The Washington union., 1858-03-27
mEssRs. cRrrrENpEs AND BELL.

MElSHS. CNIIIENDIsN AMI Drh-i.
John j. Crittenden aud John Bell have rem
,dered themselves notorious, but they never
be famous They may be well known to
posterity as jefferson and Jackson but never as
iavorably and always for different reasons. The
latter had great talents, and devoted them to the
promotion of the happiness prosperity, and great
of their country the former, with high abili-
poses. Their speeches and their votes in the Sen
ate, ON the great question which has just been dis
posed OF, may mark in their country's
history butt will be when recreants to the
constitution disregardng the will and the wishes of
the people they represent to crafty political
spleen, or in the hope of obtaining political promo
tion, jeopardize the interests of their country and
imperl the safety of the Union. The qualification
of old party prejudices will no more paiate, than
will the desire for high place and power Justify such
The democratic party may be fatally
stabbed but, if So the blow will penetrate to the
heart of the Union. High place may be obtained
but the path to it will lead the down trodden
constitution and laws of the country. Messrs
Bell and Crittenden may each accomplish what each
adopted, but they will do at the expense of what
ever reputation they have gained as statesmen and
patriots. They both old men and have been
long and highly honored by the people they each
represent During the time they have been in public
life, they have been quite consistent in their OPP
position to the democratic party, and quite as re-
markable for the number aud Importance of their
political mistakes, as any two men who have risen
to as high positions as they occupy. We scarcely
recoect single of either that has so much even
as promised good to the country, much less added
to its greatness, its prosperity its power. But un
productive of good and full ofevil have been their
political lives, they might still have been turned
to useful account. They could never have been
cured, but by single act Of generosity; single
sacrifice of old prejudces and hates, and one stern
refusal to listen to the promptings of hopeless
ambition, they might have done much towards ato-
ming for the that charged their accounts
and could, at least have taken their departure from
the political stage with the gratifying consolation
that their last important act of Legislation had been
performed in the hope OF restoring peace to dis
tracted country, and giving strength to the
bonds which link this great Union together. But
they chose different course Seeing, as they must
have seen that the only hope of peace to the country
and salvation to the Union lay in the success of the
great measure now before Congress- they deliberately
turned their faces against it. Knowing as they must
have known, that its defeat was the cherished OBJ
ect of the sworn enemies of the constitution and
the Union, they openly aided to effect that object
and conscious they certainly were that the agita-
ton which it was known must follow such result
intended pack-horse for presidential aspir-
ants, they boldly took the lead against the meas
ure and unbushingly sought to make virtue of
their opposition. Messrs. Bell and Crittenden may
not accomplish what they desire. We do not believe
they will for among those in the other end of the
Capitol who profess to belong to the political
organization there is enough of patriotism and po-
litical honesty left to aid the democratic party
in averting the fearful events which these men
have sought to inaugurate but, whether they sue
ceed OF not they have by this last act of theirs
placed the cap-stone upon the monument of political
folly which they have erected to themselves and in
scribed upon it epitaph which only be read
by those who come after them with feelings Of
shame and regret. They have gained notoriety, but
they never hope for fame. Let draw the
curtain their Deeds and whilst remembering that
their ends draw nigh rejoice in the hope that we
may never behold their likes again.