The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-03

when the argument IS exhausted She will stand by II,
arms. Much cheeiugl But, apart from the c. nsGh
uonal consideration, Is Il not right OF the geSst
practical importance in connection with whist has areai
been said IN reierctce 20 our uanitzst destiny errti
expansion Does il not become the heart The lie-teI
the vital principle Of southern security anil southern
progress SO fully has this been realized at the North
that the leader of the republican party WIN SeNs
ard in recent speech in New York, has declared III,
conviction that the political contest going on Is FOR
the extinction or extension Of slavery throughout the
Union that slavery must either be abolished at tie
South established at the North and the senator gives
to understand that in the latter alternative he will re-
tire TO foreign Parts contamination most devoutly 10
bs wished for Cheers He contends that so com.
petey is the democratic party indoctrnated with the
principle of slavery extension, that to prevent its esb
lishment ia the State Of New York. that party must a
permanently diSlodged from power.
When this great principle, thus eliminated by thirty
years of constant conflict should have taken its place IN
the democratic creed forever and thus recognised by all
branches of the federal government tho legislature the
executive and above all the Judiciary should have been
permanently fixed among those established principles Of
construction which have grown up around the consttu
tion species of common law quite as sacred as the
suon ITSELF IL is painful TO be compelled to say that
has been once more hurled and that by democratic
hand, into the of political conflict and has been
repudiaed by the North in recent popular elections
distinguished leader of the democratic party distinguish
ed rs champion of the rights OF the South and de-
fender of the constitutions whose name if pro.
nounced In this hall twelve months ago would have
drawn out from southern democratic audience shouts Of
enthusiastic adniation has not hesitacd to join issue
with the democratic party upon this principle IL yet
painful to say that this attack thus made by Judge
Douglas, is far dangerous than all the efforts OF the
republican party of the North because 1t ia at the
time more covert aud more revolutionary
Judge Douglas, admitting the validity Of the bred
Scott decision and the constitutional right of the south
stakeholder, develops to the northern fanatic art
full plan Of preventing its practical enjoyment through
the omission Of territorial legislatures TO discharge their
sworn duty All civilized law, like nature, abhors
vacuum If right exists in the fundamental law and
cannot be enjoyed, government has ceased 70 perform ii
Legitimate functions anarchy has begun The funda
mental law of this country is the constitution OF tho
United States the fundamental law not merely for the
Territories and territorial legislatures but for States and
State legislatures But the States have their
situations under which their Legislatures exist and TO
which they amenabc while the Territories, having
constitution save the constitution OF the United States
under that their Legislatures exist and to that alone
they responsible right guaranteed by the constitution
the constitution intends shall be respected not to re-
spect it, whether by act OF omission or commission,
not to respect the consultation which tho Legislature
is to respect and this lis perjury The constitution
Of the United States is the sovereign law Of the land
Not to obey it, whether by act of omission commission
is the first and great step towards treason. Judge
Douglas would doubtless indignantly repe the imputa
ton of having suggested political perjury and counscl
treason Yet does not logical deduction force us though
unwil ingly aud painfully yet esstbly, to that concu
sion And while such is his position In principle what
has recently been his position in fact Has he not been
acting with the most revolutionary party this country has
produced The revolutionary principle has been for
years at work at the North Witness it in the refusal Of
the northern States and State legislatures to carry
the constitutional provision for the restoration of fugitive
slaves See it distinctly exhibited of late in open
and armed resistance to the enforcement of the fugitive
slave law and last of ALL behold it raising the standard
of rebellion against the legally Authorities Of
Kansas rebellion countenanced throughout by the re
,x NJ
Douglas and his friends.
Revolutionary principles are dangerous enough when
they come from our opponents-fu more dangerous
when they come from the bosom OF our party, AZ
ter having made the congressional record with the
republicans Douglas and the Douglas democrats went
forth upon it to the people of the North, they fought
upon it, ey appealed to sectional prejudice and passion
and they carried the day Everywhere outside Of Illinois
the adherents of Douglas, epudiated by the democratic
received with open by the republican party
Davis in Indiana, Clarke and Haskn in New York,
Adran in New Jersey, Hickman in Pennsylvania, aud
Mckbbcn in California, have Ill been returned to Con
gress by republican votes Is this democratic victory
Can southern democrats shout peans in its honor Yet
these men were the simple tools Of Douglasthe instr
ments OF his will His the controlling thought not
theirs He is first responsible, they for the das
trous result which has stricken down. everywhere in the
North and Northwest, the true of the democrats
party, and reduced it from controlling majority to
minority in the House of Representatives..
la Illinois, unfortunately, he has been able TO carry
with him the democratic organization. He will be re-
elected and now comes the question: What position
Judge Douglas to assume in the democratic party
presume to read him out of it, We strike
not for men, but for principles strike not against
men, but against hercses Is Judge Douglas prepared
abandon his heresy
Objections which have heretofore occurred in the dem
ocratic party have been met and overcome and the In
tegry of the party preserved But how met by whom
overcome Why by the democratic party of the South
coming up in solid phalanx with firm determination 70
stand by the true of the North and to repudac the
false to sustain true constitutional principles but to crush
out hercsy In vain we hope TO find northern
statesman true to us if not true to ourselves
Once let it be understood that he secure the support
of the people of his section by tratckng away The
principles of the democratic party and the dearest rights
of the SOUTH and then turn to receive the smile OF W
proval and welcome from southern democrats, ana l.
everything is surrendered
The South will add ingratitude to the sacrifice of pn
ciple, and forfeit her honor to the dictates of false poll
cy, it, at the time that She welcomes deseter from
her cause she should her back upon her lifelong
champion and answering friend
Whatever may be the course Of the northern States
towards the President the South at least for
get the man who in every struggle has been her faithful
friend.
In lS4T, Mr.. Buchanan first and foremost il not alone
of northern statesmen, proclaimed that tenltor!
should be fairly divided between the sections in accord
ance with the spirit and meaning of the Missouri Com
promise. The EXTREMIST southern rights men in oounc
at Nashville demanded more than he had been Wiling
to accord in the outset of the controversy.
That method of settlement having failed he planted
himself by the side OF the South the great doctrine
nonnterrention and equal rights of the States IN ln
Territories To that doctrine he has adhered IN w'
hour of triumph and in the hour OF defeat He pro
claimed it when dominant party sustained hiri N "