The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-14

There is so much talk in Congress, that has
nothing to do with the questions pending-and
indeed there are so many questions pending and
talked about with which Congress has nothing to
do-that it is really refreshing to find plain,
sensible man there who speaks to the point, about
matters ofreal concern and wastes no words on non
sense or triAes. Such man are proud TO observe
that the State of Mane-nay, the whole country
possesses, in the person ofthe Hon. Mr.. WAsHBuRNE
a gentleman of rare analytical powers, as will be
seen, and Of practical business-ke turn, in
debate, which cannot fail to command the applause
of enlightened public. In our report of the
Congressional proceedings of Monday last, we
were so much struck with the appositeness and
force of portion Of the speech which Mr.. WASH
BuRNE addressed to the House, propos of the
PRESIDENTS Message, that we would fain recall it
to the minds of our readers. 1t was as follows:
"Mr. WAsHBURNE of Mane presented his views upon
the political parties of the daythe Democracy which
recognized the equal rights of all men; and the
racy which denied those rights The real question before
the American people whether representing the
Oligarchcal principle, or those sustaining the Demo
cratic idea should preva9 He contended that the
Democracy the Republicans who derived their Irin
ciples Declaration of Independence
socalled Democratic party would establish Oligarchy
upon the ruins of our present republican system"
Now, there is something like principle in this.
1t is not one of your mere stump speeches-full of
'the perilous ridge of BATTLE" and all that--like
some that we hear, now and then, from the
'sunny South" On the contrary, it shows read
ing and doctrine, and is obviously the production
of man who is versed in government, and is not
the victim of an excited imagination 1t goes
directly down to the very root of the matter. 1t
ducas oil trou 10 tbair al
essence. 1t shews, as plainly as can be, that the
true question before the country is not-as the
common of people believe it to be-a ques-
ton between Mr.. BUCHANAN and Mr. DOUGLAS
Mr.. CRITTENDEN and Mr.. SLIDELL-Mr. SEWARD
and Mr.. JEFFERSON DAVIS. Nay it goes farther,
and demonstrates that the struggle is pot between
Wings and Locofocos, Fire-Eaters, Aboitionists
and Nothings-as the several hosts of banded
patriots among us are vulgarly called-but be-
tween Democracy and Equal Rights, on the one
hand, and Aristocracy, which treads down
those rights, upon the other. And be it known,
that by his Democracy" Mr. WAsHBURNE does
not mean that inglorious organization usually
described as ''the unterrifed." Not he He
means by Democracy" a select body of those
who are opposed to the democrats-namely
himself and Mr.. SUMNER, and Mr.. WILSON, and
other incorruptible and real friends of the peo-
pie By the ''Aristocracy," he means the demo-
Gratis themselves. He regards Mr.. BUCHANAN and
Mr.. DoUGLAs-Mr. JAMES GORDON BENNETT and
Mr.. FoRyEY-as all in one mess-oligarchs, every
one of them-and he protests vehementy, as be-
comes man and Representative, against their
being elevated upon "the ruins of our republican
~.
know that our neighbor of The american does not
generally like that form of expression, and thinks
it conceited in editors to express opinions-par-
ticularly when they have any. But we persuade
ourselves that our respected contemporary will
pardon US, for once. Nay, we rely upon its we'll
known frankness and courage for its concurrence
in sentiment with ourselves, when we boldly
avow that We honor Mr.. WAsHBURNE for his manly
adhesion to the Declaration of Independence But
whether The american sustains us or Motive do
not hesitate at all hazards to proclaim our hostility
to aristocracy in every shape, and our hope and
trust that Mr.. WAsHBURNE will continue to give it
no quarter. He is not alone in his work The
spirit of freedom is awake everywhere-not
only in this home of the brave where of course, it
never sleeps-but among the slaves of the despots
of Europe, from whose fangs we are prepared
to rescue Cuba, and Ruatan, and Mexico, and
every place else that can possibly be of use to
us. So profound is the feeling among these down.
trodden peoples, that it breaks forth, even in
their jests, when they dare not give vent to it in
earnest. 1t is but week. since we met evidence
of this, in the pages of a well-known publica-
tion-the celebrated Punch We saw there a
picture of two stree-boys, whose shoes, hats and
elbows-to say nothing of their hearts and
minds-were full Of ''the democratic idea' They
were approaching a well-dressed figure, at the
door of a clothier's shop,-and it was so cum
ningly appareled, and looked so much as if alive,
and representing the oligarchical principle''-
that one of them was betrayed into an express
sion of his misunderstanding the action to the
word. ooh, look ere, Bill p he exclaimed
"'eres bloated harstocrat There's no one look
ting. Let's punch his ed p Such is the retribu-
ton, which, sooner or LATER awaits the oppressor
Mr.. WAsHBURNE happily represents a nation in
which man can do anything he pleases, Except
vote now and then, in some localities, whether
anybody be looking or not. Let him, then, avail
himself of his equal rights to 'punch'' the oil
garchy, until our republican system shall be saved
from the ruin which threatens it.