Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-02-16

not for the owners.
The position OF Senator Douglas.
On Saturday last we published
dispatch from Washington announcing
that Senator Douglas, Mr.. Stewart Of
Michigan, and David c. Broderick Of
California had been read out of the
Democratic party by caucus Of Dem
ocratic Senators. We read that dis
patch with regret not because we cen
sured the act of the Senatorial caucus,
but because We could not but lament
the fall Of men who had stood high in
the confidence Of the party. There il
no difference of opinion among the
democracy Of Scott county - to the
expediency Of admitting Kansas under
the Lecompton Constitution. Whilst
we all concide with the administration
in wishing that the constitution had
been submitted to popular vote, we
are no less unanimous in holding that
as the proceedings Of the Lecompton
Convention were strictly and even
technically !, raj, and as a submission
of constitu Is never been deem
cd indispensa heretofore, We have
no right to introduce q new test for
Kansas, and reject her because her
constitution was not submitted to the
people. Although we have never been
able to see how Democrats could differ
on this question, we have always been
disposed to allow no little latitude Of
opinion to all who acted with the party
in the trying days Of 1856, and we
have therefore regarded the Express
d Herald and the Burlington Gazette
though somewhat rendered toed
in this point, as standard Democrat
ic journals. Their course in
the present juncture will show whether
they deserve to be so regarded. The
recent movement Of Judge Douglas is
Of a character not to be mistaken, and
we arc at once compelled to make a
choice between the Democratic party
and Douglas party. We confess we
are surprised to see portion Of the
Democracy array itselfn hostility to
the administration, and act and vote
with its avowed enemies. We know
that the smartness of the Douglasites
will suggest that the administration is
not the Democratic party, but the fact
is undeniable that the bulk of the par
ty in Congress and out of it is heartily
with the President in his course. The
admission of Kansas under the Le-
compton Constitution has become a
vital matter, for, if Kansas be rejected,
her rejection will be defeat of the adj
ministration and the Democratic par
ty. Those who oppose the party in
its attempt to bring Kansas into the
Union, must expect the same fate as
those who opposed the Nebraska bill
1t does not matter that there are points
upon which Democrats and Douglas
men agree, SO long as they differ on
this, the vital question of the day. Ex-
perience has shown that there is but
one way to maintain a strong and
healthy political organization, and that
is by Topping off all decaying limbs,
and removing every sickly branch
1t is the part Of folly to acknowledge
fellowship in politics with any men
who betray the least weakness in the
knees. Ifthey are not with the party
all the time, the party is better off
without than with them. Judge
Douglas is but repeating the old ma
newer Of Nat Tallmsdge who led the
Convention against Van Buren,, and
before he goes any further, we COM
mend to him study of Mats subse-
quent career. Tallmadge was for q
tsme the pet and plaything of the
Wings, but soon proved to he q very
dead politician"