The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-18
MR.. DOUGLAS AND THE PRESIDENCY.

his name. Who is it?
MR.. DOUGLAS AND THE PRESIDENCY
The enthusiasm of the friends of Judge
Douglas has been excited TO fever heat by che
result of the recent election in Illinois. They
take it for granted that his return to the Senate,
under the circumstances, will impress the " De
mocracy North and South, with an idea of his
invincibity, and that his nomination by the
Charleston Convention will be inevitable
political necessity ofthe party, however diStaste
full it may be to the slave interest. They seem
equally sanguine of success at the ballot box
and these jubilant hopes Of the DOulgasites
have been encouraged, if not founded, upon the
very generous, and, as we think, unwarranted
admissions of leading Republican newspapers.
We regard the Presidential prospects. of
Judge Douglas anything but aattering; and
the extravagant JOY Of his friends at his bare
success, with popular majority against him,
! indicates a consciousness of weakness, rather
than of strength. Illinois, prior to the repeal
of the Missouri Compromise, was as fatally we'd
ded to Black Democracy as Arkansas is at this
day; and the majorities in favor of the party
nominations were so much matter of course,
and so overwhelming, that no one thought .Of
looking at the figures. The course of Judge
Douglas, and the policy he has thought fit TO
pursue, have broken down this indisputable as
tendency Of his party, and he comes back to
the Senate with popular majority of six to
eight thousand againt him. He has a majority
of the Legislature, but Lincoln and the Reppb-
licans have majority of the people. A resp
portionment of representation would have
given them the ascendency in the Legislature
and the seat in the United States Senate. Mr..
Douglas has therefore lost the confidence of
his constituents, and his success is due, not to
the people, but to the temporary constitutional
impediments to q fair expression of their will
He has therefore ceased to be the man of the
people; and he owes the eclat of the moment
TO the fact that he is less odious to his constu-
ents that any other man of his party. The pa-
jority against him is only some six or eight
thousand, while that against the President in
Pennsylvania is we know not how many thou
sands. This, then, is the glory of Judge Doug
las
There can be no doubt that Judge Douglas
owes his escape from overwhelming defeat to
the hostility of the Administration. The oppo-
siton of President and party which upheld
the Lecompton villainy was rcdeeming virtue
in the eyes of an outraged public sentiment,
and this single circumstance parted the keen
est thrusts of his antagonists. Should he again
identify himself with the fortunes of the Slave
ry propagandists by accepting their nomination
for the Presidency, he will go before his con
stituency stripped of this shield, and, in view
of the growing sentiment of Freedom in Mi
nois, We hazard little in predicting his inglor-
Gus defeat
Ihs nomination of Mr. Douglas by the
Charleston Convention would of itself be rare
political phenomenon. History records no in
stance Of successful Northern rebellion in the
ranks of the Democracy, or of the leader of the
revolt being induced to return to his allegiance
10y an offer of the chief command Such w;s
not the fate of Van Buren, or Wright, although
their opposition to the Pro-Slavery policy of
the party only amounted to mild remonstrance
Even Gen. Cass, although he was nominated
by the party Convention, was abandoned on the
field to the mercy of his enemies, from scarce
ly well-tounded doubt of his soundness"
But supposing that Mr.. Douglas overrides I'll
opposition, and receives the Charleston nor i
nation, it can only be by making concessions n
his part which will be fatal to him at the tR-
lotbOx in his own State, and in all the free
He
eighty" and give pledges of his readiness to
restrain the rights which he conceded to the
people in his recent Senatorial canvass The
following article upon this head from the Rich
mOnd Enquirer expresses the general senti-
ment of the party south Of Mason and Dixon S
line. The Charleston Mercury and other or
gans of Southern opinion, have already indicated
their purpose to stand by these demands of the
Enquirer. Neutrality-suspicious. will no longer
answer the purposes of Slavery, and is abandon
ed outright. The South now demands intervsn-
ton by Congress for the protection of Slavery
iii the Territories. The Richmond ENQUIRER
says:
But while counselling unity and harmony,
Virginia is not uhmindful of the great aues-
tons that are get unsettled with regard to Sla-
very IN the Territories. Virginia sees that
though the Constitution recognises, and the
Supreme Court sustainS her right to carry slaves
into Territory, yet she also remembers what
Judge Douglas so pOintedly brought to light in
Illinois, that this right may DO rendered null
and VOID by the non-actiOn of the Territorial
Legislature. While Virginia recognises no
power that can compel Territorial Legislature
10 enact those laws necessary to protect the
constitutional rights of shareholders. vet she
does hold that Congress has the right, and is
IN duty bound, to protect Slavery in the Terri
tories until the people of Territory, when on
the eve of forming State Government, may
decide the question finally for the future State.
This question is one Adore the platforms of
parties, and must be met and decided, consti-
tutionally in favor of protection, or unconst.tn-
ally against it. 1t cannot and must not Ne
compromised; ifhe Cincinnati platform does
not proride for this question, Il must be made to
meet this issue.
Ihls question of protection to Slavery in
the Territories will have to be met, and the
| South Will demand her constitutional rights /;
these nights are recognised in the Constitution,
asserted IN the Kansas Nebraska bill, admitted
| by the Cincinnati platform, and have been
sanctioned and adjndicated by the Supreme
| Court; and, with this array of authority, the
south Will demand the legislation necessary 10
render valid the rights SO amply recognised by
the party, the country, the Congress, the
| Supreme Court, and the Constitution.
" The right to reclaim fugitive slaves was given
by the Constitution; the Northern States refused
to legislate for the practical enforcement of this
constitutional right, and Congress was COM
PEELED to provide the Legislation necessary 20
the usefulness of this provision So is il wii1,
regard to Slavery in the Territories. There IS
no noWer To coerce a Territorial Ien;slat,,,. -