The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-05-25
From Forney's Philadelphia Press, May lst.
A Dark and Fatal Friday.

OtdlcS III tHc pueoaBc vi tHc SIcat Hauu, |
consuma:ed at the city which bears the
honored name of WASHINGTON, on the
3Oth day af April, 1858: on Frsday, the
most omnibus day of all the week (accor-
ding TO superstition, obeycd even in these
times in the most intelligent ciIcles.)-
This wicked deed Of profigate politicians
will stir the moral sense Of the country to
its profouudcst depths. 1t will awaken
wide spread Indignation. l. will call out |
emotions which have been stilled because
such decd was believed to be impossi-
bic; and it will hurl into utter obscurity |
and shame those servants of the people |
who have sought this opportunity to as
sist in betrayal, as wanton as it was
causless and unnecessary. TO see these
men gibbeted and transfxcd before the
eyes Of the world may be II melancholy
satisfaction; and to this extcnt the blackest
Friday that ever this century has seen may
be full Of compensation.
But we have no rejoicing over q COM
mon shame. We have NO words to con-
graduation at an event which inficts dis
grace upon our common country. The
more We deliberate upon record Of the
last fourteen months, the more we do
feel that blow has been struck at the very
heart Of our institutions, from which we
may never recover
We saw in this Kansas business when
it assumed its new shape last autumn,
the seeds Of fatal generalization. Pre-
vious to that period it bore the aspect Of
eminent fairness. Mr. Buchanan appear
ed to us, in all his early movements in re.
gard TO it, to be inspired by Washing
tonian patriotism. 1t bad been q difficult
problem to others; to him it was as clear
as sunbeam. He felt so himself up to
the moment when hc supposed he could
change bis course, and be sustained by
the country. That was the weight which
pulled him down. The whole nation stood
appalled, at tho transformation. His very
oficeholdcr hcsiatcd and there was not a
Nor .heIn Senator or Representative, with
in our circle Of acquaintance, who did not,
at first, doubt or dcnounce the unexpected
and extraordinary example. The only
; interest that applauded lis course was
that extreme pro-slavery cable, (known to
desire a DISSOLUTION of the Union,) which
had induced him to leave those true and
gallant. spirits, who had so long upheld
his standard. and to surrender the holy
principle, without which he would be re-
+ posing in honorable quiet at Wheatland.
From that moment to the present, what
have we witressedl Nothing but suc'
{ cession of personal and political degreda'
tions. The principle of the twill of the
majority" had become overwhelming, The
. principle of fidelity to a sworn pledge, and
|, to oonsecrated creed, had sunk into nj
hearts. The President, the Cabinet
, all men had met upon this patriotic plat
, form. 1t was built upon honor, and riv
itcj and clincLed by thousand solemn
assurances. To destroy it required hercu
lean exertions, and series of operations
before which all the efforts of past Ad
. ministrations have palcd their ineffectua
: fires. 1t stood out full aremed before thC
, nation, instinct with energy, and resistles
: from the associations that surrounded it
But the word has gone forth, and thougl
;, it could be annihilated, it was at least be
: traved. And to accomplish this betrayal
:, tho character Of the Democratic party, an
= Of the country, has been shamelessly dis
y honored.
= Independent men, who would not boy
" to the attempt to sacrifice principle
. were turned out of office, and base an
CHI racterless knaves put into their places
; Solemn assurances to high functionaric
y = written, spoken, and printed, werc ruth
= lessly broken.
- Representatives were compelled
: change their votes and violate their pilgl
- ted faith, and where conscience failed
=. approve, p: tronage came in to suppo
/, them.
, Caumnics, the most atrocious an
- cruel, were hurled against all who dare
:, " to be true to the truth. Is this all
!, Would that il were! The formal dccla
., alton Of proud, national party was sougl
- - to be nuIlifcd by the action of Congres
" :" and in subordination for principle, imp
:" - singly declared and socmnly scaled, b
:. fore the ewes of the whole country, v
" had offered to us, miserable cheat. III
:" dark deed of gang Of reckless specul
= tors in Kansas was made the test
~ Democratic faith. Fraud and falsehoC
y were erected into cardinal virtues, and Il
e protests of fifteen thousand freemen
- gainst this deed were laguhed at, as Il
:: protests Of our fathers in the Revol
-, tion were laughed at, as the rawlings
- rcbles, and tho threats of a mob.
"a "a So far for the footprint Of this unh'
=; lowed despotsm. They are marked
ii ii the historic page as the evidences of
VII ceeding morality and degenerating d
mocracy. They turn back the hards
the dial plate Of time, rer ind us that
ho arc living in the feudal ages. Nay, wol
N. than that; for then, il power was gre'
or. public men wcro brave, and the kna
oo that sold his character died the death
ID. the infamous.
he But the great crime did not stop he
10. One wrong after another was tried, Till
N. last as if 10 mock at even the asemblar
he of right, the so. called English bill "
70. proposed, tho incarnation and ircachc
raj and Of dupliciiy--a bill, bo it understo'
which differed from its preccdeuts in TIA
so. that they we're swindles and this was
bribc which, protesting to submit Bccon
ton to the people, did not submit it, acc
nor ding to it's Southern expounders, a
az which, starting out in the preamble W