Daily national Democrat., 1860-01-21
Open War Against Douglas.


Its we'll known, that the men, claiming to
be the friends of Douglas in the Administra-
ton State Central Committee expressed de-
sire. short time ago, to see the Administra-
tien and Douglas organizations in this State
united, in order that the Douglas strength
might be concentrated and delegates favor
able to the nomination of Douglas for the
Presidency be sent to Charleston. 1t wat
supposed that they would vete for a joint
call Of the two Committees, the Administra
tion and the Douglas-for State Conven-
tion, and the doors thus be thrown open, by
the absence Of oil tests, for a thorough re
union of the Old Line Democracy. 1t seems
however that these so.called friends of Mr.
Douglas have either lacked the backbone tc
do what they wished or are but hollow
friends Of the man they pretend to support
We call the attention Of the Dougl"s DE
mocracy to the following extract from an ar
ticle which appeared in the organ of b. F
Washington, the San Francisco National, 1
short time before the assembling of the Ad-
ministration Central Committee. Remarkine
upon "the secret compact" as it terms it, "by
which Mr.. Latham was thrust upon the De
mocracy, without regard to the popular will,
it continued:
at is farther stated that the election o
Latham involves another point, 1t is wei
known that it was necessary to his success t
secure the support, among others, of Nc
Dougal Mr.. McDougal, from the beginning
even unto the present day has been an anti
Administration and Douglas Democrat. Ii
fact no man has been more severe on the Ad
minstratioR than he, since the origination o
the Kansas embrogio. It is not to be sup
posed therefore, that he would transfer hi
votes to Latham without securing an advant
age for the man to whom he is known 20 bt
| devoted. Hence, we hear, that part and par
eel Of the secret compact are Douglas dele
oates to the Charleston Convention. Incident
TO this is the call of the State Convention on
the part Of the Chairman of the Democratic
State Central Committee and the Chairman
of the AntiLecomptOn State Central Com
mittee on the same day at Sacramento. On
the 18th inst. both Committees meet in the
aforesaid city to call upon their respective
constituents to send delegates to State Con-
ventioD, for the purpose ofselecting delegates
to the National Convention, to nominate q
President and Vice President Of the United
States
"On that occasion, we hear, that overtures
are to be made for union and a joint call on
the part of the committees. 1t is said that
the olive branch of peace is to be extended
that by-gones are to be made -gones-that
the dead past is to bury its dead-that Doug
las Democrats are to recognize Administra-
ton Democrats, provided they agree to be-
have themselves in the future, and that Hogt
and McDougal, and Latham, ETC., who enter
ed into the original compact to put down the
Administration, with a host of smaller fry
are to dictote hereafter the action and policy
of the Democracy of California. Whether or
not this rumor is true, we give no opinion.
One thing, however, We believe: There is a
scheme on foot to send Douglas delegates to
the Charleston Convention. We believe this
scheme is headed by Latham, McDougal and
others. Now, against it we enter our pro-
test We declare our ultra and uncompro-
missing hostility to all engaged in it, We un-
hesitatingly declare it as our opinion that any
man engaged in plan of this kind is trail
tor to the Democratic party--a traitor
its principles, and not to be trusted by
its members. Stephen 4. Douglas can never
command the confidence of the California De-
mo;rGcy. No Iarty in the Union has showr
itself more loyal more true, and more un-
compromising in its devotion to principle
For tco years past the name Of Douglas hd
been the rallying cry of the opposition.
1858 it was nothing but Douglas against th
regular organization. How then can we nov
| ignore the past-ignore our own acts and ac
knowledge ourselves in the wrong from the
| beginning We know not what course Others
may take, but as for ourselves. give us true
Democracy or give us defeat. Better thous
and times to die gloriously than triumph al
the expense of honor"
Now, here is an open proclamation of wal
against Stephen A. Douglas, and made in q
style of naughty dictation which should hav,
aroused the friends of Douglas in that organi
zation, if indeed he has any there worthy the
name, to a spirit of bold and determined ac-
tion. No man worthy to be the friend OF
Douglas could stand and hear him denounced
in this manner Either by word or deed he
would enter his remonstrance or his denial.
Fourteen members of the Committee voted
for reunion of the party. Whether any
Douglas members were frightened out Of
their purpose to vote the same way, by the
naughty mandate Of the Custom House King
or not, remains to be yet revealed.