Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-08-13
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

SENATOR DOUGLAS AT THE SOUTH.-We are
not a little amused at the pertinacity with
which the " sore-headed" newspapers in Illi-
nois and elsewhere, parade the pro-Douglas
articles of the New Orleans Bee and the two
or three other Southern opposition papers in
his favor, as evidence of the strength of Doug
las and his abolition efforts in the South II
is a notorious fact that the few Southern jour-
mails favoring him, invariably reflect any and
everything but the sentiment of the South.
They are Ismaelitish papers, with their hands
raised, always, against every one confded
in by the South, and for every one whom the
South regards as its unrelenting foe. The
Richmond Enquirer, since it has become the
mere mouth-piece of Gov. Wise, has stepped
into line with the few papers to which we refer
above, and now can find naugat but censures,
direct or indirect, for those the South delights
to honor, and praises only, for those repudiated
by all of the South but her few Ishmaelites in
politics. Under such circumstances, it is not
acknowledgements Wise, in last ''going of
half-cocked," having buckled his fortunes to
those Of Douglas-that the Richmond Enquirer
now shares with the New Orleans Bee, the no.
torious organ of New Englandism in New Or
leans the honor of furnishing the capital of bogus
Southern admiration of his course, on which
Douglas essays to trade in Illinois when that
dodge seems likely to serve his turn for the
hour. Though the prestige of its former polit-
ical labOrs and position may serve to deceive a
few Northern Democrats concerning the esti-
mate in which Douglas is now held by the
South, there, it can effect nothing in that way,
save the generation Of more widespread dis
trust Of itself.
What Southern sentiment with reference to
Douglas really is, is concisely stated in the
following brief extract from the Georgia Ffti-
eTai Union, the recognized central organ of
the Democratic party in that State, as follows,
viz:
eve intended a short comment on the late
speech Of Senator Doug las, at Chicago, but III nd.
ing In the Richmond South OF the 18th instant
an article on the same subject, which exactly
suits our views, We transfer il to our columns,
As expressing fully our feelings and sentiments
towards tn. Senator from Illinois. We will
simply add, that as Judge Douglas has made
issue with the Administrations, distinctly ard
defantly, on the settlement Of the Kansas ques.
ton, We nope no Democratic paper in Georgia
can be found to render him said and comfort
in his crusade against the South and the South's
friends in the free States. Judge Douglas has
no apology TO offer for his late course-Southern
Dem'cfats will give him in future, as they have
ever given their Northern enem es, war to the
kuife, and that to the bitter end -
TsE EVIL OF THE TMEs.-Among the most
prolific sources of evil connected with American
AFFAIR.", is the growing propensity of our national
legislators to seek to propitiate mOmentary
public opinion in all they do in the discharge
of their duties. The habit has grown into a
disease, working, as its result, incalculable
mischief upon both public and private interests.
Buncombe asks unconstitutional and extrava-
CANT appropriations; and wish to propitiate
the good will of the members constituents, in
duces him to devote most Of his time to working
out the qualification of its desire. Buncombe
runs mad over moral or industrial prOblem
and the member forthwith pretends to run mad
over it also, that Buncombe may be sure to re-
gard him as the very deity of its momentary
faith. Buncombe-or rather the spouting and
office in this country is simply the means of re-
warding crossroads and grog-shop politicians
for their eminent services in political affairs
for spOuting and scribbling. BuncOmbe is pro.
verbally out at the elbows, and will sooner
stsrve than work at aught else than influencing
public opinion so the member, if be would
continue to enjoy popular favor, must forthwith
adopt their view Of right and wrong in that
connection, and must also labor faithfully to
impress it on the policy of the Government
quarter OF century ago it was supposed
that the patronage Of the Executive Office was
devOlved by the Constitution on the President,
to be dispensed by that functionary. Now, to
hint to the member that he is not of right the
sole arbiter of the dispensation of Office in his
party being in power-is to offer
the gravest conceivable insult to the dignity Of
his official position. In recently reading a
speech delivered by that distinguished and
able public man, Senator Clay, Of Alabama,
we find that he has taken occasion to lay down
sound doctrine, indeed, with reference to this
root Of so much evil-the obsequiousness with
which members of Congress seek to propitiate
the bastard-ill-gotten-pu sentiment of the
hour-saying:
" do not think II is the business Of this Senate
or OF the House of Representatives merely to
reject public opinion, whether right wrong
DO not think IT becomes US, as Representatives
OF sovereign States, to run after public opinion
but think we should rather lead It; we should
correct II when 1t Is wrong, and should only fol-
low ii when IL accOrds with our jud : ment and
when II Is right.n
1t would be a happy consummation for the
public interest, Ex-senator Clay could inoculate
all his fellow members of both houses with this
patriotic and conservative sentiment of his.
WASHINGrONIANS ON THE LANES
(CorreSpondencs Of the Star