White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1860-02-23
Douglas and Fessenden in the Senate.

There have been rare attractions in
both wings Of the capitol to-day. It be-
ing understood that Douglas was to
make bid for Southern support at
Charleston, under the guise of speech
on his proposed measure for protecting
the slaveholding States against invasion,
the galleries were crowded at an early
hour. At the outset, the counter attrac-
ton in the House consisted only of q
ranting speech from Barksdals, on the
jejune topics of Helper, bred Scott, Old
Brown, and dissolution Of the Union.
At q later hour Corwin took the floor,
when there was sSspeedy diminution in
the number Of those who witnessed the
performance Of the whilom anti Lecomp-
ton Senator.
Douglas speech was but rehash Of
his old ideas about the necessity Of d.
versity of domestic institutions in the sew
eral States of the Union. interlarded with
q specious argument in favor Of legisla-
ton to prevent the inhaitants Of one
State conspiringto overthrow the institu-
tions Of another, gsrnished with charges
against the Republican party, alike false
and indecent, as the authors of Browns
invasion of Virginia. The effort hardly
rose to the level of the Senator's ordins-
~ forsenic displays, both in matter and
manner. Without one original idea to
redeem It from the common current of
partisan platitudes. it was wholly lacking
in that defiant spirit and seeming sinceri-
ty which inspired and vivifed his speech
es of two years ago. The difference in
his bearing toward the Republican side
of the Chamber. between now and then,
was equally marked. He was to-day the
same specious betrayer of freedom that
he was when he forced through the Kan
sas- Nebraska bill. six years ago. He
was putting in his proposals for the
Charleston nomination, and be seemed
not inclined to stint the measure of his
degradation, but to sink to the level OF
the sxigency. -.r
Mr.. Fessenden replied to Douglas with
extraordinary pungency and power
Some of his points pierced the joints Of
his srmor. and touched the quick, caus-
ing him to writhe upon the trenchant
weapon of the Republican Senator. For
example: Fessenden expressed surprise
that Douglas. in his project of law to
break up conspirscies against the Govern
ment. had made no provision for the
threatened contingency of an attempt to
overturn the Constitution in the event of
an election, by legal means, of Repub-
lican President. Douglas was imprudent
enough to reply that the utter absurdity
of supposing that any candidate Of that
party could be elected, made it wholly
to guard against the con'e-
luences of snch an impossibls event.
Like a fash of lightning. Fessenden
scathed him with the retort that tbs earn
estness with which masses of men, fully
sqnal to the Senator in capacity to judge
Of probabilities. predicted this event, and
to thwart it by disunion. would
'eem to imply he was in error. and over
sanguine in regard to this part of the
pending Presidential programme, as he
might also be in respect to the part which
he himself was destined to play in that
The hit was so palpable,
and the blow dealt with such provoking |
GOODNESS. that Douglas lost his temper,
and tried to be severe in reply, but was
only abusive, showing that the arrow |
had reached vital part and stuck fast.
1t is not believed that Douglas has
improved his chances for q nomination
by this raid on the free spirit of the
country. His only hope was in main
tanning lofty position Of independence.
he never won anything except BY imPe-
robustness of will. Cringing to the South,
which be has once betrayed, is not the
way to capture the Charleston Conven-
ton. Backed by a defiant North. he
might break into it. He will never be
suffered to creep in. If he ever enters its
doors, it will be in an erect position
BE will not be allowed to creep over its
threshold. While he stood up, msnfully
and defantly, the South feared him
Now that he has fallen upon his knees,
hey will spurn and reject him.