The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-14

cratic party. We showed that much Of
this michief has resulted from the unwilling
ness Of the Democrats to sustain the chairman
of Ways and Means and the absence of deci
sion on the part of the Speaker. We showed
further that the Democratic party, possessing q
controlling majority, must be held responsible
for the humiliating and mischievous pranks Of
its members. How were these points met by
the Unions First, it eulogized the Speak
er, the chairman of Ways and Means,
and the four or five members who had sought
to win renown by arresting all business
forgetful Of the fact that our severest cen
sures were less severe than others that
had been uttered by prominent Democrats,
and that in defending Messrs. BoYD, HousroN,
McMuLLEN, Oar, DEAN, and LErcHER, it
was in reality assailing Mr.. STANTON, of Ten
nessee, Governor BRowN. Mr. MACE. and
Democrats tried and true as they. Then it
insisted that the Speaker and his co-workers
were singled out for attack because of their
opposition to schemes Of plunder;" again for
getting that in advancing this plea it was pass
ing Judgment against the vigilance and integ-
rity of the Democratic majority in both branches
Of Congress. Then it urged that opposition to
s'improper and unconstitutional measures" was
commendable in every shape; not remembering
that the measures which Speaker BoYD tried
to kill with his casting vote, and which Messrs.
McMULLEN, Oar, DEAN, and LETcHER labored
to ''defeat by delay" were measures to which
several Of the ablest leaders of the Democratic
party are in one shape or another irrevocaby
committed Then the Union assailed us per-
sonally, without shadow of justification; in
discreetly overlooking certain antecedents in
the history of its conductors, and the position
in which its responsible editor at this moment
stands before Congress.
Step after step, then, the Union has taken
ground only to abandon it fully and hastily.
1t has struck no blow that has not recoiled upon
its head. 1t has made no assault which has not
ended in its summary discontinue 1t has
put forward no defence that has not proved
more prejudicial to its party than to this jour
nal or its friends. And yet the Union would
fain assume the airs of success, and chuckle
over the consequences of its labors! The sa-
gacity which led it to pile blunder on blunder
now prompts it to pronounce a peroration
which stamps its whole effort with feeble
ness that admits Of no misconception!
The ''object Of vindication and defence. y
the Union tells US, has been to 'scaoke off
the Republic from its abuse of Congress- and
to concentrate all upon itself. Magnanimous
self-sacrifice. perhaps, but in no respect com
plimentary to Congress-! If our "assaults''
were naught but 'impotent MALICE" why fill
columns with show of argument to rebut
them? Why argue questions upon their me
rits, and then pretend that defeat was desired
and intended Choking off" and esconcen-
trating," forsooth! Does the Union intend to
test the gullibility of its subscribers, or to
ascertain if their wit is no sharper than it's
own?
One point strikes us as very clear. tits, that
the President elect and his advisers will not
perpetrate the folly of entrusting the duties of
to journal which undertakes dis
cussion without having caution to guard party
adherents or tact to hide its own disgrace