The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-15
The Sad Case OF Dougias-Thc Democracy and
the Opposition.

The Sad Case OF Dougiss-The Democracy and
the Opposition.
Mr.. Douglas, by steamer from New Orleans,
will be here within few days There has been
some talk of grand democratic reception, in
view of his late victory in Illinois, as the great
leader of the democracy of that State. But
several recent events have given to his cause
complexion so gloomy in democratic point of
view, that it is quite likely his reception here
will be limited to private congratulations and
expressions of coincidence.
The events to which we refer are: First, the
tabling by the late Democratic State Convention
of Virginia Of a resolution congratulating Mr..
Douglas on the result Of the Illinois election.
This resolution was laid on the table because of
the objection that the victory in question was
not in reality democratic victory but rather
an individual success outside of the lines Of the
general party organization Thus, Mr.. Douglas
was plumply cast aside by the democracy Of
Virginia. The next event which tells against
him, and very decisively, too, is his removal
from the Craftsmanship Of the Committee on Ter
ritories of the federal Senate by a caucus of
the democratic majority Of that body. In this
act of expulsion bis cause appears, indeed to be
a hopeless one as a would-be dictator Of the
party, and decidedly unpromising even as
camp follower
The inevitable result. therefore, would appear
to be a complete separation Of Douglas aud his
adherents from the regular democratic church.
and their organization into little independent
popular sovereignty faction on the /" glittering
gcneralities' Of the Cincinnati platform. or
something Of that sort Indeed, independently
Of Douglas, the democracy, since the organiza-
ton Of Mr.. Buchanan's administration. have
been so dcmoralized and cut up into cliques
and factions by reckless and aspiring leaders,
that but for the saving nucleus Of the admins
tration they would stand in the utterly hopeless
position, Of a miserable disorganizcd and
wrangliDg minority.
To the factous leaders and cliques OF this
state-Tammapy and anti-Tammany-M Sew
ard Is indebted for the choice OF Morgan az our
Governor; for with proper spirit Of harmony
the democracy could have carried our Novem-
Der election. So in our more recent munich
pal contest. the ticket Of Tammany Hall.
on account Of these intestine squabbles, was re-
pudiated by one-half the democratic party, and
received loss than half the party vote In the
election, because our respectable citizens, even
Of the democratic faith, were 80 disguised with
these disgusting party brawis and the dirty ma
chinery that controlled these party nominations
that they could stand them no longer. And, as
in New York. 50 In Pennsylvania, Illinois, yir-
gina and elsewhere, we find these democratic
feuds and personal contentious ripening into the
broadest issues OF division and open war.
In this condition Of things the prospects Of
the democracy even for 1850 would be hope
less but for the fact that the opposition forces re-
presenting decided majority Of the people, are
equally demoralized, and with less Of the ele-
ments among them Of reunion and consolidation.
The union Of the opposition factions in the re-
cent Northern elections was from accidental and
temporary causes and for temporary purposes.
in reference to the great question Of the success
sion, the republicans and Americans, and
the floating materials which have affiliated
with them, are all in the most beautiful state
Of chaos and conflict And thus, upon
Seward, Banks, Chase, Crittcndcn, Bell, or
any other outstanding party man, or sectional
man Of the opposition camps, North or South,
there is no prospect Of union, but every prospect
Of such dislocation and division of the opposi-
ton legions as win leave the necessary opening,
If that way inclined, for the reunion and Success
Of the democracy.
The only hope Of the opposition for 1860 is in
the absolute abandonment Of their present
schemes, plans and conflicting parties, factions
and candidates, and cordial reunion upon such
anational, conservative, Union patriot as General
Scott, after the fashion Of that grand opposition
consolidation which carried, as by whirlwind,
the carnival election ofls40.