The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-12-16
WE GIVE TT UP.

We give it up. Reluctant as we are, hope
full az it is our nature to be, sanguine even to
q fault We are compelled to give up all hope of
healing the schism in the Democratic church.
We have on various occasions seen that church
in danger, and as we feared, imminent danger
of being rent in twain by schismatics; but, as
good luck would have it. there was always "a
balm in Gillead" of wonderful healing virtue
Qknown OF called by some by the vulgar name
Of "spoils" or "public plunder'D which being
instantly resorted to, effected an almost miracu-
lous cure. Indeed, such is said to be "the
cohesive power" of this "public plumber, that
a steam boiler made of it could never be ex-
ploded.
But this balm, we are panied to say, has
failed this time, and we greatly fear the De-
mocracy is permanently rent asunder. "We
had hoped" to use the expressive language of
the Union had hoped to the very mo-
ment when, in the Introductory portion of his
late speech, he remarked that the President
had fallen into "a fundamental error in his
construction Of the Kansas N ebraska act, that
Judge Douglas would not feel himself con.
strained to take an antagonistic position to-
wards the administration"
1t is wonderful how exnctly the Union, in an
article evidently written by Mr. Buchanan or
one or more of his Cabinet expresses our own
feelings The regret Of the Union is deep; so
is ours. The language Of the Union is touch
ing; 80 should be ours, and indeed Is, since we
adopt the Union's "When, says the Union,
when that emphatic announcement however,
was made, we ceased to have further hope
just SO did we. Hope, the comforter of the
wretched, was gone. We felt sad. Our heart
became heavy, our eyes moist, our pocket
handkerchief wet "The fact is now fixed I"
exclaimed we, and mournfully utters the Union
1T must have overheard the utterance of our
grief and sorrow that on the issue which in
wolves the prompt admission Of the Territory
of Kansas as State, and the consequent early
settlement Of the slavery question rs subject
to have the determined and active opposition Of
Judge Douglas"
To think that Judge Douglas should thus in
terpose to prevent the early settlement of the
slavery question, and should 80 inopportunely
insist that the people Of Kansas should be left
"perfectly free to form their own institutions
in their own way" when the Convention had
already performed that labor for them, and in
doing this, TO make great rent in the Demo
cratic party, is enough TO make Democratic
patriot, like ourself, sad and sorrowful.
The Union pours out its lamentations argu
ments, and philosophy in a four column article
which is quite too long for us. We should gel
out ofbreath, and :" in maze, bewilderd lost,
eer we got half way, were we to attempt to &c
through it. II closes by stating what II con
ceives to be the grounds upon which Mr.. Blu
chsnan and Judge Douglas respectively stand
and with expressing an opinion that the Pres
ident takes a wise, patriotic, and safe view o
the whole question ]" and further remark
that, Gin the policy adopted by him we thin
he will be sustained by Unpopular judgment.
This last sentence we suppose is to be ur
derstood q an appeal to the people for the
verdict In this appeal we doubt not Jude
Douglas win cordially unite; but we great
fear the jury win be divided, and therefore vi
able 70 render unanimous verdict which wi
keep litigation open, and sadly distract Il
heretofore harmonious Democratic party.