The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-06
THE APPROACHING STATE ELECTIONS.

THE APPROACHING STATE EEECIToNs.
The political reader has not failed TO discern in
the condition Of public sentiment throughout the
country many indications Of unsettled party organi-
zations. 1t is deeply to be regretted that these dis
tmbanccs have extended into the democratic camp
and threaten to exert moro or less influence upon
the results Of the approaching elections. In refer
ence to tho opposition, Of whatever stripe, it was
expected that, they had been driven from their
accursed policy Of arrayng one section of the Union
against the other upon the fruitess Issue Of slave
ny or no slavery in the Territories, they would be-
come demorazed and degraded in public esteem
We had declared as party, in all places and at all
times that there no earthly occasion for differ
ences Of opinion and much less for serious contro-
versy in regard the question: of freedom or slavery
in the public territories. Therapd ofpop
uation the frontiers made it certain that atetor
algovernments would be Of short duration and there
was question about the right Of the people to es
tablish their State institutions when they should
be qualified for admission into the Union. In this
view the question Of slavery confined wholly TO
the people while in territorial dependence. 1t is
manifest that no party could long exist upon plat
form SO changing in its nature in its dimcn-
sions, and absurd in its designs. 1t could possibly
have no future. It could accomplish nothing. Its
Office must be strctly limited to the care Of the peo
pie who may hereafter be organized into tenn
porary governments on the frontiers. 1t would be
nothing more than an offensive intermeddling with
the affairs Of distant population without any legal
power to control their political action.
We can readily sec that party thus prescribed
to sphere Of operations SO absolutely pontess and
absurd, could not long exist public credit and on
DURANGO They must, like every other organized
imposition, be exposed or later to the con
tempt and dcrision Of all patriotic citizens So il
has been with the opposition. Their Kansas schemes
have utterly failed 1t is that their labors have
excrted no permanent Influence upon the destiny of
that Territory. They were compelled to acknowl-
changing their slavery issue to questions Of fraud
in the local elections Of the Territory.
What wonder sit, then, that the republicans are iii
a condition Of extreme disintegraton What won
der il it they relying mholy now upon the divs-
ions Of the democratic party for future succcss Why
do they 50 readily surrender their own men and sup
port almost every fshy democrat who last winter
abandoned the administration? If they are strong
their strength surely comes from the intellect and
muscle of their own body But there is no self-re-
lance in the opposition They talk Of freedom pre-
cisely as if some freeman had been cnsaved They
claim exclusive jurisdiction Of the Territories, as IL
without their aid, they must be degraded to tic
worst bondage What do they now say Of Kansas
Did they make Kansas substantially free? Is Ne
braska in their hands Is Washington? Is Oregon?
Are New Mexico and Utah? II they are not tho tr,is
tees Of these new regions, what they, and what
do they propose to accomplish as partyg
We thus present the condition. purposes, and fall
nres Of the opposition that the democratic party in
all the States Of the Union may take warning When
tho incrable weakness Of rcpubcanism is exhibited,
the union and triumph of the democracy ought to be
complete. We have struggled for more than ten
years against world Of misplaced an-sIavery sem
tmcnt and misrepresentation; and now that the
truth is working its way to light, we begin to
pander to that gross deception aud 10 signify
that the very errcrs of tho opposition have
found Judgment in democratic minds When
we have fairly, by practical demonstration, ex-
posed the utter hollowness Of abolitionisnl
when wc have shown it to be cheat, a tccep
ton, and a fraud-when we have demonstrated the
integrity, faith, and wisdom Of the great democra-
cy, we compelled to witness bcvy Of ambitious
ienagogues North and South trimming their sails to
catch the ful breezes Of tho spent storm Of anti
slavery and fanaticsm. And why is this? In the
prostraton of negroism are we not strong enough
Do we need "aid and comfort" from the opposition
Must we borrow their tarcs and sow them in the
very springtime of our prosperity? We have beaten
them in the midst Of their strength shall we now
falter and trcmbe when they are PROSTATE with
disease, powerlcss and impoent2
Why, then, should the democracy, at such mosf
ment, lend an ear to those who would distract thcir
councils and parayzc their excrtionsg AT no period |
since the anti-slavcry excitement was precipitatcd
upon the country have we been SO strong.
We are equally strong, too in the triumph Of our
principles and in the exposure Of the utter hollow
ness and deceptive character Of those Of the oppo
sition We are strong in the conviction that our