New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-12-08
SENATORIAL DISCUSSION ON THE MES
SAGE
ondence Of The New.York Tibur


Correspondence Of The NewYork Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Friday, Dec. 5, 1856.
Congress has got through the first week Of the
session and adjourned over till Monday next The
House has occupied itself with the admission of
Whitfield, and the Senate with the Presidents
Message. The discussion of the Senate has been
marked by two significant characteristics In the
first place, the altered tone and demeanOr Of the
Slavery party therein toward that of the Black Re-
publicans, is striking. The latter is no longer re-
yed as an unhealthy political organization bu. is
treated with marked and becoming Difference of
language and manner. In a word, rebellion has
become revolution, and in passing from the weak
TO the strong stage, has become respectable. Yet
there is another pOin' of view in which the change
is not TO be wondered at. These Slavery men are
very pleasant fellows when they are allowed to have
their own way But having trumpbea only by the
skin of their teeth in the election, aud seeing the
bones of their dOughface allies ground to powder in
most of the Free States, they do not care now to
gall the North unnecessarily, only to keep 1t under
They are content TO tread on it with shoes Of felt
only let them feel that they have it under foot
What they say is in substance, "We have beat
"you. now lie still and we will beat you no more"
But it is the second aspect of the discussion to
which refer that is most significant Ii has been
found by computation that the terms Slave Slavery,
Shareholders and Dissolution OF the Union, occur
one hundred and ffty-eight times in single days
debate On other days, the recurrence of these
terms was not less frequent, as it will not be in
the discussion yet to come on the same topic.
Both sides protested their devotion to the Union
with singular prOfnsiOn of terms; yet speakers on
each eide declared that whenever the views OF the
other were carried out in the administration of the
Government, the existing Union must come 10 an
end Senator Butler iDtimated that it might be
adyantapeously replaced by loose confederation of
iudependent States, and further declared that if
separation took place, he was altogether IN favor OF
its being peaceful and amicable one. He also
took occasion to declare, very senslby, that there
is logic of events quite beyond the control OF IN
dividuals.
Tn word, the English of the discussion was
that the present aspect of the Slavery question
proenostcates the separation of the Free and Slave
States at no distant period. Yet both sides, like
commanders of cOntendiDg squadrOns on the ocean,
hated to come TO the point, but stood of and on,
skillfuly maneuyering to avoid being taken at dis.
advantage To the calm observer OF political
events this feature of the discussion is pregnant
with meaning and while in the crowd and hurry of
events it is likely to be passed over with little re.
Fiction it nevertheless possesses all intrinsic sig
nificance well worthy of consideration.
The discussion has been very naturally and
properly carried on thus far in the Senate between
the only two parties TO the contest now waglng IN
the country; that is, the Slavery men on one side,
and the men opposed to its extension on the other.
The doughfaces have no rightful place in 1t, and
thus have taken no part in the consideration OF
the questions in issue They are reduced TO the
position of mere tenders for Me South, who are
To take their cue from Southern leaders, and do
their bidding. Political eunuchs, bred not of their
own but others vigor, they do now, and must here
after more than ever before, take the serving
place for which their emssculatiOn BELTS them.
no man of sensbil.ty can view their position with
out feeling of administration for their
condition of humiliation. The porridge of
place seems but a poor compensation for
such degradation as theirs; but, alas, 1t IS all
they can obtain for the barter OF their man
hood which they have made. 1t will be one OF
the earliest of the infelicities of Mr.. Buchanans
coming lunar, lurid, vespertilious Administration,
that he will be beset by the whole beggarly train OF
Northern political mendcancy which follows in the
wake of these melancholy servitOrs OF the slave
power. 80
Upon the interesting subject of the composition
of Mr. Buchanan's Cabinet that gentleman has
given me no intelligence All know is that he is
not so free to form it as he would like TO be. The
late election has stranded an unusually large num-
her ot the leaders Of the bogus Democracy in the
North. and the new President must come TO their
rescue This malign result may necessItate some
Cabinet appointments which Mr.. buchanan would
not otherwise be- disposed to make. Under this
head would certainly come those OF Cass and lou
cey especially the former. Ii Is to start the Ad-
mnlstration on crutches to have Alr. buchanan Tor
President and Mr.. Cass for Secretary OF State.
But this may have to be so. is. p.
a., crrr.pD nN 1,Ur urpuDNT' EpANP