, 1859-11-11
The Next Congress

ti-Lecomptonites, the Southern opposition
nor North Americans can alone command a
majority in the next Congress. The repub-
licans, doubtless, will come nearer to ma
jority than any of the others, having de-
cided plurality. But holding such plurali-
ty, there is ne certainty that they can sue
ceed as in 1856 in electing a Speaker to
the chair. As then, they will doubtless
make a dead set to accomplish this end,
but Os by q bare possibility it may fall
within the power of the next Speaker to
determine the next Presidential issue, 1t is
not likely that they will, as before, receive
aid from the ranks of the Southern opposi-
ton. Upon so important an issue as the
election Of Speaker to the next House,
the democracy of oil shades aud distnc-
tions, whether the peculiar friends of the
administration or the advocates of the
views of Senator Douglas, will act unitedly
and harmOniously. The opposition South,
then, will hold the balance of power over
any combination which the republicans can
possibly make. Although little hard
headed in their resistance to the progress
of the great democratic movement, yet
they are mostly national Union-loving men,
who will not sacrifice the good of the coun-
try, nor hazard even possible chance of u
dissolution of the Union to crafty little
political spleen or selfish ambition. Upon
an issue then Of such moment as that Of
the electing Speaker, who may, by the
remotest possibility, have the casting vote
for the next President, We expect to see
them marching up to the scratch like men,
and depositing their votes like patriots for
democratic candidate, in opposition to the
republican or any other
Apparently, so far, the Black Republi-
cans have every advantage, and with au
accession of some half dozen votes of the
North American party, will present an ar
mament in opposition to the Democracy of
quite formidable dimensions. Doubtless
there will be in the next Congress q con-
siderable degree of plotting, intrigueing and
combining, and judging from the past ac-
tions of portion of the Southern opposi-
tion, many good men are led to doubt
whether aid eau be expected from that
quarter in case Of on emergency. They
therefore would, with fear and trembling,
see the solution of the Presidential election
left in their hands in 1860. When Mr..
Banks was elected to the Chair, it was
through means of the refusal of certain
Southern Americans to cooperate with the
Democracy TO bring about his defeat. But
the Importance of the result of the issue,
then, was Insignificant in comparison to
that Of the election which is to ensue at
the organization Of the next House. Sew
eral oil those South Americans who gave
aid and comfort to the Republicans in the
election of Mr. Banks, Eve believe there
will be several returned, will not cooper
ate with the Republicans at the next elec
tOn.
Forney, it is true, will be there election
eering as candidate for printer, or some
thing else. But this he cannot get unless
fusion be effected between the friends of
the Little Giant and the Republicans
But it is just ms likely that Mr.. Douglas
will permit this as it is that the sky will
fall aud catch larks Douglas doubtless
has schemes Of his own for the purpose Of
obtaining Presidential laurels, and has not
on over quantity of conscientious scruples
about creating little muss in the demo-
cratic family, if by SO doing he thinks there
is chance of furthering his ambitious
ans; but aside from this we believe him
to be too much Of patriot to become an
Achan in the camp, and attempt division
Of forces upon the eve Of a contest, the re-
suit Of which may determine the existence
Of the Union. Douglas would like to be
President. The wish is the darling child
of his heart, which he has cherished and
nourished in his bosom until it has grown
to the full dimensions Of strong man-so
strong that it requires the utmost efforts of
the Little Giant to restrain the rebellious
spirit within the bounds Of decorous pro-
priety. II Douglas, then, is too patriotic
to advise his friends to course Of action
detrimental to the interests of the country
to advance his own personal designs, we
hardly suspect his love for the poor apos-
tate Forney will make him become guilty
of any such unpatriotic indiscretion.
We expect, then, notwithstanding the
fears and doubts expressed in certain quar-
ters by the friends of the Union, that the
next new House will elect Democratic
Speaker, and if so deplorable an occurrence
should happen as throwing the Presiden-
tial election into Congress, we still believe
that the regular Democratic candidate,
whoever be may be, will be elected without
trouble. But we anticipate no such appeal
from the people. That sacred, solemn and
responsible sovereign right, the election of
u President, the people will attend to
themselves, and despite the combined ef-
forts Of fanaticism and faction, will give us
good sound conservative National Demo.
crat to rule over our destinies, and that dem
ocrat will be the nominee of the Charles
ton Convention.-San Francisco National.