The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-09-02
Douglas against the Field.

The following editorial is from the Louis
vile Democrat, one of the most fearless indie
pendent and reliable journals in the country.
We have entertained for its editors high
regard since their contests with the Know
Nothing mobs of that city, who threatened
their lives with an assassin's knife and their
property with the incendiary's torch, which
had no other effect than to add to the inten.
sity of their denunciation of the BLACKBOARD
crew, who committed murder to be made
heroes, and burned dwellings to be COM
mended by the Louisville Journal and it's
partizans. The following, in relation to
STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS, from the Democrat,
must be appreciated:
The Douglas phobia will be the death of
a long list of politicians, we apprehend. 1t
has become chronic, and is, perhaps, incura-
BILE. The public are beginning to under
stand the malady. Douglas is prominent for
the Office of President in 1860; that is his
misfortune. If he were not the choice of
such masses Of his party, and were it not for
his overshadowing position and talents, he
would be an excellent Democrat. He is
just what he has been for the last fifteen
years. He breaches no new doctrine. We
have showed, and no one has dared deny it,
that his doctrine on our territorial policy
has been practically proclaimed by Demo
Gratis of both sections of the Union. 1t was
the doctrine preached during the whole can
vass of 1856, and every where approved.
No one pretends that it is not the doctrine
held and published by Douglas at that time
and ever since. 1t is now held and pro-
claimed by the whole Democratic party of
the North. The opposition to Doug las
then, is not owing to the doctrine held by
him. 1t is not because he opposed LIE.
compton. In that he was consistent and
correct. He could not support it without
misrepresenting his State and his party, and
stultitying himself But Southern men,
even the supporters of the Lecompton move
ment, has said worse of Lecompton than
ever Douglas said. 1t is not then, on &C
count of Lecompton that Douglas is abused.
Unsuspicious people may imagine that
there is some real sincerity in all this out
cry against Douglas. They don't know
politicians well enough yet. jackson was
once worse man than Douglas; so reputed
by factions of Democrats. They thought
they had disposed of jackson frequently, but
some of them lived to see their mistake. 1t
is misfortune that Douglas is not one of
the obscure politicians the country generally
has only heard of, and that might be used
RI odvo p+o bx, croilc bupforc t. 10 n
fortune that the millions look to Douglas as
the bold, fearless, independent statesman
whom it is safe to trust and wise to make
President. If he could step out of their
way, he would let them alone. His enemies
even complain that his friends defend him
every defence is set down to an effort to
make him President and that is the trouble.
If he is ever President, he will have but little
use for these trading politicians. The tribe
of wire-pulling gentry can make but little
out OF him. Supported by the people, he
will have little need of what these politi-
clans have to give. 1t is we'll known that he
can't be coaxed, scared or bought; and
what do mercenary politicians want with
such President as that? To put him out
of the way, then, is the chief end of man.
1t has employed all the skill and all the en-
ergy of an entire school of politicians since
the commencement of the Administration.
1t matters little with them what may
be accomplished, if they fail in this. Pol
icy, foreign and domestic, counts moth
ing, if Douglas can't be killed. The whole
Democratic party, it seems, elected Presi-
dent in 1856. merely to prevent Douglas
from being President in 1860 The South
can't forgive Douglas because he supported
the annexation of Texas because he aided
with all bis talents, the defeat of the Wilmot
proviso; because he repealed the Missouri
Compromise because he was burned in
ef6gy by the Abolitionists because he al
ways has been, and is now, the man most
dreaded by the negro-worshippers of the
North.
AS to who shall be the nominee for Pres
ident in 1860, that is quite another question.
The Convention at Charleston can best
judge as to who is available; and it is like
ly they will Judge wisely. If they take the
counsel of this faction, bowling after the
heels of Douglas, they will elect nobody;
and it is likely they will judge wisely. If
they shift positions on this question of slave.
ry in the territories, they must have bat
ent invention to make votes-if they sic.
coed that we know nothing about. These
however, are contingencies that we do not
take into account. They are not like other
contingencies and emergencies talked about
lately-they are not coming. These fac
tons may prepare for disappointment at
Charleston for disappointment awaits