Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-12-10
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

:"
which it was characterized, but from the nov
city of his positions. Or, rather, We should
have written. from the fact that he took the
positions of his argument, which were not in
themselves new being, in their important
points, such as have been uttered more or less
frequently of late years. in that chamber, by
the party by whom he was eheered Justify in
the course of the delivery of his speech-the
Republican party-which both on the floor and
in the galleries testified their delight that he had
made good the words with which Senator Seward
opened his brief speech on the day before
when declaring that Mr.. Douglas and himself
now stood on the same platform, How truth
full that forcible remark really il, was abun
dainty testified by the heartfelt regret expe-
rienced yesterday afternoon by the unanimous
South in Congress, on realizing that Senator
Douglas, who, a week ago, was confessedly the
most popular statesman South Of Mason and
Dixon's line, had deliberately elected to sur
render his standing there in taking ground on
n simple abstraction that is without the least
practical bearing; for no one can know better
than himself that once clothed with the func
tions of citizens of State of the COnfederacy,
the voters Of Kansas may, in week if they
please, alter and amend their Constitution in
any or all particulars, provided they continue
it republican instrument.
Senator Digler replied to him, conversation
ally, in few remarks, upon the spur of the
moment, exposing the unsoundness of his posi-
ton that he held grounds identical with those
of the Message-grounds which, by the by, in
duced prominent Republicans to declare that
his (Mr D.'s) effort was the best days work
ever achieved for the future of their party in
the Congress of the United States.
The gist of his argument is, that the Lecomp-
ton Convention possessed no power to send the
Constitution TO Congress until after having
formally submitted its most unimportant posi-
ton to a vote of the people of the Territory
point more than refuted by the Message it.
self. and often previously disproved by the ac-
ton of Congress in admitting States into the
Union on constitutions sent hither by similar
conventions without such previous action rs
Mr.. ID. now holds To be essential to give them
vitality and validity.
1t would be useless for us to attempt to dis
guise the fact that last night every one in
Washington who supported John Charles Ere
mont Tor the Presidency, were rejoicing as vche-
mently over their acquisition, az all Of the
South among US were mourning that Senator ID.
had, thus in an hour, sacrificed all the result Of
the labOrs of his previous political life. In his
former position he was not only a man of mark.
but of power and influence inferior to those of
no other living American. Standing where he
does now, though perhaps n man of somewhat
more mark than before, he is but covering the
rear of Gov. Walker who, in turn covers that
of the great and shining leader of the school in
American'politics to which those gentlemen now
see fit, apparently, to attach themselves-Sena-
tor Seward-who must necessarily reap the
moral strength that may fall anywhere by and
through Messrs Douglas and Walkers aban-
donment of the Democratic party's position on
the Kansas question.
On Monday next this debate is to be contin-
ued, Senator Green having the floor for that
day. In the meanwhile, that gentleman may
be relied on thoroughly to expose the unsound-
ness Of the positions of Mr. Douglas, and the
sophstry with which they were maintained.
The FRONTIER DEFENcEs.-In the present
state of the country's relations with Utah. il
may fairly be presumed that the recommended
tions of the Secretary of War, concerning the
necessity for increasing the army of the United
States will be forthwith carried out by Con-
grsss, on whom will otherwise rest much of the
responsibility for the future of our national af-
fairs in that quarter. The report in question
not only i'm this particular but in all others
should command instant Congressional atten-
ton; for it liz pregnant with facts carefully and
forcibly presented, evincng the existing abso-
lutte necessity for the devotion of much of the
present session to the duty of laying the found
alton of such military defences of our now so
widely extended frontier as that has come to
require. Unless the Secretarys words Of adj
vice be speedily needed, it is clear to our mind
that the accommodating embarrassment, diff
culties and troubles from the western border of
Minnesota to the northern border of Texas and.
west, to the Pacific, will shortly become so great
as to require ten times the preparation to meet
and overcome them, which the Secretary now
thinks necessary
The ANNUAL REPORTs.-The reports Of the
different heads Of Departments have already
been read by thousands around US with great
qualification, insOmuch as they embrace a de-
tailed exposition Of the condition of the coun-
try as manifested in the state of it's military,
naval, postal and industrial affairs, indicative
OF very prosperous and satisfactory future,
notwithstanding the condition Of Utah and the
late financial panic.
Having had occasion, in the course of the
past year, to bring to the public notice many
Of the leading facts mentioned in these inter
esting and important state papers, and know
ing well, as we do, that from day to day we
shall necessarily quote from them extensively
IN me discussion or calculation Of public ques-
tions, We shall not venture now on the task of
publishing Systematic synopses of them in
which it will be really impossible to convey TO
the reader just idea of their contents.
They embrace the best possible Landbooks Of
information concerning the state of the eoun.
try. in any and all of its domestic relations or
affairs, and should be carefully studied by all
ambitious OF knowing more OF their country