New-York daily tribune., 1858-12-14
FROM FLASHING TON.
THE BEHEADING OF DOUGLAS.

From Our Own Coropondent.
WASHINGTON, Saturday Dee. H. ISIS.
If the blood Of the Back Dougases Of Scotland
flows in the veins of Stephen Arnold Douglas ut
Illinois, it certainly hes carried with 1t some por-
tiop of their spirit and some shades of their des
tiny. They were trucnlent and troublesome
race always in hot water, aud frequently IN rebel
lion oeanst the powers that be. Do You remem.
her The row that was kicked up in Edinburgh, ac
cordng 10 the yeracous and entertaining chronicle
Of the "Lady Of the Lake. AS related by Sir Wal
ter Scott when Douglas was arrested and com
mtted to prison by order of the fourth King James
That was but street shindy compared with the
colnmotion that has been raised in this capital by
the arrest and execution of the Illinois Douglas by
tie order of our James the FOurth--ior fourth he
il. nasInuch as James Madison, James Monroe,
and James X. Polk preceded him.
II is u very pretty fight as II is and we shall see
whether the Little Giant will follow the example
of his ancestor in the Lady of the Lake,
and Loyalty haraneuc the Commons in the
accents Of concilintion and submission; or
whether as he has lately threatened, he will
carry on the war even after his political read
is off, He has undoubtedly lost good deal Of
strength by the course he has pursued since the
Illinois election. The leading Anti-Lec0mpton
Democrats here do not ike the tone of his South
extreme Southern influences, and of attaching an
unworthy importance to the requirements OF the
mere party organization Of the Democracy. They
would have preferred To see him boldly appealing
to the people, irrespective of party grounds Of
principle alone and in defiance of party leaders.
His unreseryed assent to the Dred Scott decision
has also dscusted sCme Of his best friends in Con-
grcss who do not hesitate openly TO express their
contempt for his seryilc acquescence in the most
ultra Pro-Slaycry dogmas. From the Republicans,
of course, he can claim sympathy or support,
after the ungTntciul return he has given them for
their couDtcLance and aid III the contest OF last
session. He has repaid their sympathy and assist
ance " it'll indecent abuse and gross mlSrcpreseua
ton. So far as those in Washington are con-
cerned. they are likely to leave him to fight his
Own battles hereafter.
Still. the bulk of his followers, and large por-
ton of the Administration Democrats here, are
greatly exercised by the decision of the Senate
caucus to remove him from the charmanshp Of
the Committee Oh Territories. The action of the
caucus is vehementy denounced by several of the
Senstors who were foremost III urging on the Lee
compton bill, and IN the controversy with Dougas
last Winter. Mr.. Bigler opposed the action OF the
caucus on the generous ground, that Mr.. Douglas
should not be attacked while he was absent. Mr..
Toombs denounced it as dictated merely by VIM
diCiive feeling against an indivdual-a feeling that
oul lh never To influence the political action of men
VINO were tnuthNOIl0g 10 govern great country.
A statesman should be controlled by considerations
of policy, not of passion. 1t was the hight Of
madness to crafty spite against Mr.. Douglas, at
the hazard of disorganizng and breaking down the
Democratic party. Senator Brown of Mississippi
who is man of sense and generosity, even II he Is
a courageous, hgh-bred, hightung, Southern
gentleman" and did make ridiculous q" cannibal
and scgomlous speech at iiaz'ehurst-opposed the
decapitation of Douglas both on the ground Of
policy and maensnimity. But violent and ultra
coun,es prevailed and the deed was done in spite
Of all remoustrances. The full effect of the act
viii not be apparent until it is seen what course
Mr. Douglas viii pursue in the matter. II he
submit to decapitaton with silence and humility,
the affair Will pass away, and he will go with IT.
The ambitious motives that may induce him 10 eat
humble pie, will not operate on his followers.
W Wiih them the insult will rankle. and produce Al
Inflammation Of the body polite of the Democratic
party that may produce very serious results.