The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-07-16
THE WASHINGTON UNION IN ILLINOIS.

strongly, and indeed violently conuemhin8 iho ino-
tves and conduct of those gentlemen representatives
and constituents who were identified with the llll-
nos 9th-of-June convention. We need not tell our
readers that such article ever appeared IN the edl
tcral columns of this paper; and we are not aware
that we ever published it at ALL We have said moth
ing Of the politics of Illinois, because we determined
10 take. before doing SO, the fullest observation of
the exact state of affairs in that State. We have
never expressed approval of the course pursued
by Senator Douglas and his home friends
We regarded their conduct as in the highest
degree reprehensible, and subject, Of course,
to the severest CRITICISMS by any friend and sup
porter of the democratic party. His efforts in
the Senate were all directed against us. But tho
controversy, which was effectuauy terminated by
the passage of the English bill, having been thus
removed we were prepared to exercise towards the
refractory democrats who opposed us the largest
possible charity. In other words, we were dis
posed to rest upon tho solid triumphs we had
won after hard fight; and to proclaim wish
to forget the offences which had been so wan
tonly inflicted upon the democratic party. Acting
in the spirit of charity, we have forborne to make
any distinct reference to political affairs in Illinois,
The article then, quoted by the National Union, and
attributed to this paper, is gross and unmitgated
forgery. We have never questioned the motives OF
the gentlemen connected with tho 9thofJune con-
vention and, on the other hand, we have never en-
dorsed approved, or in any way sanctioned the reg
ularity and binding force of the April-Douglas
convention and its nominations. The latter was
utterly impossible 50 long as they maintained the
rigid dogmatisn of fachonists, seveIng there
by all possible connection with democratic or
carnations in other States. Mr.. Douglas and his
followers talk like sages upon general princi-
PIES and like idiots in the application OF those prin-
cpes to the affairs Of practical life. What
to think of a man who procaims an unalterable de-
voton to State rights that the people of the Terri
tory are absolutely sovereign in the work Of fra
ming State constitutions, and in the next breath insists
that Congress- has and ought to exercise the COM
pulsory power to force them to submit such const-
buttons for ratification rejection to themselvesf
If it is competent for Congress to dictate the man
ner Of framing constitutions it is clearly within the
province of that body to fix upon the matter as we'll
AS we see the case, either Congress possesses power
in the promises, the people Of the place possess
it. If the former Mr. Douglas and friends are right
if the latter, they are clearly wrong.
But we desire to be informed by the Chicago Ma
tional Union how it happened to publish and credit
to this paper the article enclosed in its editorial col
umns Of the 10th inst (? At this distance we cannot
comprehend that any such mistake could occur; but
we find our usually correct and patriotic cotempora-
ry the Democratic Union, of Peoria, Illinois, OF the
same date has also fallen upon the article alluded
to, which it not only credits to this paper, but adds
very able comments in refutation oft. We come to
the aid of our Peoria friend in the most efficient way
possible by declaring that the Washington Union
never published any such sentiments in it's edi-
torial columns We have no faith whatever in
the persons connected with the April convention.
At the time that convention was held, its members
were in open rebellion against the democratic party
of the Union. 1t is said the regular State Central
Committee called the April convention. and that it
is therefore, perfectly regular We answer that the
universally of detection does not make the pro-
ceedings Of the recusants less factious bind
ing. II the majority in single State desert the
standards Of the democracy that does not sanction
the conduct of the renegades all right and proper
We admit that the State Central Committee of ILL
noIS TOOK DOlu ground against tne paiV oIbaluAd-
tons in end out Of Congress but in doing SO, they
ceased to have authority as democratic committee,
and became the representatives Of special faction
That is all there is of their case.
The Illinois factionists continue to talk Of the ty-
ranny Of the majority in Congress in debating to the
country what is and what is not democratic. How
this language sounds to those who listen to and APP
plaud Judge Douglas, when he insolently claims al
Iegiancs to his own theories as the very spirit of
the true faith we leave to the public to consider. 1t
docs not appear to that there is anything extra
ordinary or pretenous in ninety shundredths Of
the democratic party Of the country claiming ale
glance to one Of their leading measures nor is
democracy so dilstcd that willing to concede
to faction in any single State the right while in the
party to condemn what is done elsewhere all over
the Union.
How docs this language of Senator Douglas sound
in the ears of the people who claim that numbers
make up the partyG II recognise as democrats, /"
says Mr.. Douglas, certain nominees" and declare
what is and what is not regular in the proceedings
Of conventions, because the fight is for me and mn
principles "Nor will stop to inquire, nor shall he's
itato, whether my blows shall hit these republican
leaders or their allies who are holding the federal
Offices and vet acting in concert with them | do