Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-02-04

- 4uo pONALlon WuAG8 tue Lt1kooCkAAaC pity
through its Representatives, has maintained
during the struggle 70 organize the House al
WaShingtC0, has been dlgniasd and cannot
haVs failed to command the confidence and
respect Of the country. The Democratic mem.
bers assembled In CAUCUS, as usual, just prior
to the day of meeting, briefly declared their
principles upon the exciting and absorbing
topics Of the day, made their nomination for
Speaker, and voted fOr him. Theirs has been
a straightforward, manly cOurse-they have
manifested every disposition to organize and
go to work. They have appealed to the OPP
position to show like disposition, but all to
no purpose. The Republicans insist on hav.
ing the organization to suit themselves, and
refuse to listen to reason.
Probably it is better that an organization
has been delayed so long. The 6rst impress
sion, however, Of most persons is, that the
time of the House of Representatives has thus
far been wasted in trifling which would better
become sehOol.boys than grave members Of
the National Legislature, and that the public
interests have suffered from the apparent in.
difference Of the members, who seem more in.
tent upon gaining party triumph than in at
tending to the wants Of the country. We are
not certain that this impression is correct On
the contrary We are inclined to think that the
House, il organized, would not have been as
probably employed. Weeven go farther and
believe that that body has not only been kept
out Of mischief but there has been Affirmative
good connected with this delay in rfFectine an
organization. The negative virtue Of all this
prolonged balIoting is obvious enough. Had
the House organized the first day, especially
by the election Of Black Republican Speaker,
it would have plunged, in all probability, into
an exciting discussion aboutthe Harper'S Fer.
~ raid Of old Brown, Helpers Impending
Crisis" the prospect OF a dissolution Of the
Union and the African slave trade. Not only
the feeling Of members but of the country
would have been influenced, and in connection
with the discussion about Harper's Ferry, Sec.
tionJ strife would have risen to tho highest
pitch. No class Of men would have profted
BY this state Of things, except the demagogues
whose political capital consists of Abolition
agitation.
The delay in effccting an organization has
givOn time for the pcnt up zeal Of member" to
oozo out At their fingers ends-to exhaust itself
in harmless discussions, without damaging
either themselves or any one else. 1t has
shown where men really stood and compelled
them to choose their company, much against
the wishes Of the vacilating, and, we regret
to say, has thrown a few mel, of whom we
expected better things and who professed to
DO actuated by principle, into disreputable
company-company that must despise them
for their weakness or treachery. There is
nothing lost, however, in driving men to de-
fne their positions at such critical time as
this, and range themselves with reference Ia
the great questions At issue before the public
questions in which the whole country is in.
terested.
1t has consolidated and disciplined and in.
fused q healthy tone in the Democratic
strength in the House, and we may add,
throughout the country. 1t has brought those
members who mean to be Democrats hereaf
ter, together, on q single and clearly defined
platform, and accustomed them, through a
severe struggle, to adhere to each other and
the discipline appropriate for an army in the
face Of an enemy. It has purged the party Of
all Hessians, and forced the wavering and art
full to disclose their hands It has separated
the faithful from the faithleSS, and defeated
the intrigues Of the treacherouS This action
Of our Democratic Representatives has origi.
mated powerful tendency to similar action
on the part Of the party all over the country,
and will operate as a happy commencement
Of the great Presidential contest about open
ing upon US.
II has been demonstrated that the "South
Americans" are not unwilling TO fuse with the
Black Republicans, provided they can strength
en- themselves and share the spoils by doing
10, and that 3 perfect fusion may take place
between them: that EtheridgC and Davis,
Sherman and Stevens, have no objection to a
fusion on tho score Of principle.
It has proved that the Americans, who arc
disposed to stand on National ground and not
be Abolitionists, will in the end be compelled
to choose between sectionalism as represented
by the Black Republicans, and Nationalism as
represented by tho Democrats. Such arc
some Of the effects of this prolonged contest
for Speaker. It is clearing up the fog and
bringing out the positions Of parties with more
diStinctness.