Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-01-16
ARE PARTIES HEREAFTER TO BE
WHOLLY SECTIONAL2


subject of the Lecompton Constitution, Doug
| las heading one section, and Buchanan the
other, has completely sectionalized the old
party of that name; there is no longer one
Democratic party, but two-two distinct par
ties, agreeing in nothing but their name and
their love of public plumber. We know Dem
ocrats will deny that their party is permanently
rent in twain; and we know also that the
major portion Of them honestly believe that the
rent is merely temporary and will soon be
closed up again; but we also know that such
is not the expectation of the leaders of both
factions. They admit, p, Tately, that the party
has been permanently sundered and some of
them would be far more willing to strike hands
with the americans than with their late asso-
ciates.
The feeling entertained by prominent south
orn men here towards Judge Douglas, is any
thing but friendly; it is such, indeed, that the
latter well knows he has no fayors to expect
from the South; none whatever, now or here
after If his hopes of future preferment, or
continuance in the Senate, even, rested upon
their disposition to aid him, his chances would
be poor, indeed; for, with their present feel
ings, they would, we verify believe, sooner see
Mr.. Seward in the Presidential chair, than Mr..
Douglas, exemplifying the adage that the enmity
of former friends is the most intense and bitter
of all, save that of relations.
The Democratic party having been split into
northern and southern sections, and the Re
publican party being confined exclusively to
the north, what party is there, but the Amer
lean that is national, not SECTIONAL? None
none. The question now is, will even that
party be able to resist the sectionalizing infu-
ences which are abroad in the land, and rife,
more esp, cially in this Metropoliss We hope
so and yet we have our apprehensions. We
believe that the great body of those who voted
for Mr.. Fillmore, could now act together har-
moniously upon all great questions before
the country, and could again vote, as they did
in 1856, for candidates irrespective of the Sec
tons of the country to which they belong and
we know that american papers at the South
and at the North differ little in their views on
the public questions Of the day; as, for in
stance, the Buffalo Commercial, and the Lou
isvillc- Journal; the Albany Evening Statesman
and the Nashville Banner; the New York Ex-
press, and the Lexington Observer, Maysville
Eagle Knoxville Wing and St Louis Evening
News In regard to the course Of Mr.. Bu-
chanan, Governor Walker, and Judge Doug
las in relation to the Lecompton Constitution,
among these leading american journals as far
as we can judge there is the most perfect har-
mony Of opinion nor are we aware that there
is any diversity between them in regard to the
course the administration has pursued towards
the great fillibuster Walker. We know the
unwillingRess Of some of our southern friends
to be found voting with certain class ofnorth-
ern men, and the apprehensions they have that
they may be judged at home by the company
they are found in on the yeas and nays, rather
than by the question whether they voted right
or wrong. But let them remember the noble
sentiment Of Henry Clay: Am right. for
had rather be right than be President" We
cannot suppose they would vote wrongly rather
than be found in company they do not usually
prefer; but it seems to us that legislator has
but one question to ask, and that is, is the
measure right or wrongH Not, who will vote
this way, or that? If for instance, the Le-
compton Constitution is fraud upon the PEG.
pie of Kansas, if they are in body, or if a very
larger portion Of them are averse to It, and
have no opportunity to vote for or against it,
can it be right TO force it upon them, nolens
polens Is it in accordance with the general
sense of justice Of the people of the United
States TO do thisp We know it is not. Would
it not be doing them injustice, then, to force
this constitution upon themH
But it was not our purpose to argue this
question; we only wished to intimate how we
believe the american party can be kept intact
as national party, when all others have
ceased to bear that character if it cannot, then
there can be no national party, but the South
and the North must be perpetually arrayed
against each other, to the infinite detriment of
both, and the humiliation of all true, exalted
patriotism.
At the late special session Of the Kansas
Legislature, but two laws were finally passed,
the one nrovidinp for the submission of the