The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-05-26

ivemarks upon Lincoln and Illinois.
WASHINGTON, May Is, 1860.
returned to this city on Tuesday evening
] somewhat desired to stay at Chicago durint
the Convention, but the great crowd tina
had already arrived before left, gave suoi
limitations of the jam and confusion ant
exhausting excitement that was to follow
that easily reconoiled myself to the idea Of
returning before its sessions were opened.
/ The feature of the week here has been tn,
speeohesoof Douglas and Davis. Douglas,
effort was long and labored. 1t was merely
a defence Of himself before the National
Democratic Convention, not q Senatorial ar
gument upon matter before that body. II
was fnli OF HE usual ingenious and deceptive
but plausible mis- statements, and bis air was
egotistieal, diotatorisl and somewhat affected.
1t had q strong smack Of plantation manners,
which, in so far as it bore upon his Southern
confederates, and that was TO considera-
bic extent, was not so disagreeable to the
Republicans rs il might have been, as il af-
fordsd the fre-eaters q qualified taste of that
indecency of demeanor to which our side
of the house has been 30 frequently treated,
especially by this same gentleman. His train
of arguments was similar to that Of his lieu
tenants and engineers 10 the Charleston Con-
vention. He undertook to prove, and did
prove, as they had done, that the Dem ocracy
had, 10 years gone by, sustained the position
which he now occupied. From which be ar
gued that be was sound and faithful, and bis
opponents were not Heproved simply what
we Republicans have asserted, that the De-
mocracy are progressive upon the Slavery
| question, demanding moro and more as ext
gencies arise in public affairs affecting the
interests OF the institution. And yet, while
sustaining our argument, and smarting under
it's personal effects upon himself, he failed to
understand the great fact which bis argu-
ment incidentally oved,--the fact which
would have made the source of all bis diff
eultes plain before his eyes, If be could only
have been made to apprehend it,-namely
that not particular and permanent policy,
but progress, 10 the law of Democracy with
reference to the question of Slavery. In the
light of this fact, be, maintaining an old po-
sltion when new exigencies have arisen, is
not consistent in his Democracy, while bis
opponents in the party are, and he is simply
suffering from an inability to apprehend and
obey this law of his party. II it's aegres-
sions have been so great that even he, abject
and subservient to the Slave power as be has
been, must finally refuse obedience to It's Do
mands and bsw before it, when bis ostracism
shall have occurred his eyes will be open to
The true and abstract cause; bat meantime
Republicans cannot strongly sympathize with
one so long free and forward to do the dirty
work OF the Slavery propagandists; who has
poured out all the bitterness Of bis venom
upon us; who has beaped US with bis super
cilious sneers; who has tainted as with
threats of subjugation TO the exactng mas
ter he served, and whom we have reason To
believe, is restrained from still farther and
baser service only by the evident considera-
ton that 1t is unsafe for him to render it,
popular soyereigntyo was mere sham, in
vented to reconcile the minds of the people
to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise.
IL is the cross which be erected on which TO
cruelty us, and it is no unrighteous retribu-
ton that he himself is finally executed upon
it in our stead. cannot find it in nv hear,
or my eyes to cry.
Douglas and his friends still look forward
to the nomination of the National Conven
ton. And il is, in point Of fact, farther
from him than ever. The Slave power never
yet was beaten in a Democratic National
Convention, and il is certainly not going to
be beaten for the first time now in the dav NJ
its greatest supremacy. | never believed he
could be nominated ct Charleston. I feel
stil more confident that he cannot be nomi.
mated at Baltimore.
The nomination Of Lincoln at Chicago has
been known in town for couple of hours.
The nomination of the Vice President has not
yet been received. The selection of Lincoln.
am very certain, gives more satisfaction
here, and meets more general and hearty
concurrence, than the nomination of any 9TH
er man would have done. Some of MIR. Sew
ards strong friends fee. measurably sore, of
course; but the very general, almost univer-
sal feeling Of Republicans is that OF citation
or exultation. Ii is we'll. Ii could not be
better. 1t is glorious The issue of the
Convention has justified all the confidence
that has been anticipated 10 the considerable
wisdom OF its Judgment. Republicans here
ieel II IN their bones that Abraham Lincoln
is to be the next President. and us Western.
ers especially are almost beside ourselye s
with delight and confidence. Douglas re.
ceived the first news of the nomination.
Some friends asked him what be thought Of
He rapliad