New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-12-26
the Platte Purchase of which they should nave noS


To ,b;s ,ot tbu, base, sordid ard covetOus 10 its
origin. Mr.. Douglas added poll icai element or
rather this political element was held out to him
and TO Others by the .rtful and pernacious Atcbi-
.on M a meaus Of interesting them in the enter
,rise. II was suggested that the erection Of new
Slave State west Of and adjoining Missouri wa, not
merely matter Of interest to the slaveholdipg
planters on i,s borders; it was matter of inter
terest, so Atchson argued to the whole South, and
that not alone or chiefly in pecuniary point OF
view. The new market it would open for slaves,
and the new opportunity it would hold out to slave
holding emirsnts from the older States to establish
themselves advantageously there, were things of
tihiDg importance compared to the political con-
sequences to be expected from the erection of Kan
sas into Slave State. Not only would it strengthen
the South by the addition Of new votes in the Sem
a.e but, as happened IN the case of the admission
of Missouri, its moral effects would be still more
conspicuous. 1t would give to the South new
sense of conquest and superiority, and to the North
new feeling Of weakness aud defeat, which would
do more than even half dozen Senatorial votes to
strengthen ard assure the ascendancy Of the slave
out by Atchison to Douglas was the popularity
which, by taking advantage of his position as Chair
man Of the Committee on Territories to initiate
this measure he might acquire at the South, and the
certainty of thereby securing the Presidential nomi-
nation as Pierce's successor.
Mr. Douglas never bad any great reputation for
political virtue; so it is not surprising that this
temptation proved altogether too strong for him.
Under its influence, he reported the bill which will
render his name as iUmortally Infamous among
statesmen and politicians as that of Benedict
Arnold is among soldiers. The bill thus reported,
there were four pares either of whom might
have prevented it's passage, but all of whom,
under various ins:igations and motives, combined
ito carry it through. President Pierce, had he
used his influence against the bill az freely as
he did for it, bad he even preserved decent
neutrality, could have defeated the measure. Blu.
Pierce was induced, as Douglas had been, to
sell himself to the tempter in the hope which he
earnestly cherished Of securing thereby reelection
for bmself. He kcew that he had been selected as
the candidate of the Democratic parry on account
of his acceptsbihty TO the shareholders, and he had
no idea of allowing Douglas to cut him out at that
game.
The Northern Democratic Members Of Congress,
by refusing to vote for the BILL might also have de-
feaied it; but as the example of Pierce seemed to
show that entire subservency to the Saveholdiug in
terest was the high road to political promotion, they
too succunbed to the same temptation which had
proved too strong for Douglas and for Pierce. The
Southern Democrats too, might have prevented not
merely the passage of the bi bat even its intrOduc
tiOp had they declined to give it their support
However advantageous to the South the proposition
of Mr.. Douglas might of first blush appear to be- it
manifesty unjust; and bad there been, among
the whole body of Southern Democratic Members
of Congress, single One who possessed particle
of tile spirit of Aristdes this attempted sWinde
might have been npped in the bud. Bat no such
Southern Democratic Member of Congress was to
be found. That party had maintained its political
control of the Southern States by putting itself for
ward as the special champion of the rights of the
Shareholders, and it was seduced by the prospect
that, by avalDg itself of this unexpected Opportu
nifty to repeal the Missouri Prohibition, it might
strengthen and cOnfrm that control. Indeed, with
Douglas, Pierce and the Northern Democrats so
willing, it would have been quite too much to have
expected from the Southern Democrats the part of
JOieph.
In spite, however, of this formidable combination,
it was still in the power of the Southern Wings to
have prevented the passage Of the bill; and from
them at least, such course of conduct might rea-
sonably have been expected. The Southern Wings
were the representatives of the intelligence, the
worth, the honor, the decency, the honesty of the
south and in each and every one of these repre-
sentative characters did it most imperatively de.
volye on them to put veto on this attempted
swindle. But they too failed-failed most lamen-
tsbly-mOre, we are willing to believe, through
cOwardce than through any baser motive. They
were afraid to run the political risk with their COR
sttuents at home which honesty in this matter
would have involved.
And now what have been the results 10 these
four parties to this attempted swindle'
Instead of quietly a2propriating Kansas to their
own USE the covetous Missouri slavehO ding plant
ers have caused the introduction into It Of Free
Labor population vastly more formidable to them
than any which would have gone into the Territory
had it been left to be settled under the operation Of
the Missouri prohibition. In that case, Kansas might
have been new Southern Illinois; now is is much
more likely to prove another Ohio Reserve. Even
should it have sayebOldDg constitution forced
upon it by intrusive votes and bogus convention, it
must still remain source Of constant uneasiness.
Mr. Douglas, instead Of succeeding Mr.. Pierce as
President, has been obliged to put of the fufllment
OF bis Presidential aspirations to very indefinite pc
nod. Mr Perez goes into retira:y hated and despis