New-York daily tribune., 1858-09-14
iticians Of III. doughface Administration school.

ocratc vineyard. Admit even that ne couiu oii'
be expected to wo;k in the spirit OF hireiihS
looking to his wages; still, from his 'teudc's a.
aborer, able to do great deal OF hard WON ioi
the benefit of the party, not oyer-nice As TO the
kind Of il the refusal to employ him is little re-
msrkabe. Exclude oil the hirclngs from the Demo
cratic vineyard and who would there be to cart the
manure. TO dig the ground, or to tread oHt 'he
grapes Surely, in this case, il in any the lsoorer
is worthy of his hire.
It's very true that Mr.. Douglas, in the matter
OF the Kansas Nebraska bill made adceidedl! inise
move. and one that has proved abundantiy disas-
trous. no less TO his party than to himself But IL
is in politics a. in other things-noihing venture
nothing have; and it will not do to hold political
leaders. any more than military commanders, 10
oyer.strict account either on the score oil inaiii-
bic Judgment or invariable good luck. That In
the Kansas-Nebraska move Mr.. Douglas meant Well
for the Northern doughiace politicians, no less than
for the shareholders and himself is demonstrate
from one fact. His own political fortunes were
bound up with those of the doushiace fraternity
generally, and to damage that interest would be to
personally, or any of those indebted to Mr.. Ba'
chansn for Office OF emolument, any ground to COM
plain of Mr. Douglas. II is an i'll wind that blows
nobody any good, and however unfortunate might
have been the movement of Mr.. Douglas for his
own prospects, or however damaging to the hold
Of the Democratic party upon political influence
and Office, that movement had at least the result
e NJ
With respect to Mr. Douglass more recent
movements on the question OF Stsie Constitution
for Kansas, by which he was brought into the
position of resistance to the wishes of the Presl
dent and the authority Of the party, there would
seem to be abundant reason for treating him with
a little indulgence Just consider the desperate
position to which he was reduced. 1t was his
only chance for saving himself, for securing his
reelection as Senator from Illinois, and for per-
petustng his political hold upon that State.
Surely, politicians of Mr.. Buchenan's experience
ought not to treat as an objectionable offense
littl fnessing in such case. 1t is open 10 Mr..
Douglas to say that his reelection to the Senate
is scarcely of less Importance to the Democratic
party than it is to himself personally. II Is bs
position as Senstor from Illinois and head of the
Democratic party in that State, that puts him in
position to serve the Democratic party. Degrade
him from this post, reduce him to the ranks and
his power of service will be mainly gone. Even
Bonaparte himself with musket on his shoulder,
would have been little than any other private
soldier. 1t is not the part OF such men to
obey but to command. The refusal OF the
II r a..tt ,,t
Mr.. Douglas, ought it would seem, TO have quiet
ed any apprehensiOns which might have been en-
tertained of his abandonment of the Democratic
party. This very distrust on their part ought, we
should have supposed, to have reastablished his
credit with the Democracy. Was il not declara-
ton on the part of those who had the means to
know him best, that they could find no material
in him out of which anything but donghlnce poll
ticisn could be made Surely, in consideration Of
his faithful adherence TO the party on all other
points, he might be INDUCED in few f1Ourishes
upon the topic of pshx sovereignty, especially in
relation to mattcSG11ay settled and disposed Of
This is evidently the light in which the matter
is viewed by many of the most intelligent members
of the Administration party. The sympathy Of
most of the leading Southern politicians is pretty
plainly with Douglas. They have sense enough
to understand the exigencies OF his case. The
part of doughface, especially in these times, at
least on the part of personswho hold their positions
not BY Executive favor, but by the popular VOTE
is not by any means so easy as many simple per-
sons might suppose. To secure a senatorial con-
firmatOn is one thing; to secure an election by
Northern constituency is quite another. Provided
man votes right at Washington, he must be
allowed to talk as he peases in Illinois. Even at
Washington he must be allowed now and then, On
questions of secondary importance, to consult the
wishes and feelings OF his constituents. Such is the
view taken also by the more judcious aud independ-
ent of the Northern supporters of the Admnistra-
ton, such, for instance as TIE Journal Of Com
raeTce.
What, then. is the occasion of the vehement
efforts of The Union and other devoted organs OF
the Administration TO damage Mr.. Douglass cha
rscter as Democrat, and what the ground of the
Democratic opposition 10 him set on foot and main
tsined by the Illinois Office Mders' There IS, as
il seems 10 u.s. but one explanation OF rhis proce-
dure. Mr.. Buchanan, old as he is, lihe everybody
else. old or young, ever chosen President, IS
already devoured by violent passion 70 secure his
reelection 10 that office. lie nobody 50 likely
TO stand in his way snd to attempt 10 push HIM
from his seat as Mr. Douglas. II has, therefore,
been resolved, on the part OF the President aud
those who form his immediate personal clique, 10
put this uneasy and dangerous competitor out OF
the way, by subjecting him TO species of political
bsnshment. For this purpose, advantage is
taken of his opposition TO the Leccmpton Con-
,titution snd 10 the efforts Of the President to
force Kansas into the Union as Slave State.