The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-03

DOUGLAS AND PIERCE SAVING THE UNIoN.-In
these strange and eventful times, In which no
one can foresee what day may bring forth,
ore of the most curious Of the startling political
phenomena Of the hour is the spectacle Of Doug
las and Pierce saving the Union which they
have both done 30 much to destroy. Douglas,
in speech at Washington on Saturday evening,
displayed extraordinary solicitude about the
fate Of the Union, and "urged all Union men,
all notwithstanding men, to sink their bick
erings and unite to save the country irst, and
quarrel, II they pleased, afterwards"
This is excellent, coming from the man who
is the father of the repeal Of the Missouri com
promise-a measure which has operated
like the opening Of Pandora's box-ani whose
persistence in continuing q candidate OF
the democratic party at Charleston and Bal.
timore, in opposition to the declared wishes OF
the representatives Of the fifteen Southern States
with those Of Oregon and California;, led to
the breaking up of the Convention and OF
the party, which has resulted in the
triumph OF Lincoln and the consequent
peril and danger" to the Union which Mr..
mon with Horace Greeley and Thurlow Weed.
To the very last moment Nc. Douglas refused
to enter into any combination with the Union
and constitution loving men" against the com
mon foe, and be would not 'siuk his bcker-
ipgs or unite TO save the country 6rst and
too late.
And poor Pierce, in a private letter 10 a
friend in Washington, which fouad its way
into one of the papers of that city on
the same day on which Senator Douglas IN sde
his speech to a party Of serenaders, wakes
eloquent upon 1.-The fearful crisis which is now
upon u.s." and which he says che foresaw for
years." and deprecated the causes which he
knew must produce it." The prime cause
Of "the fearful crisis" was the administra.
ton measure Of the repeal of the Missouri
compromise, introduced by Mr.. Douglas 10 the
Senate In 1854, under the auspices Of Pierce to
obtain q denomination, which became trap for
the South and which gave birth to the repub-
lican party and led to all the troubles In Kansas
by which the republican party were built up.
SAe Auot busV eoC 0hh-oAo'Vly OsSuACAt Wa WI
mant, and the aboltionists were regarded as q
handful Of insane fanatics while the secessionist
and disunion element in all the Southern States
was in o small minority. The compromise
measures Of 1850 settled by the great statesmen
ofthe confederacy, including Webster and Clay
bad given peace to the country, and had put a
| qu;etus upon the disturbing anti-slavery agita-
ton. Upon the basis of tbs settlement, poor
Pierce, because he was toe obscure to be known.
war elected in 1852 by an overwhelming M.
jority over one of our grea. historic men; bu.
hardly did be become warm in his nest at the
White House when he became the instrument
in the hands Of the Ere eating secessionsts at
the South In his ambitious efforts to obtain q
denomination, and unsettled that settlement
made in 1850.
The two men, therefore, who are Of all
others most responsible for the creation and
success Of the republican party, and for the dis
ruption Of the United States which is imminent,
are Douglas and Pierce, both Northern men, who
are now making such unavailing efforts at the
pumps after scuttling the ship.