The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-03
The Speakership.

we have not felt at liberty to make any
comment or suggestion upon the subject.
In our judgment, due respect for the legis-
lature, and proper confidence in their dis
position and desire to consult the wishes
of their constituents, impose decorous
silence upon the press with regard to these
preliminary arrangements. The represen-
tatives are surely the best judges of every
thing that relates to this matter, and can
do their duty without prompting. In their
first official act, at least, it may be well
imagined that they will look for their
''inspiration'' to the source of all govern
mental power, and endeavor to conform
| their action to the will of the people.
We have already alluded to the fact
that we anticipate material change I'M
der the present Administration, in the re.
| lations of the Executive branch of the
government to the judicial and legislative
branches. We presume that we shall
witness a more habitual Difference to cor
relative rights and duties on all sides.
| Co ordinate departments of the govern
ment, with peculiar spheres of action,
each is in its own sphere independent, and
each entitled to the honest exercise of its
own judgment, guided by its own con-
science and the lights of its own expert
ence. We hold, therefore, all efforts of
influence or coercion, brought to bear by
any one of these departments upon the
other, improper and unconstitutional. We
hold it to be in the last degree insulting
and injurious, for the Executive to inter-
fere, by the suggestion of its frown or its
favor, with the action of Congress. We
hope that the representative body will
never again be influenced by the menace
of the veto, brought respectively to bear
| upon its deliberations. Such things we
have seen; their day we believe has passed.
We had hoped, too, that there was an
end of the system of attempted intimida-
ton and arrogant menace in the public
press. When he was armed with the
second hand thunders of the White House,
the editor of the Union sat like the Pope
in the Vatican, hurting political damnation
to the right and left upon all heretical Of
tenders. Wo to the man who ventured
to raise the standard of a reformer among
| the followers of the true church, Wo to
the man who interposed a syllable of dis
sent to the bull of the latest fashion, or
was staggered at the Interpolation of new
doctrines on the old Democratic creed
We had hoped that there was to be an end
of all this. We had supposed that the
venerable representative of the elite of the
Democrats of Richmond would moderate
his tone of insolence, and hoard his brute
thunders for a more convenient season.
But he still scatters them with an un-
| sparing hand; and after his unsuccessful
attempts TO bully members of his own
party, he is trying his hand at bullying
WIG gentlemen into the abandonment OF
WING organization. And not only is the
Union trying this game, but we see that
its miserable echo, the Richmond Enquirer,
is employing the same tactics in its ap.
peals to the representatives from Virginia.
The Union, we apprehend, is playing
with two-edged sword. II tenders an
issue which is calculated, if not designed,
to bring on that crisis in our affairs when
geographical lines will mark political
distinctions. For the party it repre-
sents, it now takes the bold and broad
ground, that no southern man, Wing OF
Democrat, can vote for Speaker to whom
men Of all shades Of opinion rendered their
thanks at the last session of Congress, fol
the cable, impartial, and dignifed man.
ner" in which he had discharged his du.
ties. The resolution of thanks was offered
by southern gentleman, and a southern
Democrat-Governo Mcdowell. Now
forsooth, in behalf Of the Democratic party,
the Union undertakes to denounce Mr.
WINTHROP, because he is charged with
ndulging a northern sentiment on the sub
ltNl vi SdNtll- StublltHt "HlCH III,
Union itself recently ascribed TO all north
ern politicians Of both parties. Revcrs,
this rule. If all southern Wings and Dem
ocrats are to be denounced who vote fo
/ Mr.. WINTHROP, what measure is to bC
dealt out to the northern politicians who
vote for Mr.. Conf According TO Tho
Union's showing, the southern man who
votes for Mr.. WINTHROP is false to The
South. BY the same token, the northern
man whovotes for Mr.. COBB is false TO The
North. We apprehend that good men anc
wise men of all parties will shrink from
accepting this issue, till it can no longe
be avoided. When it is forced upon thu
country, then it will be time enough t
meet it; but it is an issue that should neve
be anticipated. If it can come, it vii