The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-07


doing In freighs, without change Of quo
tations.
MIR. senator Douglas and "HI. Recori'-The
Succession and the Administration.
The success or the defeat of Mr. Senator Doug
las in Illinois is q matter of no material mo-
ment to the administration; and this, we think,
is the view Of the controversy which is enter
tanned by Mr.. Buchanan. II is evident, however,
that the Washington Union il controlled by an
outside political interest which looks beyond this
Administrations political interest which is ope-
rating upon programme for the succession, call
ing for the extnguishment of Douglas as the
first necessity. To this end 1t appears from
late article of nearly four columns in the Union,
that the object in view is not so much the defeat
of Douglas in Illinois as his reputation by the
Southern democracy.
The Union, in the article indicated, produces
the record Of Mr.. Douglas on the subject Of
slavery in the Territories, from 1850 down to
1854 and the present day, in order to prove from
"his record " all the way through, that while his
uniform policy has been to enforce the doctrine Of
Congressional non-intervention he has as uniform
" maintained the right Of the local Territorial go
vernment to encourage or exclude the institution
Of slavery by friendly or 'unfriendly legislation"
The argument thus made out against him Is we'll
sustained; but in reference to the Illinois contest
its premises facts quotations and conclusions are
better calculated to strengthen the cause Of
Douglas than any outside assistance which he has
yet received from any quarter, not excepting the
smooth-faced resolutions Of the late Syracuse
Democratic Convention.
The particular grievance against Mr. Douglas
i biz lately declared opinion substantially, that
the bred Scott decision is mere string Of alb
straetions and that II does not interfere with the
sovereign right OF the people In their territorial
condition to legislate slavery ont of their Terri
tory. Upon this point the Union declares that
mot only are his doctrines unsound' but that
hc Is guilty Of gross breach offaith to his party
and to the South and has shown that his heart
j. az treacherous as his principles are rotten"
This gross breach Of faith to the South, we sus-
pcct, hits the nail upon the head. The fire
eaters OF the South, through many oftheir leading
organs aud orators, from Richmond to New
Orleans, have betrayed a very remarkable sympa-
thy for Douglas Mr.. Senator Brown, Of Mis-
sissippi having gone so far rs to express FER
vent hope that the Little Giant may thrash the
abolitionist Lincoln out Of his boots"
Now, assuming that there exists another
democratic clique aspiring TO the Presidency.
that Douglas l. the Little Giant" In their
path. and that this clique have controlling
interest in the Washington Union, we can
account at once for this arraignment Of
Douglas a. an enemy Of the South. If the adj
ministration controlled the Union and its policy
regarding Mr. Douglas, and If Mr. Bucbanan's
first great object we're the defeat of Douglas in
Illinois, the Union would certainly not be per-
mittcd TO parade a lengthy argument before the
country, calculated to do more in behalf Of the
reelection Of Douglas than all the speeches
which he has himself delivered While this act
Of the linton, therefore, relieves the administra-
tion in the premises, II bctrays the existence Of
an outside anti-Dougias clique for the succession,
a. regardless perhaps, Of the real interests of
the administration a. the Douglas conspiracy
itself
AZ for the "record" Of Mr. Douglas upon
the slavery question. 1t may be readily ex-
planned. III 1850 be followed the lead OF
Mr.. Clay, knowing that II was the safe and
popular side; In 1854 he made bold push
for the Southern vote for the Presidency, with
his Kansas-Ncbraska bill, but overleaped the
mark aud lost 1t In 1857 b. repudiatcd bis own