Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-12-17
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

SENATOR DOUGLAS.-Me Richmond EH4Hi
vey Of the day before yesterday. contains an
earnest plea in favor, not of the position of
Senator Douglas on the question of the accept
ance Of the Kansas Constitution, but Of the
idea that he may hold that position and be
garded as in full COMMUNION with the Demo
cratic party. While we heartily subscribe to
all the EnqWir6T'S regrets account of the
course the distinguished Senator has seen fit to
pursue, which has distressed no man in the
land more than Ourself. we respectfully protest
against its argument that n statesman may be
against the Democratic party on the only vital
issue of the times, and still with us. The great
opposition party of the day-the party waging
war to the knife, and the knife to the hilt.
against the Deniocracy-now one and all stand
side by side with Senator Douglas on that i'm
portant issue. Their newspapers, for week
past, have been devoted to singing his praises
and to matchmaking President Buchanan
and the Democracy for opposing the views
which Senator Douglas and the Republican
party hold in common. All around us the ar
guments of the members of the Republican
party now in Washington are to a like effect
Now, the Democracy have either to maintain
their present position the question, or to 90
over to that of the Republican party To take
the latter course will be to strike their flag at
the behest of abOlitionism and to destroy the
party not only at the South, but at the North
to Obliterate it from tho list Of American polit-
zeal organizations. To do so, will be to insure
the triumph, not of Senator Douglas and Gov
ernor Walker at the North but of those who
more closely represent the spirit in American
politics to which Senator Douglas bows in his
last efort-SenatorS Seward, Hale, Wilson.
Sumner, ct a. As a Democratic party man we
are against any such course, and feel it to be
our duty at all hazards to warn those sympa-
thizing with us in national politics, against
being transferred over to the Republican party,
as all those will risk being transferred who may
follow Senator Douglas in his late course
Friends tell us that he does not design part
ing from the Democratic party, and is now
anxious to act in harmony with it. That man
does not live who would be more gratifed to
find him doing so than ourself notwithstanding
the moral strength with which he has invested
our enemies Of late for we cherish the recol-
lection of what he has been to and for the De-
mOcracy with as kind regard as any man can
We must state, however, that, as yet there
has been no public manifestation on his part,
Of disposition to cease to labor to strengthen
the positions of the Republican party on the
Kansas question at the expense of those of the
National Administration and his old political
associates generally.
There Is no man living for whom we are dis
posed to 60 further than for Stephen A. Doug
las-for, fortnight ago, he had our warmest
political sympathies and our entire confidence
We will not, however. follow him to the po-
sition of laboring to build up the measures and
policy tor which, it is undeniably true the en-
tire Republican party are at this moment strue-
Cling with might and main Our politcalfrien
at distance may rest assured that we will
joyfully chronicle any NOV ement he may make
towards an abandonment of the positions Of
the hepubiican party he has So strangely taken
OF late, which will give US, we repeat, as much
JOY as any other man can experience. Wemust
tell the truth Of the condition Of public at airs
here, however. wherever the consequences msy
fall. That's duty we owe to Democratic prin
ciples, and we shall continue to perform il
fearlessly.
HE NEW HORSE HALL We entered the
new House Hall yesterday, for the first time.
us every arrangement except for the accom-
modation OF the city and ted press are
capital The latter, so far, are abOminable
Inc reporter for the associated press very
properly declined attempting to report under
the lack Of facilities by which he would have
been surrounded He could not have made
faithful reports; so he wisely concluded To at
tempt none, We hear. Had there been any,
thing like real days work attempted earIy in
the day, in the Hail. we, too, should have been
compelled to appear yesterday with blank in
me place OF House report. Half the new
members are strangers to Us and at the dis
lance we were perched up from communication
with the body of the Hall it would have been
impossible for us even 10 have ascertained who
was VINO, essaylng to participate in the pro-
ceedlngs Of the day We trust that arrange
nents VIII promptly be made to accommodate
the city and associated press in the body of the
hall In light gallery facing the seats of
tne members and raised not more than three
Ieet ABOVE the floor of the Hall, where there
ample space and an appropriate place for
thsm- Most Of the representatives, of the
Instant press chatting under the present dis
a""lues OF their new position, seem disposed
nnd iauit with the general arrangements
oil the Hall, and will doubtless give them
Jessie IN their letters for publication.
FOR our part, with the exception of the mar
tlculars described above, we think the cham.
great improvement, indeed. The new U.u
Is, by long odds, much the finest deI;ber.,;v.
chamber in the United States in all its co,,,.
nlences and appointments, and is destined very
shortly to become universally popular with the
House and country. Its acoustic advantages
are most signal while it affords no opportuni-
ties whatever for lobbying-an achievement in
us construction Of incalculabie advantage b
the future Of the National Treasury.
The force Of ex-member lobbyites-quite an
army already, though the session has but inst
opened-must carry on their business under
me eyesot all. The alleged corruption against
"hieh The press Of the country so strennouslv
protests cannot be put down until both House.