The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-08-15

In times past. the Democratic party has been
taught 10 disregard The power and influence
OF the House OF Representatives. which has 50
often recorded its judgement against it. and 10
rely upon the wisdom ot the Senate. the I" CON
servatlve branch of the Government" which,
for twenty years hack has almost invariably
been found on its side in the greatest contests
which have shaken the country. But the mas
ses OF the party III the North. which now gene
rally support Douglas, are getting well paid OF
!or then bliud devotion 10 the behests of the
ariStOcra;ic branch OF the Nstiona, Legislature
Through this base bow nc of the knee at the
threshold OF the Senate, that body has been
gradually usurping control over the party, un-
IL II Las become the arbiter Of its destiny, die
It's ffFa Ea'hS 1t hsSnid profess and the
For example: Last winter, Jefferson Davis
who claims 20 be one Of the ahlest Us he certain
~ is the most arrogant member OF the Senate
called CAUCUS ot the Democrats in that body,
AID introduced ior theiI adoption a series Of
resolutions Oh the suej-ci OF Slavery. which en-
bodied the essence Of the dogmas OF the extreme
school OF Southern polite ans. The contest in
the caucus over this boue o. contention was
long and violent. Douglas and Pugh stood
alone in their defense of Popular Sovereignty
The advocates of Daviss resolution worried
the Little Giant and his Ohio Squire. to the
who generously iuterposed in their behalf, and
pleaded for toeration, was promptly knocked
down by an honorable Senator wearing. for
many days aiterward, the evidence OF his un-
timely interference, in the form of u black eye.
After being adopted IN caucus, the resolutions
were reported TO the Senate, where they became
the subject OF acrimonious discussion through
several weeks. and were finally ratified BY the
majority Of that body, receiving the votes of
the Democratic Senators, with the exception OF
Messrs, Douglas and Pugh, and an occasional
adverse vote from two or three Others.
These resolutions were haughtily proclaimed
as the creed Of the Democratic party upon the
vexed question of Slavery. Submitting to
Senatorial dictation, a majority Of the Commit
tee on Resolutions at the Charleston Convention
reported favor IF the registering decree Of their
superiors at the Capitol The minority Of the
Committee resisted. The majority of the
Convention sustained the minority of the
Committee and thereupon the servile echoes
Of the Senatorial dictatOrs seeded from the
main body, rent the body in twain, and Ultimate
y SET up Independent candidates of their own.
And these candidates, Breckinridge and Lane,
the former the presiding officer OF the Senate.
and the latter a member, were selected by the
Democrats in that body as the representative
men Of the National" wing OF the party
The nomination Of Breckinridge was general
surprise. Jefferson Davis was the man whom
most minds had designated as the Nationals.
alias the Slave-Codeites, alias the Negro Prop
aganda, in the event OF their running an indc-
pendent ticket. But the odium which came to
be attached to him as the author Of the Senate
rial resolutions. and the fac, that, in two or
three encounters with Douglas during the de-
bate upon these resolutions. he had got the
worst of the fight, led 70 the withdrawal Of his
in, far-n Of tnsfh h.. t:.tl a. vro
ible, and popular Breckinr.dge. The conspira-
tors made IL good selection. The young and
gallant kentuckian was the very man toward
whom, amid widespread doubt and difficulty,
tens of thousands Of Democratic eyes were
turned in the belief that he was the pilot who
could weather the storm and bring the tempest
tossed ship into port And 10! the Senatorial
mutineerss have deputied TO him the disagree
able task of dashing her in pieces upon lee
shore
And this is what the Democratic masses have
gained by contiding so implicitly, for series OF
years, in the superior wisdom OF the United
States Senate " Y. Tribune