The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-07-09
TIE SUCCESSES OF THE ADMINISTRATION VS..
TIE DECENTRALIZATION or THE DEMOCRACY
IFrom the New York IIerald,l


Washington Dnion, on the Administrations 1numphs
and the Prostraton by the Democracy" leveed at the
political logic of the Herald upon this subject and
we cannot accept the logic of the Union, purpose
briefly examination of the question from the facts
the fixed and stubborn facts in the case
First our Washington contemporary cannot understand
how we are to reconcile the Of the adtra
ton with the condition Of the democracy
as we have described 1t and secondly, assured
point blank that instead of being ths horrible
dition, the party 'were in healthy state
than now" And whyi Because .the only plank upon
which the motley forces Of the opposition have heretofore
operated has been plintered to pieces The Union goes
still further, and claims that iin more than half the
States the democracy perfect unit and of overwhem
ing strength and that In all the rest o the Union they
are In most excellent condition. Rut the orowning
conclusion Of our Washington organ is thisthat .'the
success OF the administration is based upon the solid
tumps of principle faction, and that it is difficult
to see show in these triumphs the party has become
Weakened and shattered
Now disnsing these declarations touching the healthy
condition OF the party tho unsupported opinions OF
partisan enthusiast come to the main issue--that
though the administration has been sinaly successful
the democratic party since Mr. Buchanans election has
become more demoraxed than at any other period in its
history. Upon this point what the facts Is it not
fact that with the proclamation of Mr. Buchanan's
conservative cabinet and inaugural the southern uras
of the party proceeded to put themselves into position
from which they might move to his administration
into terms or break it down. Or, for what purpose
the Richmond South established and what the par
cuar incentive to those ultra southern resolutions passed
in Georgia and Mississippi about year ago upon Kansas
If it not to dagoon the administration into the ex
elusive control of the iire-eaters?
Next beginning with the late session of Congress,
would not the Kansas detection of Mr. Douglas and his
democratic followers have ended in the utter defeat Of
the administration but for the saving balance of power
secured from the opposition sdeg The Kansas settle
ment then, not triumph of the democratic party
but triumph of the administration in spite of the dis
tracted and demorazed condition of the party And
beenu he tprin Were
the just and honest views of the President sustained by
the democratic majority did the party fireeaters
and busters of both houses array themselves in solid
body against the President The records will show that
here too it the nterpostion of the opposition that
sustained the President And SO Of the army bill Look
at the speeches and votes of Mr. Seward for example, in
support of the administration and at the speeches and
votes of Mr. Toombs and other democrats against the
administration upon this question And Of the def
cheney BILL which first defeated by democratic votes
| and finally saved by opposition votes in the House
In truth, all these and other things considered there
have been any other uc examples of the
of President upon his leading measures in the teeth of
party majority rendered impotent by ctious and
tonal leaders and cques, the examples of Mr. Bu-
chanans successes during the late session Of Congress
We entirely agree with the Union that these were the
trumphs Of principle over faction; but the spirit Of
faction and factions opposition most in the way
fortunately among the members of the democratic ma
jorty of both houses Nor is this the worst Of it for
while the administration In house divided against it,
self " was rescued by the opposition the democracy,
North and South rank and le have suffered more or
less from the actious and sectional course of this clique
and that clique upon this question and that question: in
both branches of Congress Principles great things
but presidential aspants very apt to be guided by
principles of their own especially when they have
pcion that the administration is standing in their
Herein lies the secret of all the troubles of the admnis
tion with these actious democratic leaders, and the
secret too Of all the troubles which they have brought
upon themselves and their party
Upon this array of hard facts and fixed conclusions
we maintain that, while the administration has been
crowned with signal success the democratic party has
been reduced by party disorganzes to very low cond
ton of Generalization and doubt. Nor believe
the vain boastings of the Union of the excellent cond
tion of the rank and ile North and South until we
shall have had positive in behalf Of
Messrs Toombs and Stephens and Keitt and WISE and
Hunter and Douglas and Harris, and Stuart and For
ncy and all the rest of the cashng leaders and organs
of this section and that section that they have all come
to "happy accord upon the and principles of
the administration. t54a a4
The Union says that the democratic party stands firmly
upon their old positions. This is somewhat cloudy
but suppose it the old windy distractions of
the Cincinnati and Baltimore party conventions. Stuff
rubbish nonsense. The Union ought to but if it
does not know can tell t-that the party in power,
in regard to the succession must stand fall upon the
acts and of its administration Thus but for
the division of the opposition in 1856 upon two tickets
the acts and of Perces administration would
have defeated the election of Mr. Buchanan in spite of
all the resolutions of Cincinnati and Baltimore combined
90 But says the Union suppose are in actual
minority in the United States Is possible to unite the
majority against us p We don't know but we think
it is. The thing done in 1910, and upon this very
money question which is coming again SO broadly
into the foreground and the negro question being out
of the way the fight of 1910 may be repeated and with
| like result.
In this connection our Washington contemporary, in
reference to this journal will be pleased to stick to the
record We too, contend and have conended that Mr..
Buchanan is not responsible for the heavy bill of appro
prations and liabilities incurred by the treasury at the
late session. Nor do charge the responsibility upon
this Congress These appropriations treasury notes and
loans the consequences first, of the official egaces
inherited by Mr. Buchanan from his prcdecessorssuch,
for Instance, the Kansas imbrogo and the Mormon
trouble and secondly of the late crushing revuson,
which has taken directly from the Treasury twenty
five millions of its previous receipts from the
toms. But for all this unless there shall come timely
reaction, financial and commercial sufficient to put the
treasury firmly upon its legs again. these expenditures
oans and treasury notes. may result in the overthrow of
tho democracy in 1860 as in'lS40. That is ALL
In the time il is capital mistake to assume the
late triuphs of the administration in Congress evil
dences of the healthy condition OF the democratic party
great mistake the journals and debates of the late
session will abundaty show. Better admit the truth,
plead the delinqucnccs of leaders, cques and sections
and convince them that the party is demorazed, and
must be harmonized North and South, East and West,
hope recover its lost ground The trick of again di
viding the opposition shrewd one but it is an old
one, and it may fail
CELESTIAL PHENoxESoN NEAR UTIcAAt about eight
o'clock Saturday evening, during perfect deuge OF
rain there occurred of the most beautiful celestial
phenomena we have witnessed. The heavens were