Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-30
From the Nes Orleans Data, July 2srd.
The Washington Union and the
DOugIasite Democracy.

DOugIasite democracy.
The Washington Union is more than hostile
it has become franticaly furious against
Douglas and his Illinois democratic followers.
In an article on the 18th inst, the Union in
dignantly denies that it had ever condemned
the Illinois ninth of june Convention of the
Anti-Douglas Democrats, and reiterates, with
great emphasis, its condemnation of the April
Convention of the Douglasite Democrats.
whose ticket the ninth of June Convention
repudiatcd.
At the same time the Union admits that the
April Convention was regular. that it was call
ed by the proper authority, and that its action
accorded with the views OF the main body of
the Illinois Democracy. But the Union con-
tends that the Convention was 'factious''
and that it was guilty of "defection." Here
are the words of that journal:
at is said the regular State Central Com
mittee called the April Convention. and that
it is, therefore, perfectly regular. We answer
that the universally of detection does not
make the proceedings of the recusants less
factious or more binding. If majority in a
single State desert the standards of the De-
mocracy. that does not sanction the conduct
of the renegades as all right and proper. We
admit that the State Central Committee of IL
lnois took bold ground against the party or
CARNATIONS in and out of Congress; but in
doing so. they ceased 20 have authority as a
Democratic committee, and became the repre-
sentatives of special faction. That is all
there is of their case
Further on the Union speaks even more
-. h, .ta. hot Illinois nnnnlaS-
ite Democrats, even though large majority,
are outside the pale of the Democratic organ
ization, are undeserving the prayers of the
orthodox and not entitled even to the rites of
burial. 1t says:
There can. indeed. he no question about
the power of the Democracy of Illinois to set
MP for themselves. If they choose to do SO
they alone are responsible. They ought, how
ever in such work, to act at Least manly
part, by avowing their independence of other
State and national organizations. One traitor
in the camp is more dangerous than fifty enc
mics in the field. Our councils should be
kept pure; and we insist as humble advocates
of the cause, that they shall be-"
The UJ.ion is vindictive. 1t is implacable.
1t prOpos, to crush. to pulverize, an eminent
offender against Democratic organization, In
one solitary instance, even if it have to eXalt
a dangerous enemy to Democratic organiZa-
ton as we'll a. principle. The Union plainly
enough infers its preference for Mr.. Lincoln
over Mr.. Douglas Senator from Illinois
for il is the Srnatorship that is at the bottom
of all this Illinois controversy. 1t would
rather see an avowed Black Republican elect
ed to the Senate. than encourage the re-elec-
ton of the impcnitent Douglas. That is the
long and the short of il.
But il cannot be forgotten that something
more than mere party d scipline is at stake in
this contest between Lincoln and Douglas.
Mr.. Lincoln danounc what he terms, Drsd
doctrine; be boldly avows that the Union can
not and should not continue to exist. one
side black, the other side white; that negro
slavery is gr, at moral evil. which affects
the whole country, and that it should be rig
idly confined within such limits that il would
inevitably die from sutlOcation. Douglas, on
the contrary. upholdS the bred Scott cisiOn;
he declares that the American constitution
was formed on Il white basis; that the true
theory of our institutions contemplate the
liberty and equality of the whites on one
plane, and the subordination of the black aud
inferior races on another plane. Upon these
planes Douglas goes in for the growth and
progress of the whole country, Of whites and
blacks. of North and South of Shareholders
and non-slavchulders.
This is a radical difference. 1t lies at the
foundation of things. 1t relates to no party
disciplinary regulations, but to interests vital
to the South and vital to the constitutional
Union. whatever il may be to that organiza-
ton which the Washington Union has taken
into its keeping. Will the Union be sustained
in di>regarding the issue between Lincoln and
Douglas? VIII it he upheld in its end .avor
to commit the democratic party to hostile
neutrality on the slavery and slayery-pyteu-
sion questions-in lis assumption, in the name
Of the d mocratic party, to ignore the pre-
dominant relation of the white men. TO the
blacks. and the right of the whites. while oc
cupying that relation, to healthy development
and extension? Let us hear.