The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-03-04
THE TEsT-THE PRosCRIPTIvE POLICY OF
THE ADMINISTRATION,

The Richmond (Va.) Enquirer, while warm
ly advocating the admission of Kansas az a
State under the LecomptoG Constitution, dep.
recates the policy of making it party test:
IF every Democrat who differs from the Ad.
ministIa'ion IN regard to the propriety of &C.
cepting the Lecompton Constitution is TO be
denounced as an enemy by the adherents of the
Administration, there will soon be such a
schism III the party as may leave Mr.. Buchan-
an but handful of triends-we mean men who
are received into brotherhood by those who
would drive eff from him every Democrat who
opposes tie admission of Kansas without fur
ther conditions. 1t seems to us that such a
course is suicidal"
The Washington Union does not think so. It
insists upon "party allegiance to the measures
OF admission '-"a measure" it says, which
the Enquirer proposes to float without rudder
or rudderman, upon the troubled waters of our
politics." And the Union, in this matter,
doubtless speaks by authority. Already it
characterizes Mr.. Douglas aud his associates
as " the neophytes of Black Republicanism,' y
and classes them with Greeley and Abby
Kelly" types of all that is disorganizing and
odious in Southern opinion. The President
also has commenced dealing vengeance on the
heads of the political friends of the Illinois
Senator, and Governor Wise, if he does not find
himself au object of the open hostility of that
tuncsionary, must calculate on the loss of his
confidence.
The "organ" cannot find epithets bad enough
for the independent members of the Democratic
Party who insist upon the right of the People
of Kansas to decide upon their own Constitu-
ton. In an editorial of Tuesday last, they are
stigmatizad as " sbsconding Democratic poli
ticians Of the North -" apostate Democratic
coaEitionis!s y" refuse Democratic politicians.
who have sloughed off from the national party
to join the bowling and rabid secessionists y
exhibiting all the impotent animosity to the
cause which they Late because they BETRAYED
it, that foiled malevolence could inspire -
"apostate men who have deserted their party
for their party's good:" it finds their likeness
in the "viper which sought to sting the bosom
which had warmed it into life i'm the yen.
omous and impotent reptle,"" which bit the file
in impotent rsge"-and it looks forward to that
hour when " IN proportion to the honor and
triumph of the National Democracy. in this
achievement forcing Constitution upon a
reluctant People, "will the shame and dis
grace of the apostates from their cause be
csushingl"
The Administration-for it is resnons;ble
for this vindictive policy - has drawn the
sword and thrown away the scabbard. It's re-.
solve is, war of determination. Doup,as.
Walker, Wise, Stanton, and other advocates Of
Popular Sovereignty, against Buchanan. Cal.
houn, and the Delaware Crossing, are never TO
be fOrgiven-they and their, friends must be
| destroyed. -
But, will this be an easy achievement r.
the poor old gentleman at the;,White House
who has fallen into the hands of the Dispn;on.
lists, equal to this formidable enterur;se2 7,
Douglas, foE example, the mau.toEbow subm;a
sively to Executive vengeance? has h. nc
friends, no strength in the Democratic Party I
Does he not represent sentiment in that Par