New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-07-24
THE DICTAIORs or THE SENATE.

THE DICTATORs OF THE SENATE.
In times past, the Democratic party has been
taught to disregard the power aud influence Of tho
House of Representatives, which has so often re-
corded its judgment against it, and to rely upon tbs
wisdom of the Senate, the conservative branch oil
" the Government" which, for twenty years back
has almost invariably been found on its SIDE IN tho
the great contests which have shaken the country.
But, the masses of the party In the North, which
now generally support Douglas are getting well
paid off for their blind devotion to the behests OF
the aristocraic branch Of the National Legislature.
Through this base bo wing of the knee at tho
threshold of the Senate that body has been gradu-
ally usurping control the party, until it has
become the arbiter of its destiny, debating the
creed which it should profess and the candidates 1t
might nominate.
For example: Last Winter, Jefferson Davis who
claims to be ore of the ablest, as he certainly Is
me most arrogant member OF the senate,
called caucus Of the Democrats in that body, and
introduced for their adoption series OF resolutions
On the subject Of Slavery, which embodied the es-
sence of the dogmas ofthe extreme school OF South
ern politicians. The contest in the caucus ovev
this bone Of contention was long AID violent
Douglas and Pugh stood alone in their defense OF
Popular Sovereignty. The advocates OF Daviss
resolutions worried the Little Giant and his Ohio
Squire, to the very limits Of peaceable enduranee.
CIngman, who generously interposed in their be-
half, and pleaded for liberation, was promptly
knocked down by an hon )r,ble Senator, wearing.
for many days afterward the evidence Of his M.
timely interference, in the form of black eye.
After being adopted in caucus the resolutions were
reported to the Senate, where they became the sub
iect of acrimonious discussion through several
weeks, and were finally ratified BY the majority Of
that body, receiving the votes Of the Democratic
Senator'S, 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 yexsd
question of Slavery. Submitting to Senatorial
dictation, a majority of tie Committee on Resoln-
tions at the Charleston Convention reported Ia
favor of registering the decree of their superiors at
the Capitol. The minority of the Committee 10,
sisted. The majority of the Convention sustained
the minority of the Committee; and thereapon the
ss,vi,e echoes of the Senatorial dictators seeded
from the main body, rent the party in twain, and
ultimately set up Independent candidates OF their
own.
And these candidates, Breckinrlge aud Lane,
the former the presiding officer OF the Senate, anu
be latter member were selected b. the Demo
Gratis in that body as the representative men OF the
" National" wing of the party. The nomination
of Breckenridge was general surprise. Jefferson
Davis was the man whom most minds had desig-
mated as the leader of the Nationals, alias the
Slave. Codeites alias the Negro Propaganda, 10 the
event of their running an independent ticket. But
the odum which came to be attached 10 him Us the
author of the Senatorial resolutions, aud the fact
that. in two or three encounters with Douglas dur
ing the debate upon these resolutions, he had got
the worst of the fight led to the withdrawal of his
name in favor of that of the more pable plausible,
and popular Breckip ridge. The conspirators made
good selection. The young and gallant kentuckisn
was the very mau toward whom, amid widespread
doubt and difficulty, tens of thousands of Demo
cratic eyes were turned in the belief that Le wa
the pilot " no could weather the storm and bring
the tempest-tossed ship into port. And 10 the
Senatorial mutneers have deputed TO him the disa-
gIeeable task of dashing her 10 pieces upon lee
shore.
And this is what the Democratic masses have
gained by confdirg implicitly, for series OF
years, i'll the superior wisdom Of the United States
Senate