New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-03-31
THE FAMILY QUARREL.

say, now experienced in the grand Democratic
camp, though keeping the parties themselves con-
sderabIy exercised and very serious, afford a
good deal of entertainment to outsiders. The
faithful Old Guard of this neighborhood seem to
think Mr.. Douglas a dreadful little fellow, alto
gether uncomfortable, save with pious horror,
while their hopes and principles are firmly and
aectonateiy pinned to other skirts for the present
They scoff contemptuously, but rather laborously,
at his pretensions, and seem to make very light OF
the job, though they wipe the perspiration from
their foreheads with what might appear to the I'M
informed an air of anxiety.
We are specially reminded of this situation OF
things by very recent attack made by one 81 our
contemporaries on the Democracy Of Georgia. They
are snubbed most severely as having put them
selves in the leading strings of such rampant, am
bilious, ime-serying Democrats as Toombs and
Stephens. The Georgians poor fellows, would not
be very naughty if left to their own instincts.
They have no peculiar penchant for any doctrine
tainted with Abolitonism and might pass for good,
respectable Southerners, were they not bamboozled
by those two designing schemers aforesaid. NOW,
we are somewhat startled at hearing this sudden
outcry, having never suspected the parties impii-
Gated of being wolves in sleeps clothing. Why
has not our watchful neghbor put the country on
its guard in this respect before?
It does not appear, from the showing, that these
gentlemen have led their followers into any well
defined heresy so far. No Douglas doctrines have
been proclaimed, even though they are, as it is
contended, the very doctrines Of the Cincinnati
platform. No instructions favorable to the Little
Giant personally have been given. What is the
matter, then? Why do you wake us up and startle
orr nerves by this vociferous cry of fire? All.
Messrs. Stephens and Toombs are acting from sell
fish motives. Stephens wants to be President, and
Toombs is his confederate. Well, what Of that?
A good many other men want to be President,
without raising such storm of indignation. Mr..
Stephens, in our opinion, would make quite good
incumbent of that office, and certainly one very
true to the South.
We are, therefore, rather bewildered by this
new phase in cotemporary history, by this sudden
unmasking Of men who have hitherto been the sub
ects of the highest encomiums, held up as burning
and shining lights to the gaze of admiring Democ-
racy. The mystery unveils itself somewhat, how
ever, when we remember very small paragraph
which found its way into public print some days
since, among the telsgraphic items. Therein Mr..
Toombs was represented as having reported, on
behalf Of the Senate Committee to which the sub
ect had been referred, that the confirmation Of the
| Houmas land claim was fraudulent. This dispatch
| very probably came under the notice of our CO.
| temporary, though it did not appear in its col
umns, and hence perhaps the sudden light which
dawned upon its vision as to the moral obliquity Of
4 Messrs. Toombs aud Stephens.
| If this report Of the Committee be sustained by
Congressional action, Or even by public develop
nents, it may have damaging effect upon certain
aspirations toward the White House. Fraud
That is more than a mere word. 1t is a solemn
charge, which not even professional politicians
| and wire -pullers can hope to contend against
| Fixed on man, it will kill him. No nomination
| no combination, could avail him for a moment. i
4 ID not strange, then, that the mere announcement
a huge fraud like this, whose shadows may be
| found to rest upon the good fame of a very promi
nent political leader, should fall like bomb among
his partisans. Neither would it be strange if aftel
few days, their nerves should become sufficiently
composed to institute determined onslaught upor
the party who had been the cause of their panic
i In the meantime outsiders are edited by the de
/ velopement which these family jars produce. WI
/ are reminded at once Of the old accusation, tina
the cohesive principle of the Democratic party i.
/ public plunder. We are painfully impressed witt
the suspicion that this great, patriotic, nationa
| pdftyp so JediuH2if uefotcu W WdtSuHS ofcf
interests Of the people, might, if they once hat
every thing their own way, be agitated by some
domestic squabbles, to the detriment Of the
dignity, il not of their unity. Hence, out o
every respect for human nature-not to witness
the catastrophe of such lofty professions brough
down to the humiliation of selfish wrangling-w'
cannot yet view with complaceney the Democratic
i party undisputed master of the field.
i We, of the Southern Opposition, must therefor
continue our organization, il for nothing else, a
least to force our opponents to the observance Of
wholesome discipline. We may possibly be oblige
by circumstances to vote for their Presidents
candidate, because We are not yet strong enoug
to succeed with one of our own, and because on
separation from them might saddle an Abolitionis
upon the country. We must choose the least Of tw
evils. But in the meantime let us politely renlin
them that we are not asleep, and caution thel
against the scandal of rash dissensions.