The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-08-22
A PREGNANT FALLACY.

than month ago. of the Hon. James S. Green, one
of the United States senators from Missouri ON the
subject Of the triangular controversy in Illinois, in
which we find this pregnant falacy
No doubt Douglas did great and serious harm du-
ring the last session but democrats will never be
eager for revenge to countenance the election Of
black republican.
We have the highest respect for the head and
heart of the senator from Missouri His democracy
is unquestionable his charity and bcrality large and
his intellect of the very first order. His senatorial
career has been short, but long enough to win
largely upon the confidence and command the re-
spect and admiration of the country. We differ with
Mr.. Green however, in regard to Illinois politics.
His generosity, we fear, has made him say what ma
ture reflection and sound practical wisdon cannot
and win not endorse If Judge Douglas ''did us
great and serious harm during the last session. we
ought certainly to understand, before yielding him
the least countenance, what has been his conduct
since that session closed, and be made to feel that
he has repaired sought to repair, the injury he
thus inflicted upon his party and the country. Mr..
Green will admit that Judge Douglass power to do
us serious harm is to be found in the fact that he
was member Of the democratic party. As ropub
lican or American he could not iDure us dem
ocrat of high standing, by prompt and energetic
movement, he was armed with precisely tho wea-
pons necessary to damage the political organization
of which he was member.
It u.s. then, in the fact that Judge Douglas
accredited representative of the democratic party
that he was enabled to do us 'serious harm" Mr.
Green will admit, for instance, that Judge Trumbull
Ii aofN r
enmity to the administration was well known, had
little power to damage in the Kansas controversy
Of last winter. In practical sense he was mere
cipher when compared with Mr.. Douglas His OPP
position was expected--his denunciation was a part
he was required to perform Had Mr. Lincoln been
in the Senate, the colleague of Mr.. Trumbul, he
would have added just one member to the repnb-
lican party in that body, and without in the least
weakening the democratic force. The power to de-
moraze and charm" party occasions like that
of the Lecompton struggle is always to be found in
the weakness, ambition, and treachery of its own
members Treason in the camp is far more danger
GUS than the enemies batteries The detection of
general is to be feared than the welllad plans
Of the foc Mr.. Douglas occupied strong position
in the party he was at least commander of di-
vision and, without consulting his colleagues, he
turned his batteries upon his friends, and caused
thousands to assa the party who believed they
doing hero-service against the common enemy.
One disloyal and untrustworthy leader of politi-
cal organization is to be feared than regiment
of the opposition. The charm" that Mr.. Douglas in
Aicted upon the democratic party during the last
session is greater than what effected by the
combined strength Of the republican and know
nothing forces in and out of Congress.
Again: Judge Douglas returned to Illinois and
opened the canvass by denouncing Mr.. Green and
his associates in the Senate having sought to per
petrate monstrous fraud" His anathemas were
levelled at gentlemen as well as politicians and
statesmen. Frauds are not political acts. He
who perpetrates " fraud" is morally guilty of
crime against society, and is unworthy to be the as
sociate Of honorable men. But Mr.. Douglas went
further. He not only arraigned the President and
his cabinet both houses of Congress, but the dem
ocratic organizations of thirty out of thirty one
States az parties to the commission of ''monstrous
fraud, !" but he applauded the Americans and black
republicans for having Joined him, as he said, in
efforts to prevent it's contamination.
We submit, then, to Mr.. Senator Green if it is
revenge" to discountenance the election Of such
man to the Senate Are we called upon to be par
ties to an effort to cloho him with power again to
Inisrepresent our views, TO traduce our cause and
to vilify our character party2 II he did us
"serious HARM last winter, has he since evinced
disposition to repair the damage, to withdraw his
articles of impeachment against the great body Of
the democratic party whom he misrepresented, ira
ducsd, and vilifed? What assurance has Mr. Green
that Mr.. Douglas under such circumstances, will not
be Identified with the republicans in ls6O2' And
ifhe il not is there well grounded belief that he
can really serve cause he has 30 recently de-
nouncedi It is proposed to return Mr.. Douglas to
the Senate, to clothc him with authority, to make
him representative and this act, should it be ac
complained he will refer to as endorsement of his
reachcry and of the justice of his assaults upon Mr.
Green and his colleagues "of the last session
The election in Illinois involves something more
than political ends. The conduct Of Judge Douglas
has been such as to involve the integrity Of the dem
ocratic party and the moral character of those gen
tlemen who, like Mr. Green, sustained a measure
which Mr.. Douglas denounces as '.great fraud ,
Nor does he leave US in doubt in respect 10 tb;s
fraud" He details all the particulars through Tho
various stages of it's rise and development and in