s
times, was driven to and fro by ambitious leaders of his own party, as
was the last weak Hapsburg who reigned in Spain by the rival factions of
France and Austria.

Under these conditions the National Democratic Convention met at
Charleston, South Carolina, in the spring of 1860, to declare the
principles on which the ensuing presidential campaign was to be
conducted, and select candidates for the offices of President and
Vice-President. Appointed a delegate by the Democracy of my State,
Louisiana, in company with others I reached Charleston two days in
advance of the time. We were at once met by an invitation to join in
council delegates from the Gulf States, to agree upon some common ground
of action in the Convention, but declined for the reason that we were
accredited to the National Convention, and had no authority to
participate in other deliberations. This invitation and the terms in
which it was conveyed argued badly for the harmony of the Convention
itself, and for the preservation of the unity of the Democracy, then the
only organization supported in all quarters of the country.

It may be interesting to recall the impression created at the time by
the tone and temper of different delegations. New England adhered to the
old tenets of the Jefferson school. Two leaders from Massachusetts,
Messrs. Caleb Cushing and Benjamin F. Butler, of whom the former was
chosen President of the Convention, warmly supported the candidacy of
Mr. Jefferson Davis. New York, under the direction of Mr. Dean Richmond,
gave its influence to Mr. Douglas. Of a combative temperament, Mr.
Richmond was impressed with a belief that "secession" was but a bugbear
to frighten the northern wing of the party. Thus he failed to appreciate
the gravity of the situation, and impaired the value of unusual common
sense and unselfish patriotism, qualities he possessed to an eminent
degree. The anxieties of Pennsylvania as to candidates were accompanied
by a philosophic indifference as to principles. The Northwest was ardent
for Douglas, who divided with Guthrie Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana held moderate
opinions, and were ready to adopt any honorable means to preserve the
unity of the party and country. The conduct of the South Carolina
delegates was admirable. Representing the most advanced constituency in
the Convention, they were singularly reticent, and abstained from adding
fue