The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-11-18

represented by the administration have not been the
authors Of the distractions which have divided
the party for twelvcmonth la December last the
administration, supported by nine tenths of the de-
mocracy, adopted course Of policy which was the
only which could have been chosen without
bringing a complete and instant rupture between
the northern and southern wings Of the party A
minority dissented but they were allowed to dis
sent without assault elimination from the other
side.
This moderation, however, was not initiated by
the minority. Offensive imputatons and denun-
Citations were at once commenced from that side,
and the charges of fraud, outrage, subscrviency
to the save power against the majority, have been
rife in the mouths Of the minority since, Never
in exciting controversy minority treated
with much leniency the anti Lecompton minor
ity of the democratic party have been treated in the
course of this one,
The strife in Congress having terminated by the
passage of the English bill it then fondy hoped
by the majority that by-gones would be forgotten,
aud that the entire democracy would be found
moving shoulder to shoulder in common battle against
the enemy in the future, II was again the minority
who broke the pipe of peace aud unburied the
Ratchet of war. They did not rally to the stand
ards of the democracy to make battle against the
common enemy, but they in too many cases Joined
their forces with the enemy to engage in a vndic-
tive warfare upon the democracy. Tho English
bill-a measure of peace and compromise--was as
sailed with as much luminosity as the Lecompton
measure had been assaulted before it ; and the whole
North was again made TO resound with the cry of
FRAUD "swindle," and "monstrosity,"
In this new aspect of the the majority of the
party resumed defensive measures, and if they
exhibited less of the spirit of moderation towards
the minority than they had done in the winter, and
confined themselves with less rigor to defensive
| measures, il was because provoked beyond endu-
rance by the ordinations of the minority and their
open alliance with the opposition throughout the
| greater portion of the North.
| Even now the majority are inclined to peace and
conciaton and DESTROYS the third time to leave it to
the minority to choose the character of their relations
| AS hostes were commenced by the act of the mi
| nority in December last-as they renewed in
July last by the minority without provocation
| SO they will be renewed in December proxmo by
this same minority, if renewed at all. In each case
have theae noStnueS Deen as unproVOkeQ as they
have been unwelcome to tho majority. In each case
have the majority been driven to take up the weap
ons of defence with reluctance and with sorrow. If
hostites are renewed next month, this will
be less poignant than it has been in either former
CASE but it will nevertheless, be sincere and acute.
1t is for the belligerent minority to choose the rea
tons that shall subsist between themselves and the
have dad
ed; but who are capable of even yet forgiving and
for getting. There is one thing, however, to be
borne in mind. The relations must be positive
one way or the other. There must be either peace
or war. The minority must disdain to attempt
the part of the Bat during the battle of the Beasts
and the Birds. Whichever side in the contest they
espouse, they must embrace it with all their hearts
and if they shall choose the better part OF returning
to the hospitabe embraces of the democracy, they
must testify their sincerity by their works.