Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-11-02
The Contest in Illinois.

Judge Douglas and MIR. Llncoln, or rainier s. uo-
tween Douglas and the Federal Administration,
has attracted the attention of the whole country,
and lately called forth letters on the subject
from many prominent politicians. The course
Eof the Administration is almost universally con-
demned, and the President censured by his par
ty friends in terms of severity which we have
never felt authorized to apply to the head ofthe
nation. Even the Vice President has taken
ground against his Chief and, in letter to the
State Central Committee of Illinois, expresses
his desire for the success of Douglas in his pres
ent struggle.
On the 3Oth of September, Ex-senator Foote,
of Mississippi, wrote to the Hon. Mr.. Dixon, OF
Kentucky, soliciting his opinions in reference to
the Lecompton Constitution, the English bill,
and the course of the Administration towards
the Illinois Senator. He also asked
$40 you not think that the time has arrived
when it is incumbent upon good men of all par
ties in some dignifed and becoming mode, to
hold kind, fraternal counsel with each other for
the public welfare, and to cooperate heartily
and energetically in such manner as may seem
likely to prove most etfectual, for the purpose
of getting rid forever of the existing caucus or
conventional nominating system, under the in.
fuence of which the intellect and virtue of the
community are held in state of shameful sup
pressiona"
Mr.. Dixon was formerly Democratic United
States Senator from Kentucky, and the original
mover in Congress of that portion of the Kan
sas- Nebraska act which repeats the Missouri
Compromise. In his reply to Gen. Foote, dated
Louisville, October 1st, he declares his decided
opposition to the Lecompton Constitution, the
English bill, the policy of the Administration
towards Douglas, and in favor of q general
cleansing "of the Augean stable" lie says;
II disapprove in the fullest manner of the
conduct of the Administration in bringing the
patronage Of the Government into conflict with
the freedom of elections, and regard its course
in this matter as anti Democratic, arbitrary and
unconstitutional, The whole course of opposi-
ton to Judge Douglas and his political friends
in Illinois, SO far as Mr.. Buchanan and his Cab
met are concerned, regard as illiberal, unjust
and impolitic, deeply disgraceful to those con
cerned in it, and dangerous to the Republic itself.
The motives that have led to course so wrong
and mischievous are not at all difficult of detec-
ton. He is recognised as an aspirant to the
Presidential station, and it is hoped that if he
can be put down in Illinois, there will be an end
of his claim to the Presidential dignity. His
whole sin, letting his own sdversaries be his
Judges, is that he has molly remained steadfast
in the support of his own long cherished princ.
pies, whilst Others, pledged in every way to their
maintenance, have meanly shrunk from their
support. 1t is presently to be seen whether the
American people will permit such a course Of
heartless atrocity to succeed; whether they will
allow genius, and moral worth, and high accom-,
plishments, and statesman-like wisdom, and true
moral courage, and iustrious deservings every
way, TO be crushed BY imbecility, and unscrupu-
lous ambition, and corruption clad in official
robes, and faction organised for great public mis-
chief, and political trckery backed and sustained
by the accursed spoils of office.
Touching another grave and interesting mat
ter to which you have done me the honor of call
ing my attention, l will offer few suggestions.
agree with you that there is no party organiza-
ton now existing capable Gin itself, or by the
aid of other organizations heretofore hostile,
through the instrumentality of any process of
fusion yet projecteD ofremedying existing evils.
The people themselves must achieve their own re-.
demptiou from party thradom by their own no.
BILE energies. The people must arm against the
monster caucus The people must cleanse the
Augean stable, and weed away the plants of cor
ruption. A spirit is abroad which promises
great and speedy reform; and, as a man not
closely connected for several years past with any
party organization, am prepared to do all in my
power as true patriot and lover Of freedom,
in cooperation with such others as may be found
willing to enlist in the fierce and vital struggle
now at hand, to free the land from oppression
aud dishonor, and renew the felicity and the
glories of our past history"
A letter from Senator Crttenden, written on
the 1st of August, the subject of Illinois poll
tics, has also been published recently. 1t was
in reply to gentleman who asked permission
to make public the substance of conversation
which took place between them in April last
The following extract is interesting as showing
the state of feeling in Washington during the
tendency of the Lecompton Constitution, and
the assaults to which Douglas was subjected
To conciliate the men who so fercely assailed
the 'Little Giant" the President entered upon
his present course of warfare, but the former
have now ngoriously left the Administration to
fight the battle alone. Mr.. Orittenden says:
"As you state in your letter, did, in that
conversation, speak of Senator Douglas in high
and warm terms. said, in substance that the
people Of Illinois little knew hoo mach then
really 0aoed him that he had had the courage
and the patriotism to take an elevated, just and
independent position on the Lecompton ques
ton, at the sacrifice ofinteresting social relations,
as well as of old party ties and associations, and
in defiance of the power and patronage of an
angry Administration, supported by dominant
party, and dsbursing revenue of some $50, 000,-
900 year; that for this noble conduct he had
been almost overwhelmed with denuncations ::
that the attacks made upon him in the debates
of the Senate were frequent, personal and fierce
That throughout the almost entire session he
must have felt the consciousness that he was in
daily danger of being so assailed in debate. as
to force him into alterations and quarrels that
might in their consequences involve the loss of
his honor or the hazard of his life. That, not
withstanding all this, he had kept his course
steadily and firmly, and that throughout the
whole struggle he had borne himself CALAMITY.
That there was, as it seemed to Inc, heroism
in his course that deserved appreciation, if not
applause"
We have also blast from the bugle of Gov.
Wise, which makes no uncertain sound Having
been invited to take the stump in Illinois, he re
piled on the 18th of October, expressing his SYM
pathy with Senator Douglas and concluding as
follows:
81 would sacrifice much, and go far to uphold
your arms in this battle. would most gladly
visit your people, address them, and invoke
them to stand fast by the standard of their faith
and freedom, and never to let go the truths for
which they contend, for they are vital and car