Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-01-14
YORKVlLLE, S. c
MEN AND MEASURES.

seem TO be IL trGnSltoTy slale-"hcn 'ii9 VI"
lines arc broken down and the new landmarks are
scarcely visible-and such is the condition OF
parties at this moment in the United States. The
democratic, everywhere triumphant, is in danger
of dissolution from its own imponderable magnl'
tnde. One ambitious aspirant after another is
seeking to build upon n new platform political
organization for his own advancement. Judge
DorGIAs leads off in one direction, and BrcHAN-
AN pulls in another. These two men are NJ
present the leaders of the democratic ranks. The
first isa statesman whose strength lies no less IN
his comprehensive intellect and reaching
saracity, than in his willy stratagem and insinua-
ting manners. Washington letter-writers tell us
that he has committed suicide by his recent Kan
sas movement, but they do not consider that the
errors of genius-if it be an error-are frequent
" the stepping stones to greatness and renown-
To u.s. Judge DOUGLAS appears to be the only con-
sistent poitican who has expressed his opinion
on the Kansas affairs. The views which he now
entertains, candor compells us to admit, are but
the principles promulged in the much-lauded
Kansas Nebraska act. 1t might have been lmpo-
Ec in him to re-assert those principles, but he is
not inconsistent They do not know the man who
suppose that slight ke-acknowledglng 1t
to be an error-can force him to coalesce with the
Black Republicans. lie is not man to turn sup
plant to any clique. The Black Republicans
may enlist under his standard, but he will never
serve under theirs. He may build up o party OF
his own, but the cxclusiveness of q bigoted
party spirit cannot suppress the little giant OF the
North West. So far as regards his course on the
Lccompton Constitution, we thought at the time
and still think, that in theory he was right, but
that in the existing condition of affairs, there was
no necessity for fighting about an abstract prnci-
ple which could result in no permanent good. We
have long looked upon the fate of Kansas as sealed
and have been frequently amused at the stren'
nous efforts which Southern politicians make, not
to secure that territory to the South, but to be
cheated out of it according to the letter Of the
law. There was q time when it might have been
ours-it might even now be secured to the South
in one way-but who believes that it ever will be-
come in fact as in name slave-State? What
matters it then whether this territory is filched
from us under the specous name of squatter
sovereignty, under the auspices of the democratic
party, or by the fanatical zeal Of the Black Re-
publicans?
The fact that Judge DOUGLAS has failed to
: please any portion of the democracy-cithcr the
Northern or Southern wing--and that the Black
Republicans are only partially pleased with his
course, shows clearly that it is not to court the
favor of any particular section that he assumed
his present position. But his still more recent
course in regard to the brave but unfortunate
raguan hero-Gen. WALKER-makes it evident
that the favor of the Black Republican party is
not the prjmum mobile of his political ambition.
We turn from this review of the career Of the
'litte giant to glance at the objects and ambition
of that portion of the Democracy who follow the
leadership of President BUCHANAN. The leader
is the type of the phalanx. Cool and sagacious
from life spent in diplomacy, JAMES BUCHANAN
is the model of conservative, cautious politician,
and with far less intellect than Judge DOUGLAS, he
is much more likely to conciliate those who aspire
to his position The one by uniting brilliance
with sagacty awakens the envy of the less gifted,
while the other pursues his unobtrusive way un-
moested and unenyied But Office is not honor, nor
can office confer honor on any one who wears its
insignia unworthily. CALHorS and his iliustrlous
compeers, the ''Sage Of Ashland" and the stalwart
,, WEBSTER, will live upon g(ory's page, not from
the borrowed lustre of official position, but from
the irradaton Of their own mighty intellects.
DOUGLAS may never be President, but he will
stamp his name upon the page Of our political
history.
! So far as regards the relative positions which
: BUCHANAN and DOUGLAS occupy towards the
South. and the interests Of the South, we think
the latter is far the most likely to promote our
welfare and prosperity. What has BUCHANAN
t done to make him the pet of the South? He scnt
r WALKER to Kansas with instructions how to act7+
to couciliate the South, he pretended that WALTER
had exceeded his instructiOns-the South was flly
, enough to believe that man of Gov. WALK Frs
experience and acknowledged ability would try to
thWart the designs VI tle oIu Clalty
: It was simple enough to suppose that BrcuAyAN
would retain dependant who really disregarded
his instructions. 1t was so lamb-like rs to suffer
the rabid lion of Free-soilism to prey upon the
only territory open to the South, and after WALK
Err had been sustained till he could no longer ben
eft or injure the South-after he had written
above the doorway through which the tide of
Southern emigration would have poured-"Aban-
don hope, ye who enter hcre'-he is then sup
: planted, no doubt as q matter of kindness and
good will.
In relation to the Nicaraguau question, the
: President pursues the same equivocal policy
PArLpIxG was certain of his approval before he
ever yentured to exceed his writea instructions.
The election of JAMES BUCHANAN may preserve
the Union, but, if we mistake not the signs of the
times, the future statesmen of the South will lay
to his charge many silent changes injurious to he,
: interests, which have taken place almost mpcr'
l ceptibly.
! GEN. WALKERS LETTER.