Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-12-22
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

consistency of his Z" record" in the admins
tration Of his trust in Kansas subsequently
he has carried the ridiculous idea that one must
be governed by like considerations in all posi-
bic combinations Of circumstances. to the points
of absurdity evincsd in his recent resignation
manifesto, wherein he virtually pToclaims
prediction for the existence of civil war and
other calamities dire, as preferable aIterna-
tive for aught in his conduct that might posi-
sibly SAVIOR of inconsistency on his part
While he has in that way arrived at the
point OF strengthening the hands of the ad-
versaTies Of the Democratic party, with all
his might and main. his co-laborer in that
work; Senator Douglas, has reached it by a
very different road, indeed-by utterly and
nagranuy scouting his I" record" Senator
Green, IN his late so able speech exhibited
him as scouting his own Congressional record
covering the entire period Of his services in
the National Legislature wherever he had
occasion to vote or speak on points wherein
were involved questions identical or even akin.
to those involved in the question of the admis-
SION OF Kansas on tho Lecompton Constitution
Some OF our contemporaries are already fish,
ing up from his yOluminous record made out
OF Congress. treasures in the way of showing
that though apparently aiming to 20 precisely
where Governor Walker is going 50 fast he pre-
ters to travel a different road to that end-any
other than by the way of his - record" We
quote from speech delivered by him in Chi
cago, early in June last, and published in the
Chicago Times of the 10Th of that month. the
following excerpt, showing when taken in con-
neetion with Senator Green's exposition of his
congressional inconsistency, that he is almost
as badly bitten with a desire to be inconsistent,
as Gov. Walker to be consistent.
''Upon the Kansas question he had little IN
say HIS opinions on that question were VEL
known, and he had nothing to add exec mt that
subsequent experience and reflection had con-
nrred him In the correctness of the iudp me nj he
had so often advanced in the Senate and before
the people, ~ ''''e
He spoke of the fairness and the justice of the
law giving the people an opportunity of ex press
ing their honest convictions on the subject of
slavery IN constitutional manner, by means of
con, convention soon to meet, to decide
with the future Of the new State of Kansas The
people of that beautiful Territory would soon
spear IN the election of delegates to the conyeu-
ton -ED- We would soon have he had no
doubt n free and quiet expression of opinion bv
means OF the elective franchise, from that silent
but most certain weapon of a free people-the
ballot-box- Should the enemies of that mode Of
setting the mueh-vexed question of slavery in
that territory blindly and obstinately refuse to
exercise the rights assured them by the laws of
Congress, uPou their heads and theirs alone will
rest the responsibility. For his part he w,s sat
i the Drmoc ratio party in Congress had done
tnrlI uuty, ana ne was equally well satisfied that
the Democratic party in the Territory of kansas
would do theirs in a manner gratifying to the
neart OF every friend Of the Constitution and the
For our part, We can only interpret the fact
that these two distinguished gentlemen travel
such signally different roads TO the same point.
UrOb ah hot - =
between them as TO which shall get there first
"a sort of " devil the hindmost~ rivalry.
lHE REsPOSsE--We have searched our
Northern exchanges for fortnight past. with
care, In order to note the effect OF the positions
assumed by Senator Douglas and the argumen-
tatlon OF his late speech upon the popular mind
OF the region to which il was especially ad-
dressed The result of our investigation i
tnat we have not seen line in APPRECIATION Of
his course IN any nominal Democratic journal
that had not previously gone off with Messrs.
Stanton and Walker. This is positively true.
30 far as the effect Of his speech on the North
ern Democratic popular mind il concerned.
therefore the reader may rest assured-if the
tone Of the Northern Democratic press be A
criterion On which one may safely venture to
form an OpiniOn-the speech Of Senator Doug
las has fallen powerle.s
on the other hand, the Republican party
press can publish ust now concerning little
else Their editorial and news columns ,re
devoted almost entirely to praises Of his effort.
anecdotes OF his sayings, and representations
OF his future course. all Of which 90 IN show
mat he IL to become a very great prophet in
ISIr
keeping with the fact that the Republican
members oil Congress have already subscribed
ior one hundred thousand copies Of his speech,
Ehlie he almost alone of the Democrats of
ei'ner house nave concluded TO give ii circula-
uon and hotonety under the member frank
these iaets are signifcant-they bear out forc.
bly, our repeatedly expressed opinions that it.
only effect on the political future Of the country
VIII be to strengthen the cause Of the dire foes
oil the Democratic party and that such il the
opinion Of the almost unanimous true Demoe-
raey OF tie North AS for the South. we are
very sure that not a single newspaper in that
section Of either party has expressed approba-
tion Of its positions-not one
1HE OPERATIONS AGAINST THE FLoIIp.
ISDIANs.-The War Department have adyices
from Fort Brooke to the 9Th instant. from Col
LOOMS, fifth infantry, (who is in command in
florida) giving detailed account Of the re-
cent operations Of the army against the Semi
noles, embracing full history Of the expedi
ton OF Captain Cones regiment Of mounted
volunteers, Qlj in number1 south of Fort
Doane, which he conducted with great tact and
perseverance, surprising one Of the secret hid
ing places Of the Indians in the Big Cypress,
capturing an aged warrior, FIVE squaws and
thirteen children, and killing a warrior and a
boy He found several Of their secret towns.
well stored with provisions all of which he de-
stroyed. Indeed, he has at last broken nm
BILLY bowieg hiding place. The town where
The Indians were surprised was new one On
ms return the Indians tried to ambuscade his
force, but failed
4 IL