Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-12-22
Letter from Washington,

WdHHgt0H, O c., Dec. (, lS5S.
 Congress and tue message-Political parties in
 Congress--Ihe Ladiana Senator--J,ulge Doug-
 has at Memphis and his future position Cuba
 and Me1ico, etc, etc.
 Congress met on yesterday and the attend
 ance was full, considering there was nothing in l either house in the way of organization to make
 1t necessary for the attention of members on the first day. The message was read, and is l another able paper from the hands of the pre- | sent executive, and the south cannot but bess- ! tished at its tone and temper, especially with l reference to Kansas affairs and Mexico and Cuba, although his views on the tariff question 1 may not exactly coincide with its views But ! as 1t is necessary that in order to prevent the I accumulation of large national debt revenue
 cannot be so objectionable
 | The present session, in view of the attitude | of the different parties now in existence and l their course in Congress, will be looked to with much interest; as also, or account of the action | that may be taken on those subjects which the President has proper to call their attention l The democrats, from all can learn, intend pur- suing straight forward course, not relinquishng I any of their principles for expediency or any other cause. From those democrats at the north who were defeated at the late elections through | a com bination of black republicans and Doug l lastes, it could not be anticipated that they l would concede to those who contributed mainly to their defeat. It may be mentioned, however that not few southern members are shaky l at the knees towards the Douglasites, and will l only be prevented from receiving them in full l fellowship from the fact that by sach a course
 northern democrats in the future will not stand
 true when they see disposition of any portion of the south not to sustain them, and in fact
 ;nducement would thus be held out to them to
 act unfaithful. The speech of Judge Hughes
 at Indianapolis on the 24th ult, indicates what I Is to be the course of the northern democrats in | Congress, ard shows in what light they view I the letters of certain soul hern men on Illinois politics, and their sympathy for Douglas As 1 to the Douslasites in Congress, they or at least
 majority of them as heretofore, will be found ] acting with the black republicans during the 1 present session.
 | It will be remembered that at the last session
 the Senate declared the election of Messrs | Bright and Fitch legal, on the test vote all the democrats voting in favor of their retaining
 their seats, and the black republicans and Doug
 las and Frederick against them The leyisla- ture of Iudiana, now in session, composed of q majority of black republicans and Douglasites
 has declared their election illegal and void
 and 1t Is said will proceed to the eecton O. two Senators to fill their places--one of whom
 will be black republican and the other Douglasite. Thus it will be seen whac is the
 ultimate object of the Douglastes when it is remembered that Messrs Bright and Fitch are sound national democrats, true to the south on every sectional question.
 The demonstration at Memphis on the oc- casion of the recent visit of Douglas to thal city, and the ease with which certain persons who have heretofore expressed so much regard for the rights of the south, swallowed the nau- seating dose administered in his squatter sove- reignty bolus, is matter of some surprise, and goes to show that their support of Douglas in his Illinois canvass was not based solely upon the question of choice of evils between him and the abolitionist Lincoln, but they were far him per SC, anti Lecompton, anti administration, Jo1l rabe portion of the people of that section in dorse the doctrines he there annuncated rela tive to slavery in the territories, they have but little regard for southern rights, as the mode that Douglas has discovered by which the black rep blic ms can render the Drel Scott decision a lr lity, is more object enable and insulting to the outh than any hat has be n prevousl, sugges ed, piofessing he does at the same time to abide by that decision. The speech of Jeff. Davis at Jackson. Miss, scatters to the winds the fallacies of Douglas doctrine ant exposes its true character. On that question there is no doubt the south is almost unit, the only difference being among few persons who have always been opposed to the democratic party, and desired it's defeat at any and all events-who seem disposed to coaesce with any party, 1t matters not what its principles may be for that purpose-and few democrats who by some strange species of lcgerdemain have all at once repudiated doctrines they have pro- fessed uudying attachment to, and can see no danger to the south in such odous doctrines they now acquesce in if not advocate. In the meanwhile Douglas is making his way further south, in quest of proselytes to his new doc trlnes. and wi,h the evident intent of keeping away from Washington as much as possible previous to the meeting of the Illinois legsla- ture. At this time Washington is dangerous place for him, for notwithstanding it is under stood that majority of the legislature of Hi nos are favorable to his reelection to the U. s. Senate, he has his misgivings on that point as there are sufficient number of those counted for him who do not like his new tangled doc- trines too we'll, and who are not going to give him their support in the event, he does not de- clare he will abide by the decision of the Char '>S''H NohNOuO'oh duu ouppuIL US UOlDHite-
 There are great doubts now existing in the pub l'c mind on this question, and when he takes his seat In the Senate, if not before, he will be forced to define his position, or else dodge the question. What difference between his course now and twelvemonth ago; then he was here on the first day of the session over anxious to define his position against the administration
 and the democratic party, and with indecent haste did so, & arcely able to control himself
 until after the reading of the message. Noao MT. Buchanan says that he does not regret his action on the Lecompton constitution, bat rete- rates his former opinions and Douglas is not here to attack him, and it is made on the part of the opposition by Mr. Hale It remains to be seen whether in his travels at the south he will find many such forgiving and patent elastic de- mocrats, as his friends insist he met at Mem. phis.
 The message on the subject of Mexico and Cu ha nm, fuli,- tb.