Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-09-27
MORNING LEADER.
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9th, 1858

! - NAAf @oeo-
EDrToRs HERALD In my last I believe said
l might write you something on party politics,
but hardly know what to say, belonging myself
to no party for the good reason that none now
existing quite suits my views Besides this, the
two great parties are rent by intestine quarrels,
and paciheally inclined man does not want
unnecessarily to get controversy. The Dem
ocratic party suffers most Just now,-but they
have generally succeeded in healing OF smother
ing their difficulties. Their opponents have in
their different sections little unity and less dis
ciPline, and to some extent are antagonistic.-
See the Gerritt Smith movement among the Re-
publicans of New York, which, while it can do
no good in aid of the two measures inducing it,
will probably result in transferring in November
the political power of the State to the De
mocracy. twas the pursuit of an abstraction
by Mr. Smith and his associates that defeated
Mr.. Clay in 1914 and elected Mr. Polk, out Of
which grew the annexation OF Texas,-the war
with Mexico-the acquisition of immense terri
tory, altogether beyond our ability to protect
against even a second-rate maratime power
and other ills the force Of which We cannot vet
conjecture. The benefits aecruing from Texas
annexation might have been secured and all the
evils avoided but for the folly of the Gerritt
Smiths of high and low degree scattered through
the country. 1t seemed to be the misfortune OF
the old Wing Party in every great emergency
to be cursed by the marplots engendered in the
brains, fertile for mischief, Of such kind of men
who were so much wiser and holier than every
body else. Concessions to their peculiar views
only stimulated them to make fresh demands,
sometimes acceded to with tie same results
Such men will rule or ruin, and the Democracy
act wisely in rejecting all associations with
them. Better to be beaten by open enemies,
than protesting or halfcrazy friends.
From the adoption of the Constitution to this
day, there have been differences of opinion as to
'-iis true intent and meaning, and parties were
ofganized on these differences, but they were
National The same differences still exist, but
parties have in measure become denationalized
Mere sectional parties can have no permanency
as we have seen heretofore and shall see again.
They may run wild and sweep all before them
in certain localities for time, but they arc in
herently ephemeral. Their very success begels
antagonism. and results often in combination of
the elements previously hostile TO each other
The history Of nullihcation-of anti masonry
of Americanism-and in measure not vet
full, of Neutrality-suspicious. this. Men cannot
keep up forever to point Of high excitement,
and would not if they could. Controversies up
Il. o. e.e..ss r
meni-the best intellects any of Us have-but
their feelings arc not enlisted-the others appeal
more to the passions, and they become infiam-
ed over real or fancied wrongs or both to-
gether-and reason is for the time submerged.
The fever will have its course, and no good
comes from opposing 1t amoDgthe victims them
selves.
Party matters are so much embarrassed by
collateral issues that it is nearly futile TO spec
ulate upon the future The Democracy are es-
sentialiy dsmOralized. The insane assaults of
the UIsioR upon Senator Douglas, ouo Of iis
strongest champions, show the truth Of my
statement. He, to speak most kindly-and
certainly feel so to him-made a great blunder
in proposing the repeal Of the Missouri Com
promise, and in urging so strenuousy his no
lions Of " Popular Sovereignty" OF this he is
perhaps aware nOw-but has he not acted most
EdlihuAll ia uAo IGsl5NillCG 70 LeCOupLOulsllf
and most ably tool he clearly hns shown his
consistency by insisting on the right of the peo-
pie to vote. Because Of this the Union would
shoot him as deserter. According to some of
its recent articles Representative should not
be permitted to entertain any opinions Of his
Own-he is only to ascertain the cor pODHii and
register its decree. This agrees with the theo-
" of our political system about as well as an
argument 1t made few days ago to show that
the American Indians had no claim TO their
own lands and never had any, does with our sense
of moral honesty and right and wrong. If any
one newspaper can sink an Administration, the
Union will do it. But the Opposition are worse
off than the Democracy. They are greatly di-
yided in the Free States, and under Republi-
can banner cannot expect cOrPOrals guard
south Of $500. The Democracy in this respect
have the advantage OF what assumes to be na-
tionality, whether really SO or not, and they
have the faculty too Of healing their minor trou-
bles in most cases, and sometimes Of adopting
the treason Of factions while they despise the
traitors.
If the Courier and Enquirer is to be deemed
the exponent of the Republican policy for the
campaign of 1850, there can be little hope for
the success Of the Opposition. If the old Wings
and the Americans are expected 10 abandon al
Observation-Disclosures and to swallow the dogmas
entire Of the Republican party, the Opposition
will be as surely defeated the election arrives
Many Of them think, and so do many Republi-
cans, that there has been quite enough Of slave
~ agitation and sectional strife already No
man need abandon his principles, and he may
make them practical as far as he can. A little
of mutual concession would have enabled the
Opposition to elect a man in 1856, Of unblem-
ished integrity, of admitted ability and cInser-
vatism in his views on all the great questions
that occupied the public mind. But the man
ayers arranged the work before the Convention
met, and determined who should be the nominee
and succeeded. 1t was Cesar or nothing, and
Cesar they had, but It was dead one. The
same species of folly re-enacted will result IN
the same way in 1860. Whether we shall learn
anything from past misfortunes doubt much.
The late st. Louis election will furnish some
light on my theories. We shall have the same
opportunity 10 select the right kind of candi-
date two years hence that we had two years
ago, and one who would almost certainly sue
ceed. l refer to no individual specifically.
but there are such men, able, honest, exPerien-
eed, well known and ,Popular-rational and
conservative on exciting TOPICS national IN their
views and in their history, but fear the chance
is a slim one for the nomination Of such man.
and say so more in 'sorrow than in anger"
Probably we shall have the satisfaction Of being
delivered, not willing captives, but victims OF
our own folly, to the tender mereies Of the
Democratic nominee, whoever he may be. Their
range for selection is a wide one, and it may
fall on a gentleman like V. p. Breckenridge,
or il may be on Mike Walsh, who at least has
integrity and considerable ability. This being
free country, who is to gainsay our right TO
make fools of ourselves If We are so disposed.
After all It Is a matter Of less moment who our
public servants are, than that the policy OfOur
Government should be prudent and wise in refer
ence to our domestic interests and our foreign
relations. Let that be assured, and the people
may select tsuoh engineers as they like, with
ottf Iaf or hindra,oo g..