State, and probably
not single county in the whole bread Con-
federacy, either of tue distinguished gem
tIeman named would unquestionably ostain
sufficient number of the votes of tra, hon
est aud patriotic citizens, who would o'her,
wise, to man, support the Charleston nomi-
nee, to enable Seward to carry, beyond all
question, Penn>y lgania, Indiana, and Illinois
(now doubtful States) with the balance OF
the free States. and thus render the object
Of his unscrupulous ambition sure, as well as
comparatively easy of attainment.


For these reasons, we are inclined to the
belief that the formation of third party
would eventuate in harm to the South, with
out the possibility of achieving any good !;
and think, therefore, that the two great par
ties now In existence, should be allowed to
fight the battle out by themselves, eli good
men throwing the weight of their influence
in favor of the best side. We are for the
South first, last, and all the time-against
the AboIitionsts first, last, and all the time,
when we can't beat them our own way,
as we cannot at the present moment, are in
favor of the next best way, which has been
sufficiently Indicated in the course of this
article.


TELEGRAPHlC.