Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-07-09

stead Of harmonising tho Democratic party,
has distracted it worse than ever. Not a
Democratic State or District Convention from
Maine to Iowa meets that docs not experience
dissension and trouble in connection with this
subject But two or three of the Northern
Congressman who gave the measure their vote
have yet succeeded in obtaining rcnomna-
tions. All the pensioners Of the Admins
tration are pressed into the work OF procuring
endorsements for its Kansas action, but. as u
general thing, they fail signally both in the
way Of nominations and resolutions. The
Democratic State Convention Of Iowa, which
was held last Thursday packed though it was
with oihce-holdcrs and onico-scckors, could
not even pass a resolution commendatory in
general terms of the President, though all
reference to Lccompton was specially omitted.
This was the resolution:
Reso'rcd, That we recognize in his Excelency James
buchanan, statesman Of ripe Judgment and prc-cmi-
ncnt wisdom, who with systematic devotion 10 The great
principles " representative Democracy, has thus far
Quoted The government Of great cOufcdcfacy with
signal ability, and with just and proper regard for the
varied and conflicting interests Of States and individuals
1t was presented by minority Of the Com
mitteo on Resolutions, and after a violent dis
cussion, was laid on the table by more than
fifty majority, Thereupon the friends of the
resolution bolted, and held separate con-
vcntion. This discord is but one illustration
of the condition of the Democratic party all
over the great Northwest That region
which gave half of its electoral votes to Mr.
buchanan, is now as hopclessly lost to his
Administration as New England itself which
did not give one
The truth is that the days of Executive
dictation have passed. Party discipline is
not what il once was. A spirit Of independ-
ent enquiry, and Independent action too, has
for years been growing among the Democratic
masses and all the Federal patronage. which
has grown TO such an enormous bulk. has not
sutiiced to counterfeit it, Personal prestige,
too, no longer operates. There are no longer
any mon upon the stage who possess it, All
of the great Statesmen whose word command
ed the Difference of millions have passed
away. Private judgment has now frcor scope.
Public measures arc estimated more than be-
fore with reference TO their intrinsic quail
ties. Tho popular sense Of right cannot be
presumed upon as it once was. nor the popu-
lar instincts. triacd with. Party drarooning
is thing now more laughed at than feared.
Party wirc-puling is understood the more
only TO be the more dispised Public men
who wilt not note these things, who persist
in relying more upon party management than
upon the force Of Principle to sustain them,
must surely come to calamity like the fools
pm Scripture they pass on and are punished. F."
DoUoLAs AND I1xco1x.-An illinois
correspondent of the New York T,i5t1,e pives
the following incident illustrative of the two
men whose names arc now SO prominently be-
fore the country in connection with the next
u S. Senatorship Of Illinois
at was in the fall of 1854, whom the Ne
hraska bill was fresh topic. Lincoln was
speaking to some two thousand persons in the
State House at Springfield Douglas sat on
the clerk platform, just under the Speakers
stand. In his Introduction. Lincoln comnli-
men'od his distinguished friend said he HIM
self had not been in public life as he had !:
and If he should, on that account. mistake any
fact he would be very much Obliged to his
friend the judge, if he would correct him.
Judge Douglas rose with good deal of SEN
atonal dignity, and said that it was not al
ways agreeable to a speaker to be interrupted
IN the course Of his remarks. and therefore.
I II he should have anything to say, he would
want until Mr.. Lincoln was done. For some
reason he did not keep to his purpose but
quite frequently rose to put in word when
he seemed 60 think his case required imme-
dlate attention. One of these passages
| 1t was pretty nearly sample Of the rest
was IN this wise; Lincoln had been giving a
history of the legislation of the Federal Gov
ernment on the subject Of Slavery. and refer
ring to the opinions held by public men. and
had come down TO the Nicholson letter.
wherein the denial Of the power Of Congress
to prohibit slavery in the Territories was first
presented to the public Said he: 81 don't
know what my friend, the Judge. thinks.
and he looked down upon him with smile
half playful and half rouguish) but really it
seems to me that that was the origin of the
Nebraska bill This stroke at the Senator'S
laurcls in the matter Of the great principle
created good deal Of laughter and some APP
plause, which brought the Judge to his feet
Shaking back his heavy hair, and looking
much like reused lion, he said. in his ne
cnharly heavy voice, which he uses with so
much effect when he wishes to be impressive
No, Sir ! | will tell you what was the origin
of the Nebraska bill 1t was this, Sir God
created man, and placed before him both good
and evil, and left him free to choose for him
self That was the origin of the Nebraska
BILL As he said this, Lincoln looked the
picture of good nature and patience As
Douglas concluded, the smile which lurked
in the corners Of Lincoln's mouth parted his
lips, and he replied: We'll, then, | think it
is great honor to Judge Douglas that he
'oas the first man to discoyer that fad. This
brought down the house, Of course. but
could not perceive that the Judge appreciated
the fun in the least"
GoYERNMENr CLERKs.-During the last
session of Congress, Mr.. Smith of Illinois