New-York daily tribune., 1859-02-12

Mr.. Douglass reelection. We do not care which
way il puts this matter, since our course was not
at al affected by that Of others; but it would look
better to maintain some show Of consistency.
We took occasion, some days since, to declsre
that this paper was committed to no man, working
for no one, with reference to the Presidency in
lo60. In go saying we named Messrs. Seward
Cbase, Fremont, and Douglas. Had we omitted
TIE latter, there those just paltry enough to
say and some sily enough to believe, thai there
was silent reservation covering hidden devotion
to the fortunes of Mr.. Douglas. We chose to de-
prize that cavil of any preteIt coloring of pius
biliry. Tni. our Chicago friend calls chasing
"DOugla. with Seward, Fremont and Chase. y
Can any reply to such logic be needed
"NOw q word on personalities. Our Cdicsgo
name.ake quotes from private letter written By
us last Summer TO Mr.. Herndon of Springfield,
H.. whom if declares to be "Mr. LincOln's law
"partner"-a fact hitherto unknown to us, but
which may explain a remarkable change Of front,
not on our part, but on his. Mr.. Herndon is an
old acquaintance and correspondent, who called on
us in this Office some ten months ago, on his way
home from Washington, and volunteered the assur.
ance that he agreed with US perfectly with regard
to Senator Douglas, ard deplored the blind per-
vtIseress Of those Illinois Republicans who insisted
on 6ghting him. Mr.. Herndon went directly home,
and soon wrote us in an exactly opposite key from
that Of bis recs nt conversation. II he is in any
seIse party TO the use here made of our private
letter. We insist that he shall publish them eotire
not one, but all We ever wrote him with refer
ence 10 the late Senatorial contest in Ilnois-and
let tie public judge whether we ever led him to
believe anything Contrary to our public attitude
and ayOwas. We remove all Obligations of secrecy,
snd insist on the fall publication Of our private
letters if they are TO be used at all to cOuntenance
tie Chicsgo allegation Of "duplicity'-an allega-
tion which not Mr.. Herldon alone but the whole
editorial corps of The Chicago Tribua. well know
to be uDfouuded.
Whether the Republicans of Illinois lost the
Legislature Of 1889 and the AppOrtiODment for
leG0 by the unwise counsels that they followed,
or the hesitation Of those who could not concur in
them, must be determined by impartial judges.
We know well that in those States where our
view prevailed-PenDsyly lysnis, New-Jersey, Indi-
sns-tbe Republicans had no occasion 70 regret or
complain Of the issue. In Illinois alone were they
induced to take the course of which our Chicago
namesake is the champion; and the result is well
known Even there, it is not contended that ~e
were wrong with regard to the other States just
named-it is only contended that we ought to have
had one policy for New-Jersey &c, ard another
for Illinois. II was allowable thinks our critic, to
elect anti. .Lecompton Democrat, to the House, but
not to the Senate. Or rather-it would do to
frsternze with them where we had all to gain and
nothing to concede, but rank treason to do the
ssme thing where we might make more by COM
binding with the Lecomptonites to hunt them
down. That policy may do for our Chicago Lame
sake; it did not seem TO Us worthy of THE NEW
YORK TRIBUNE. And here we rest and abide.