The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-10
THE HOUSE THE DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION

Thursday was but AN epitome OF the voting OF the
whole session. The two leading questions of the
nrsseut Congress are those of Utah and Of Kansas.
On both these questions did the House vote on
Thursday and on both did the House place itself in
opposition TO the views Of the administration. On
the Kansas policy OF the administration a small mi
norty Of the democratic party from the North, set
ting their own views above those Of fve-sixths of
their party and those of the administration, united
with the unanimous blackrepublican side Of the
House, to defeat the most important measure of the
democratic administration aud party. On the Utah
question like minority Of democrats, from the South
setting up their peculiar views against those of five
sxhs of the democratic party, and those Of the demo
cratic administration united with the solid blackre-
publican side of the House to defeat this measure
of the administration.
In republican government, all measures must be
carried by majortes Of votes. The man who votes
merely his own arbitrary individual views, votes as
cipher In republican legislation, no policy can be
instituted except by majority of votes 1t is there
fore necessary for individuals under our republican
SYSTEM to modify their personal views on almost all
questions, and to conform them, if they desire to
effectuate any measure Of policy whatever to those
of the majority with which they act. 1t would be
an arrogance as absurd as objectionable for each in
divdual to plant himself doggedly upon his own in
divdual opinions and refuse to support any measure
unless the majority would fashion it precisely in ac-
cordance with his views. SO long such temper
should prevail among the majority, in numbers, of
legislative body, the minority would have only to
concentrate their vote in each baoting, to defeat
the majority in every measure proposed
And this has been precisely the condition of the
democratic party in the present House OF Represent
atiyes from the day in which the present Congress
convened. The people elected large majority of
democrats to that House in the spirit and for
the purpose Of carrying out the same policy tor
which they elected Mr. Buchanan. They expected
that majority to act together, and they expected
them to support in good faith and sincerity the adj
ministration Of Mr.. Buchanan. They could not pre-
scribe the precise details Of policy to the adminisa
ton and the congressional majority which they de-
sired to be pursued but they expected cooperation
and unity of action on all questions and measures OF
policy between them
On each of the two leading measures of the pres
ent session Of Congress, that expectation has so FAR
been disappointed. The administration has been
firm ia it's policy on each of these questions, show
ng no yarableness nor shadow of turning II has
been supported in each of them by ve-sixths of the
democratic organization. II has been opposed with
blind and undiscriminating hostility by the nnani-
nous frec-sol party; and has been successfully OPP
posed by this party, through the accession OF
strength which its compact organization has received
from some twenty odd democrats; in one case from
the North--in the other, from the South. On each
question the twenty-odd have set up their individual
opinions against the administration and their party,
and defantly proclaimed to Them unless you aban-
don your own views and policy and adopt ours, we
will defeat you by coalescing with the black-repub
lcan organization. Indeed, this is the spectacle that
has been presented to the country on every question
that has arisen from the beginning of the session, by
the proceedings of tho House of Representatives
House which the people elected as democratic, but
which has shown itself to be such in no single vote
and on no single question. III be the Kansas ques
tfon that arises some democratic member of the
North puta himself at the head Of the backrepubli
can party reinforced by small cohort Of seeding
democrats from the section to defeat the policy
of the democratic party and administration If it be
financial question, some one of half dozen south
ern democratic members, afflicted with weak vanity
for figuring as watch-dogs of the treasury and aspr
ing after Cerberne fame, who hang about the spig-
gots Of the public ciderbarrel giving violent symp-
toms of rabies at every superfuous drop that falls
from them, regardless of what happens at the bung
we say some one Of half dozen southern mem
bers Of this cast of ambition, puts himself at the
head of the compact blackrepublican party, re-
Z inforced by small cohort Of southern democrats,
to prevent the passage Of this measure Of the demo-
cratic majority and of tho administration. If these
impracticables (the backrepublicans know them as
practicables) are questioned by their friends as to
what they possibly mean by such of pro-
ceeding, and how they possibly reconcile their
conduct with a sincere and generous loyalty to the
democratic cause they turn off the interrogation
with pooh-pooh, 1--WE are as good democrats as
ever we only want to defeat the administration "
Though the administration are supported on every
question by vesixths of the party in Congress-. and
by still larger portion Of the people Of the country
and though every defeat of the administration is a
defeat Of the democratic party these men still
have the audacity to insult the popular intelligence
by attempting to put off this bald piece Of sophsry
npon il as mere blow at the administration
One or the other squad Of them takes the lead