Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-12-10
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

NIrrEE ON TERRIroRIEs.-Ihe question Of
the propriety Of substituting some gentleman
whose sentiments are In better accord with
those Of the mass of the Democratic Senators
on the various Territories-slavery questions
than are those of Mr.. Douglas, in the latter's
place as chairman Of the committee named
above, was deliberately discussed, we sppre-
bend, yesterday, after the Senate's adjourn
ment, in the Senatorial Democratic caucus
mentioned in our last issue. While there was
entire nnantmify of opinion with reference to
the evident propristy of taking due care thai
the organ of the Democratic majority, in thai
now most important committee known to the
Senate's organisation and to the future Of the
Democratic party, should be in full accord
with the Democratic party with reference to
the vital questions upon which he must act
Inevitably As such organ, there was neverthe-
less an evident disinclination manifest, ID by
three or four to making the necessary change in
tho absence of Senator Douglas, least the act
might be misconstrued. If we are not mistaken,
more than one Senator who ultimately voted
to select another in Mr.. DIS stead expressed
such q disinclination. However, the motion
to make the change prevailed by vote of about
IL to 9. On voting next to select chairman,
Mr.. Douglas received but one vote. tits I'M
derstood further, that even that Senator will su.
tain the action of the caucus; which we hail as
evidence that the Democracy of the Senate will
under no circumstances temporize upon Mr..
Douglass new squatter sovereignty doctrine.
If continued IS the chairman of the Territories
Committee, and acting as the representative
Of his own sentiments and those of the Reput-
lican party, rather than Of the Democracy, as
last winter on other vital slavery questions, be
can do far more harm to the Democrat party
than as a simple member of the committee. 1t
was but the duty Of the Democratic majority
of the body to guard, at any hazard of news
paper Misrepresentation, against the results of
any such contingency; and that duty has been
fairly and firmly discharged
Earnest wishes were expressed in the caucus
that Senator Douglas may renew his afil;ation
with the Democracy; in which none share more
sincerely than ourself. But, while his last
published opinions are fagrantly at war with
the doctrine Of the Democratic rarity on the
slavery question with reference to Territories,
and while his profsssed followers in every non.
slaveholding State are in open alliance with
the Republican party, pursuing to the bitter
end, knife (politicaD in hand, every Democrat
in public life who sustains tho policy of the
Democratic party Of the Senate upon the Ter.
ritories slavery question, we feel that to have
failed to substitute some other gentleman as
chairman of their most important committee in
political point of view, would have been an
act of timidity and weakness combined. by no
means to be justified by any plea Of desire to
harmonize the party. Mr.. Douglas can bring
about harmony in the party" in day, by
openly abandoning his support OF the anti
slavery heresy he holds in common with the
Republican party Of the Senate chamber. and
AZ the same time taking due care that hereafter
tnose IN Indiana, Pennsylvania and elsewhere.
who claim to follow his teaching-to be his i'm
mediate supporters-cease to make common
cause with the Republican party, against the
candidates, principles and measures of the
Democracy.
I. ). Perceiving despatch in the Baltimore
Sun, OF this morning, naming Senator Hunter
as among those who lin the caucus) sustained
the proPrlety OF continuing Senator Douglas at
the head Of the Territories Committee we have
to say that that inference is wholly unyar.
ranted by the position he is well known to
have taken in the discussion. Thus, he is un-
dsrstood to have avowed his emphatic belief Of
the necessity for having the sentiments Of
the Democratic majority Of the Senate on
slavery questions faithfully represented in
those OF the chairman Of the Territorie. Com.
mittee; at the same time expressing sincere
regret that, to accomplish that object, it had
become necessary to make the change in
the absence of Senator Douglas; and also
on account Of the possible Injurious politi-
cal effect of newspaper Misrepresentation of
the proposed action of the caucus. He is fur-
Their understood to have voted against Mr..
Douglas when they proceeded to vote on the
nomination.
SQUArrER SOVEREIGNTY IN THE HOUSE,
The notification given yesterday in the House
by Mr. Morris, q Douglas member from Illinois.
OF his intention to introduce bill virtually to
surrender the Government Of the Territories
hereafter into the hands Of squatters in them. is
in capital keeping with bis leaders new DOC
trine of the legal right of squatters to egislate
against the security of slave property in their
limits. With that doctrine admitted as sound
one, and the privilege of electing the territorial
xpounders-Federal judges-of constitution
and law, accorded to the drst hordes sent into
new Territories under the operations of Adolf.
ton aid societies what will the Soutb's ripbt.
Of coequality in the Territories be worth, pray,
The notification given by Mr.. Morris involves
pretty strong evidence that the protestatiops of
identity with the Democracy now being made nv
Mr., Douglas in New Orleans, are really worth
about as much as his promises ere leaving ASH
ington that in his canvass he designed ignoring
his issues of the last session with the Democrats
party; redeemed, it will be recollected, by his
subsequent declarations that the Democracy of
Congress had endeavored to perpetrate great
fraud on the principle Of civil liberty, and that
their Republican-party opponents ON that oc-
casion were the saviours of the country. Itis
meet that the tendency Of the theory of Mr.
Douglas as to the lawful right of the employees
of emigrant aid societies IN l.o;sIat. ..o:-..