Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-04-21

p" Oait " BANSNA w. W LeN hoo
pened? His experience has taught
him nothing but the petty arts Of po-
litical cunning; his conservatism con-
sists in subserviency to one extreme of
the country, and his statemanship, in
such schemes as the Lecompton fraud,
and the Maryland corruption. His
efforts to establish harmony" at
home, and respect" abroad, have re-
suited in the disruption of his own
party, and the contempt of foreign ma
tions. The "bold and timely meas
ures" which the Herald speaks of, are
the most astounding examples of fraud
and folly. The boldest attempt to i'm
pose upon the public understanding,
which this nation ever witnessed. He
recommended the seizure of whole
provinces Of Mexico, without pre-
tense of right, or necessity. He asked
insisted upon a grant of thirty mil
lions, that he might bribe the Spanish
Ministry, or for some like purpose,
that he dare not avow. He attempted
force upon Kansas the Lecompton
Constitution, which four r-fifths of the
people had rejected; and he put the
finger of the Chief Magistrate of the
United States into the filthiest sites Of
political corruption. He aided in Civ
ing contracts to those who conld give
votes, from Morris Factory to the
Bcrks Iron Works. Finally he dab
bles in buying and editing the Union
newspaper. and hattering the n. Y.
Herald. The last two were certainly
werks of supererogation. He had
done quite enough to destroy himself,
without the aid of the Union and the
Herald.
Profoundly ignorant Of politics. and
the patriotic feeling, which really ac-
tuates the masses of the people. must
that men be, who supposes that these
things have not been noted, and have
not excited the Indignation, which
they deserve. The decentralization OF
the Democratic party is not due to
Sectional parties" either North OF
South. 1t is due to its own utter dis
regard Of the plainest principles of po-
litical duty and wisdom. 1t has pre-
ferred weak men to strong men. 1t
has given no weight to good charac-
ter. 1t has opposed the Anti Slavery
sentiments, courted the Catholics, and
after proclaiming Popular Sovereignty
defed and trampled upon it. in the
case of the Lecompton Constitution
1t has followed neither principles noi
men, but veered about with every day :
wind. Can such a party survive
without reorganization, or a moral
change?
Too much weight has been given to
the movement of Douglas, and to Sec
tional agitation, in the estimates OF
politicians, and far too little to the
verdict Of common sense, and common
honesty or the mal-administration oI
public affairs. How little Douglas ha:
to do in the matter, may be known by
the Connecticut election. Without
his endorsement, the party could no1
have made stand. WIth it they ar,
signally defeated. The most thai
Douglas can do is to share with tn,
Administration the disasters of de
feat. To do that will be generous
but will neither save him, nor it,
The disease is at the heart, and is a.
much shared by the advocate of Squat
ter Sovereignty, as by the inventor o
the Lecompton fraud The peopl,
have lost confidence in that machincr,
of party, which has only led to mis-
rule and mismanagement.
The Herald, practically, acknowl
edges this, and tries to find land fol
itself, by the formation of some mid
die party. 1t is in vain. Middle
parties are like hermaphrodites, of rar
occurrence, and little value. Th'
party of Mr.. Buchanan-thc party o
the Herald-the party which calls it
self Democrotic,-is going into tn
Charleston Convention to keep in tn
ancient regime. reign..oi the Bour
bons-the reign of political Terror
and organization of all the polltica
swindles of the country, against it
integrity, freedom and intelligence
Will the nation permit it? Will the
restore the Bastile, aud the Boui bons
We shall not believe it, till we los
faith in public virtue. The honesty
intelligence and public virtue Of th
nation are, we believe, around; and,
so, they will unite in some mode, all
under some name. to give effect I
public opinion. The common sense {
a great nation is not yet lost all pat
riotism is not gone,-elections are nc
yet sham. There is people; an
there is reward for those who have 5
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