The Democratic convention met at Charleston, South Carolina. 民主党在南卡罗莱纳州的查理斯顿召开会议，

It was soon evident that the Northern Democrats and the Southern Democrats could not agree. 很快北方民主党与南方民主党就出现分歧，

The Northerners were willing to accept the Dred Scott decision and to carry it out. 北方人愿意接受对德莱德·斯科特的判决并执行它，

But the Southerners demanded that the platform should pledge the party actively to protect slavery in the territories. 但南方人则要求党纲中保证这个党派在一些区域积极保护奴隶制，

To this the Northerners would not agree. 而这是北方人所不能同意的。

So the convention broke up to meet again at Baltimore. 因此会议破裂，代表们在巴尔的摩重开会议，

But there the delegates could come to no agreement. 但还是没有达成一致，

In the end two candidates were named. 最后他们选出两名候选人，

The Northerners nominated Douglas on a platform advocating "popular sovereignty." 北方人提名道格拉斯，在宣言中主张"普通主权"；

The Southerners nominated John C. Breckinridge of Kentucky. In their platform they advocated states' rights, and the protection of slavery in the territories by the federal government. 南方人则提名来自肯塔基州的约翰·C·布莱克里奇，他们在宣言中提倡各州的权力，并提倡通过联邦政府来保护各个地区的奴隶制。

371. The Constitutional Union Party. 371．宪法联盟党

Besides these three candidates, cautious and timid men of all parties united to form the Constitutional Union party. 除了这三个候选人，各个党派中的一些谨慎而胆小的人联合起来形成一个"宪法联盟党"，

They nominated Governor John Bell of Tennessee for President. 他们提名田纳西州的约翰·贝尔州长为总统，

In their platform they declared for the maintenance of the Constitution and the Union, regardless of slavery. 他们在宣言中称要维护《宪法》与联邦，而不管奴隶制。

372. Lincoln elected President, 1860. 372．林肯当选总统（1860年）

With four candidates in the field and the Democratic party hopelessly divided, there could be little doubt of Lincoln's election. 四名候选人参与竞选，民主党因分裂而无望，林肯当选已经没有什么悬念。