Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-09-11
From the Washington Union

From the Washington Union.
THE ILLINOIS ELECTION AND THE FALSE
ISSUE ATTEMPTED TO BE MADE IN IT.
We see it in many of the newspapers, and hear it
often in conversation, that il is passing strange"
that any good Democrat of that State should refuse
to vote for members of the Legislature who are in
favor of Mr. Douglas. Why is it strange? Did Mr.
Douglas retire from the last Congress, as he had al
ways done before. in good connexion with the Dem
ocratic party? On the contrary, had he not fought
the Democratic party during the whole session?
Had he not fought it in the Senate and the House
on the Lecompton bill the Montgomery BILL and fin
ally on the English bill In every one of these
hardfought pitched battles did he not draw all the
enemies Of Democracy, Black Republicans and
Know Nothingk, to his standard. and, heading the
combined column, did he not stand for weeks and
months holding Democracy at defiance, heaping
upon it all sorts of abuse-charging it with outrag
ing al the principles of free government-snpport
ing the foulest frauds and seeking to hsten the
viest swindle ever perpetrated on = reluctant and
helpless people?
Now, al this and more he uttered day after day
and the abolition papers and few Democratic ones
repeated the foul accusation. During this protract
ed and bitter fight, vote after vote was taken and
recorded in both houses showing as clear as day
that nine-tenths Of the Democratic party thought
he was wrong-wrong in denouncing his own party
fiends-wrong in heading the columns of Black
Republicanism and Know Nothingism in
taking we'll calculated to keep alive that
fatal question which it for the best interest of
Democracy, and Of the nation, should then be put
to rest forever.
At last the day of final decision arrived the En-
glish bill was passed; Democracy, at least nine
tenths of it. rejoiced the President, his cabinent,
the members Of Congress, the Democratic party,
Isjoiced. But Stephen A. Douglas would not re.
joice; Hale nor Trumbu, nor Crittenden, nor Bell,
Of the Senate, would not rejoice; nor would Gid
dngs and his abolition allies of the House. Sad, sor-
rowf1l, but revengefu. Douglas and his allies re-
turned from the field of battle and soon thereafter
Congress adjourned.
Now, up to this moment. what good Democrat
ever expected again to vote for Stephen A. Douglas,
unless he should give full explanation and make
concession for conduct so extraordinary! Many of
his friends declared that although he had united
with the Black Republicans this one occasion,
yet he did not mean to desert his old party having
voted him down, and adopted its own policy, be- as
good Democrat, intended hereafter to acquiesce
in that decision, and to abide by II. Such was the
opinion Of his peculiar friends, who declared that
he wonld probably make known these his intentions
before Congress adjourned Or at all events on op-
ening his canvass in Illinois.
Now, how did matters stand when Mr.. Douglas
arrived IL his own State? He found two conven.
TONS had been held by the Democrats Of that
State-one for Douglas the other supporting the
administration. Both had made nominations as
they respectively agreed with the or the other.
The Douglas convention denounced Lecompton and
declared thu n undated confidence in Mr.. Douglas
the administration convention declared tor the Eng
fsh bill As finally passed. and their undated conf
dence IN james Buchanan In the mean time the
Black Republicans had held their convention and
designated Mr.. Lincoln as their senatorial candidate
In this condition of AFFAIRS what it the duty of
4r. Douglas to have done reaching the State
We distinctly answer, that he ought to have redeem
ed the assurances of his friends by explaining and
.defning anew his true position, He ought to have
said to bis old constituents now divided and dstrac
ted Gentlemen. opposed the Lecompton consti.
tution; advocated different policy because be.
lieved it to be right; but my own party, by an ov.
erwhelming majority, decided against me. mean
to abide BY that decision, to acquiesce in it. and to
have ever DONE" If Stephen A. Douglas had done
this much, and this only, his first speech at Chi
cago, how surely would ill his enemies have made
the same speeches of acquiescence in the English
bill When they had declared this, then harmony
would have been restored. Douglas and his friends
would bare walked up on the English platform, on
which the administration party stood and by little
effort the two ses Of candidates could have been re-
duced into oness
But Nr. Douglas would make no such speech
He would hold out no such olive-branch In his
opening speech he denounced the administration
Democracy for supporting fraud and . swindle !;
he s6l eulogized tho Montgomery amendment and
poured out his Walls OF wrath on the English bill
for which he knew niDe-tenths of the Democs,ts IN
Congress hid solsmuy voted. Here We pause to
note the great 4sct which cannot be lost sieht Of
that vhen an sppestunit had been fairly ofsred to
him be would not say that he would abide BY the
Ensish Ill., but he denounced it Is bitterly q he
did when standing mp surrounded BY al the enemies
Of the Demoesatic party III the halls q CougFesA-
Wenpeat that be would give no assurance that be