THE AMERICAN REVIEW. No. XC. FOR JUNE, 1852. THE CONVENTION-THE PARTY AND THE COMPROMISE. IN the April number of this journal | personal, seems necessary before we enter we presented what we sincerely believe to upon the question itself. Were it not be a faithful picture of the present Whig for personal motives, the self-aggrandizeAdministration. No one, we think, can ment of professed politicians, and the bitter read that record without admitting the con- remaining dregs of a sectional question afclusion to which it leads, viz., that Whig fording the material for their purpose, it is principles and Whig men are essential to obvious that there would be no difficulty in the country in all great emergencies, and the choice of a candidate by the Convention that this Administration, or its counterpart, to assemble at Baltimore, and but little unmust be perpetuated, would we avoid inter- certainty as to his election. These personal nal discords and disaster, or external strife motives are the bane of our politics. Why and dishonor. But inasmuch as the honor they should exist in a country where every and renown with which the party has been avenue to honorable success is so freely open covered by this Administration have not been as in this, is a matter which we confess we sufficient to produce a perfect unanimity of could never understand. The principle dissentiment as to who should be placed by cernible in most of the discussions we see the party before the country as its candidate is as the grain of wheat to the bushel of for the Presidency, we followed this by a chaff, so obvious is the ulterior purpose discussion of the claims and merits of the through the pretended matter in hand. three distinguished men who are presented This has become so common that to account for that honor. We have done this with all for the line of argument, or the sentiment candor, and endeavored to show the princi- uttered, is the first thought of the reader of ples upon which the choice should be made an editorial leader in a newspaper, or the by the National Convention which is to as- speech of a representative in Congress. semble for that purpose, and have so tried to Why should not men-even politicianscontribute to that harmony which is essen- enjoy that greatest luxury of conscious tial to success. It now remains for us to grap- intellectual existence, the having an honple with that question on which alone any est, disinterested opinion and purpose, difference of opinion exists, and which, we and fighting for that? There are, howthink, is the sole barrier to a triumph on ever, let us thank Heaven, many such, which depend the most vital interests of the although they have but the reward of country. their own consciences. In the first of the two articles referred to, we made a A preliminary word or two, general and VOL. IX. NO. VI. NEW SERIES. 31 |