The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-07-15
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ment Of the condition OF the Democracy,
that We lay Il before Ou: readers. The
JoErndlof Commerce is known ss conserv-
alive paper Of great honesty and lndepend-
ence. It's conclusions are drawn from no
other premises than such as one might draw
who has but an earnest wish for the highest
prosperity and honor Of the whole country.
We commend this article to the Ohio Dem
ocracy, who have already anticipated by
their action and harmony, the spirit of the
article. Here il is:
It seems to be generally understood BY
the public that . coHtroVersy, or nt least
serious difference Of opinion, exists between
the friends Of the Administration and the
friends Of Judge Douglas; 4 difference sup
posed TO be shared by the President
and the Senator from Illinois. Upon this
assumed understanding. We are treated to
long dispositions on the split in the Demo.
cratic party, and speculations about it's re-
suit. We have not been Indifferent OBJ.
servers of the political events of the last
few months, and have watched with some
attention, the proceedings at Washington,
and also the action Of the Democrats OF III
inois, which are understood to be based on
the relative position of the distinguished
leaders whom we have ed,-and we are
compelled to say that We are unable to dis.
cover sny such conflict of opinion, touching
political affairs, as can furnish q reasonable
ground for controversy less, afford
a valid excuse for introducing discord and
dissensions into "the party of the country"
The President, as all are aware, consider
ed and accepted the Compromise Bill of Mr.
| English as a settlement and final disposition
Of the Kansas controversy. II is SO regard
ed by bis friends and by the party generally;
and there have been general congratulations
throughout The country, that the question
had reached it's solution. If the people Of
| Kansas wish to come into the Union, they
will so determine by their votes on the and
of August. II they deem il wiser to remain
in Territorial condition for the present,
no one will find fault with that decision.
Such we understand to be the present as.
pect OF the case, and we do not probably
misstate the Presidents views in saying that
he thus looks upon the subject. Let US see
how Judge Douglas understands the case.
In q speech delivered in the Senate at
the special session, June Is, Dir Douglas,
in speaking on the state of parties in Ill
inois, used the following languuge:-
"Whichever way the people of Kansas
may decide the question at that election, ION
the and of August will be final and con.
elusive. If they reject the proposition sub
mi,ted by Congress, the Lecompton Consti-
tuition is dead, and there is an end of the
controversy. If, on the contrary, they ac-
cept the proposition, Kansas from that mo-
ment becomes State of the Uuion, and
thus the controversy terminates. Whether
they shall accept or reject the proposition
is question for the people of Kansas to de-
eide for themselves, and with which neither
Congress nor the people of the severa
Stgtes, nor any person, official or otherwise
outside of that Territory, has any right tc
interfere. Hence the Lecompton contro
versy is at an. end; for all men, Of all par
ties, must be content with and abide BY
whatever decision the people Of Kansas MAY
make"
Taking the opinions Of the President ant
Of Senator Douglas as the sentiments o
those who act with them, we are at loss t
account for any such opinions of difference
: great political party, and the jeoparoiDg o
, its prospects and hopes. When member
u of political party are divided on principle
! there is a decent apology for difference il
y action; but here we have the absurd propo
sition that those who are closely end firm
ly united in sentiment, shall diverge in thei
: political action, simply because of a failur
& to agree On question, non settled, an
which cannot enter into future party con
e hicts. II it be said that the same question
q may arise with respect to other Territories
+. we have the declaration of the President il
his Annual Message, now fully embossed b,
MIR. Douglas, that 1.-THE example set by tn
= last Congress requiring that the Constitution
o Of Minnesota should be subject to the uppro
!. val and ratification of the people of the pro
s posed State," should, in his judgment, "b
= followed on future occasions" This declar
. alton on the part of the President, emphati
0 cally concurred in by Mr. Douglas, afford
d assurance of future agreement on this i'm
portant point.
i. We do not think that the people of tn
country who have labored for the settlem men
of the Kansas question,-wh have jus
= emerged from contest of four years. durs
: ton, in which they have, as a body, agree
on all important points, are now going 10 b
drawn into quarrel among themselves
about single point of difference alrea6
Il settled, and which clearly belongs to tn
n past. Those who prefer to quarrel wit
their friends, and ruin their own cause, rath
er than, forgetting the minor differences c
the past and looking only to the maintenanc
of sound principles OF government in tn
h future, act in harmony and peace, will ia
\ the flames of personal discord, and TO tn
extent of their influence, create division
10 where none exist in principle. We do nj
8 belong to that beligerent class ; and "
D. think sensible men will agree with US, th
:. no more absurd spectacle could be presentt
- than contest such as we are describin
- Further than this, they will hold respont
j. BILE, as the instigators of dissension and Il
i enemies Of sound Democracy, all, wheth
ts in Office or private lite, who shall contribu
IT to division where union and harmony a
possible. .....