Des Arc citizen., 1860-01-25
Hindman's Position The Contest for Speaker The True Democratic Po-
ait;nn.


 sit;on.
 My colleague pre-supposes that will do what has been the habit of my past life. and that is go into caucus with my fellow Demo- crats and abide by their action. l will, sir; {; but with this express reservation, which ap- plies to the action of every Democratwhen- ever convention. of the party is hed, that whenever the Democracy will act as, in my judgment Democrats ought to act, whenever they will conform to the esta blished usages of the Democratic party in nominating one who approves the principles, and who abides by Democratic usages, then l will be found ad- herring unfinchingly to the nominee, under all circumstances, and against every opposition. But I say distinctly that will not be trans ferred by the voice of the Democratic major ity on this floor, or by any other power under Heaven, in any case whatever, to the support of a man who does not indorse and approve Democratic usages and principles. There IS but one state of facts that can be supposed, under which will vote for a member of the so called Opposition, or, as l term 1t, the Know Nothing party, and that is, in the event a choice is forced upon me between Black Republican and Know Nothing; then, as a choice of evils, reluctantly, and under the pressure of circumstances, will be constrain- ed, perhaps, to vote for the Know-Nothng candidate But repeat that I will give him my vote reluctantly.o
 Afier quoting the above, the Memphis Avalanche says:
 The foregoing language was used by Hon. Thos. c. Hindman, of Arkansas, Tn reply to some remarks by his colleague, MT. Rust, in the House of Representa- tives on the 18th ult.. touching the pend- ing contest for the Speakership. They have about them the ring of the genuine Democratic metal, and enunciate the true, and, we think, the only safe Democratic position; and they have. therefore, our unqualified sanction and approval.
 The Democratic delegation in Congress met in caucus at the beginning of the ses- sion and, as it was their duty to do, nomi- hated their candidate for Speaker After several intellectual ballots had been taken, he declined the further use of his name in that capacity, and retired from the con. test. We thought at the time that, in pursuing this course, Mr. Bocock did wrong, and we think so still. In our judgment, he should have remained ln the position his party had placed him, until he had been defeated, was successful, or had been withdrawn by those who nomi- mated him. But however this may have been, and, for ought we can say, tue oe- cason may have justified 1t, 1t was, lt seems 10 us, clearly the duty and the poi- cy of the Democratic members, when he adopted the course he did, to have met in caucus and substituted some other good Democrat in his place. This would have preserved their organization intact, ena- bled them to have acted in harmony and concert, and, if ithad not secured success, would, at least, have commanded the re- spect of their opponents. and eylnced consistent and earnest devotion to princl- pie, which would everywhere have met the approval of their constituents. Gel, we happen to know, was one of several who urged this course upon his party friends. We regret that his coun- ses did not prevail; and while others, as sound and true Democrats, perhaps, as he, doubtless thought they had good and suffi- cent reasons for adopting a different course, we think the result will prove that they are wrong, and when, perhaps, It IS loo late, cause them to regret with us, that they had not acted differently. Our motto is that whether in majority or minority whether in sunshine or n storm in the day of triumph or in the dark night of defeat, the Democracy should always maintain its organization, and steadily stand by coors. A different poll- cy may occasionally secure success, where defeat would otherwise be nevta- ble, but such success must necessarily be while those, which are sure, sooner or later to follow the course we advise, are almost always permanent and important. If, therefore, the contest for Speaker is to continue, we hope soon to hear that the Democratic party Tn Con- eress has reconsidered it's course and nominated another candidate of its own, with the determination of standing by him unswervingly and unainchingly to the end Of the struggle.