Washington sentinel., 1854-01-07
SENATORIAL FACTIONISTs AND THE
WASHINGTON UNION.


WASHINGTON UNION.
An evident attempt has been made by the
Washington Union to impress upon its readers
that those democratic senators who voted
against the publisher Of the Washington
Tnion, as public printer for the Senate, were
factionists Since it has ceased to make the
charge, editorialy, it has still been continuously
committing almost as grievous an offence
against good taste, by transferring to its
columns, from papers the same in kidney with
itself, articles in which the same substance is
repeated.
Some of the articles, practically invading
the sanctity thrown around the election by law
have pretended to give with accuracy the
names of those democratic Senators SO voting
Almost all of them seem to agree in fixing
upon the distinguished Senator from Indiana
Jesse D. Bright, as the "head and front of the
offending It's alleged that he formed co
alition of factious democrats, wings, and free
soilers, by means of which the publisher of the
Washington Union was defeated. Thus, for the
FIRST time in the history of parties in this coun-
try, east or west of the Alleghanes, it was grave
ly proclaimed that the Hon. Jesse D. Bright, a
democrat who, perhaps, had done more than
any other of his years, in sustaining and carry
ing out the purposes of party organization,
and who had never, in any one instance,
deserted it, had proved himself recreant to the
Jax G.. j..
administration. The charge is that he voted
against the publisher of the Washington Union
as public printer of the Senate, and the Alame
and impotent conclusion" is that he was
therefore factionist, and recreant to the dem
ocraic party.
The mere fact, which we have seen severa
times ostentatiousy paraded, for the purpose o.
giving little more intensity to the matter, BY
way of pathos or climar, we hardly know which
that Gen. Jackson made the publisher of the
Washington onion the depository of his sword,
has really nothing to do with the question OF
public printer. The immortal old hero who SO
gallantly wore it, as Achilles did his celestial
armor, flashing dismay into his foes, and who
with patriot zeal, welded it as the arbter OF
pitched battle between his beloved country and
her enemies, never willed it any such destina
ton, as to decide any such controversy as this
1t should never be thrown like the sword O
Brennus the Gaul into any scale, where onl,
profit or place is weighed. When the countr,
hears its ring, it should know that the enemy il
beleaguring its citadels.
1t is not alleged that Governor Bright re
fused to go into caucus with his democrati,
brethren, although he might have done tha
without being factionist, inasmuch as thu
election ofpublic printer has never been deter
mined by caucus. 1t is not alleged that, hav
ing agreed to go into caucus, he subsequently,
bolted the caucus nomination. Some mer
have done even that, without having been cen
trally denounced as factionists The charge
and the whole charge, upon which the abuse O
the honorable senator is based, is, that he, wher
uncommitted by any previous party action, Oh
any attempt at it, voted for the publisher ot
one democratic paper, which, ever since its
first issue, has been the earnest and cordial
supporter, without any deviation, of the demo
cratic creed in all its ness, and vet with allit,
limits, and voted against the publisher Of an
other democratic paper, which at least NOR,
than once, ,on great cardinal measures. has bee,
false to the principles Of the party, and to tb
measures of an administration of which il nrc
fessed to be sort Of exponent. Does the w asl
ington Onion for moment fancy that by an
limping sophistry like this, it can persuade IL
democracy ofthe country, and particularly tn,
of Indiana, where he is best kno,cn, because /
has been tried most, that Governor Bright
recreant to party organization, or even tactic,
70 this administration
Does it suppose that he fears to meet an
such issue, before the sterling democracy of Il
diana? Does it think that it strikes any tremc
into his fearless nature, BY threat of holdin
him or his course up to censure2 If any sue
silly vapors as these afflict the mind Of th
Washington Onion, let it go on and see wins
the conclusion of all will be. When Indian
rebukes her Senator, it will be for some othe
cause than that he did not vote for the pull
Usher Of the Washington Union as printer /
the senate-it will have far graver complain
against him, than that he refused so to infu
Z ence and control the Official tides and currents
as TO throw them all in the Mediterraneal
capacity of the Washington Union, into whic