The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-12-31
THE FIRE-EArERs UPON NIB, DOUGLAS.

The Richmond South pours cut the walls of
its wrath upon Judge Douglas, for his opposi-
ton to the Lecompton fraud. 1t says;
"H Judge Douglas had been content with
the delivery of q speech, no matter how obnox.
ious its sentiments, be might have hoped for
some charity of construction and leniency of
censure among the Democracy of the South !;
but surely he cannot expect US to tolerate an
act of such declared and determined hostility az
Is revealed in his resistance to the action of the
Lecompton Convention. Words may be for.
gotten, but for blow there is no pardon. And
what more mischievous blow against the South,
the Administration, the Democracy, and the
Union, could their most malignant enemy sug-
gest, than is inflicted by Judge Douglas, when
he employs all his power TO prevent settle
ment OF the Kansas difficulty on the basis of the
Lecompton Constitution? 1t is idle to argue
that he only stands upon point of expediency.
He repudiates the suggestion himself as a
reproachful imputation, and claims to contend
for an essential principle. The President deems
it of great importance to the success of his
administration, that Kansas shall be admitted
into the Union with the Lecompton Constitu.
| ton. Senator Douglas exerts every energy of
his nature to prevent that contamination"
The South, after interpreting the principle Of
the Kansas-Nebraska act Gin their own way"
proceeds to read Senator Douglas out of the
Democratic party.
"The Democratic party affirm the right OF
the people of Territory to develop their insti-
tutions in their own way free from all outside
interference. Senator Douglas denies them the
privilege of organizing Government through
the instrumentality of q representative Conven-
ton, and proposes to subjecs Kansas to restric-
tons, from which it is exempt by the express
terms of the original act of Congress. After
this statement, will anybody pretend that Sena.
tor Douglas is separated from the South, the
Administration, and the Democratic party, by
nothing more than an immaterial idea of expe-
diency? He occupies poeijion of open and
defiant antagonism to the South, the Admins.
tration, and the Democracy, on the one Issue
that overshadows every other question Of public
policy. He stands shoulder to shoulder with the
Black Republican party of the Norih, on the
one distinctive principle of their platform. BE
is an apostate from the faith, and should suffer
the penalties of desertion."
We are anxious to know in what cordition
the Democratic party will be, when Douglas OF
Illinois, Forney of Pennsylvania, and Broder-
lex Ct California, are secuted from it's ranks.
Every free State will be in the hands of the
Republicans, or at least the enemies of the Slave
Democracy. What will the " South" and its
allies do then7
1t is little singular, that while such sheets
as the Star, of this city, pour out denunciation
upon the head of Senator Douglas, the Rich
n.Ond Enquirer, an able and old defender of
Slavery, and published in one of its strougholds,
treats the Illinois Senator with marked cour-
tesy and respect. 1t ssys:
| "His former eminent services to the South
demand that he should not be denounced, be-
! fore ample time has been allowed for an exam
ination of the position which he occupies. That
Judge Douglas has for many years been the
man upon whom the people Of the South have
relied, with perfect confidence, 10 one will deny
Gratitude for past services, respect for eminent
talents, and sound policy, alike demand that
the language of friendly remonstrance - nay,
even expressions Of affectionate entreaty, rather
than of harsh denuncation should be used
towards cur former benefactcrs. When men
| like Douglas make q false step, aud we have
reason to believe that they are lettering upon
the brink of the abyss of political destruction,
they should not be thrust prematurely over, and
their fall greeted with excavations and abuse
| Until, therefore, the clearest evidence is fur
nished US that Senator Douglas has become an
avowed enemy of the Administration. and p
| foe to our rights, we shall no. hold him up to
our readers as an apostate and Black Repub-
| lcan."