The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-16
DE- MOOhACI
THE WHITE MAN 10
RULE AMERICA.


The peculiar language of the nomination of Mr.
Douglas in joint convention is very significant, and
seems to have been carefully selected. He was
nominated mot only as the candidate Of the demo-
cracy of Illinois, but as the candidate of all honest
men, Whether this was intended as tender bait
to the republicans, or discharge of indebtedness
for services rendered during the recent campaign,
was not clearly ineligible to outsiders; but this
much is quite certain-the republicans here are not
very much averse to the election of Mr.. Douglass and
in the Legislature even went so far that when Mr..
Anderson Douglas) offered resolution to go into
joint ballot, which, if carried, and Senator had
been elected in accordance, Mr. Douglas could not
possibly have held a seat as SUCH any more than
any citizen of Illinois, Mr.. Peck (republican)
moved an amendment which could leave no ques
ton but that if elected Mr. Douglas was the one
intended.
The election of Mr.. Douglas, which he claims to
be "a vindication of great principle" was really
no such thing, but may be accounted for from
causes which present as singular an anomaly as the
political history Of the country can furnish.
Mr.. Douglas returned from Washington last July,
polluted with the embraces of such aboitionists as
Seward, Wade, Hale & Co.. The republicans
here, knowing him well, doubted much his integrity
to adhere to them, but were nevertheless COM
PEELED to give him partial support; for not only
did such leading journals of the Eastern republican
press as the New York Tribune advocate his cleo
ton, but William H. Seward sent here q confiden-
tial agent, whose name can be furnished If neces-
sary, to say to leading republicans "Do not do so
much as to defeat Douglas" Many, doubt not,
labored honestly for his defeat; but with very many
of the leading wirewOrkers of the republicans Il
is as well known there was general unwillngness
to allow the election of Mr.. Douglas to go by de-
fault. Their candidate, who in point of ability and
standing, was far below many of his own party,
seems to have been selected with this view. The
election in the State Legislature was entirely in the
hands of the republicans. Without them no cleo
ton could have taken place, and the Douglas men
themselves established the precedent in 1856 to not
allow the houses to go into joint ballot, when the
republicans labOred hard: and though thew
merest chance that Mr.. Trumbull was elected.
Still the republicans on this occasion seemed
quite as anxious as the Douglastes to
members who wished Mr.. Douglas to define his
position to the democratic party had an opportu-
nifty of being gratifed. Mr.. Douglas himself en-
gineered this, and it was to this end that he has
delayed taking his seat in the United States Senate
till after his election had taken place. Mr. Douglas
has, by protesting an adherence to the democratic
party, prevented it here, to o great extent from
taking stand against him. Adding to this that
the party issues had been made up, and Douglas
and Lincoln selected as the champions of the re
spective parties some time before Douglas took the
position. he did on the Lecompton question, and
that he has especially labored to make the country
believe that the issue lay between him and Lincoln
and that in this he was supported by the letter OF
vice President Breckenridge, and you have the
secret of his success. On every occasion he has
whlned over the persecution of the administration
soitsawder to the republican ear-and appealed
10 the State pride of the citizens of this State to
sustain him from executive dctaton," which was
as ne claimed, the substance of all opposition to
n MN rom his party. In this Mr.. Douglas
asserted what every one should know l.
entirely false. It is true that the admi
more rabid ofhis supporters at the time he Joined
the enemy; but that the vast majority of all the
Offices in this State remain still in the hands OF
Douglas men II what Is well known; and If the Pre-