Daily national Democrat., 1860-08-28
A WOuld-be Dictator.

There can be no doubt, says the Shasta
Courier, that Mr.. Buchanan has imLibed
anti Democratic notions, from long inter
course with European Kings and Princes
He went into the Presidential chair with the
idea that the Chief Magistrate was omnipo-
tent-tlat at his word the knee of every off
cial serf, from cabinet minister to tide water.
would bow-that judges, legislators and the
people were but part of a government that
was has. That these notions were but the
idle whims Of the old man of weakened intel
leci,-bceause seemingly anxious to crown
his administration with infamy and cover his
name with hate-is a matter for great thank
fulness. The cold pnblic functionary" forgot
that he was but servant himself and that
the poodle were allpowegful He was forci-
bly, reminded of it when Douglas defeated
the Republicans in combination with his off
cla satraps in Ilinos, in 1858 lie found
then that he had been wooing a zephyr and
caught cloud and particularly damp one
at that.
TO prove that this old man has an idea that
he is one Of the potentates of this earth, let us
quote from Douglas late speech, delivered at
Concord, N. H.:
The President of the United States, during
the Lecompton controversy, put forth claim
which /, as Senator, could not recognize /
conceded bis right to recommend the Le-
compton Constitution if he believed it to be
the act and deed of the people, and l should
never have quarreled with him on that ques-
tion had he not claimed the right to control
my vote and compel me to vote against my
conscience. | hold that a President has no
more right TO control the vote of Senator
than Senator has to dictate to a President
LCheers The President told me that if
did not obey him and vote to force the Le-
compton Constitution upon the people against
their WILL he would take off the head of eve-
ry fried had in office. | told him, in reply
that my friends were as dear to me as those of
any other man could be; but that if | had a
friend who was not willing to lose his office
rather than degrade me into a tool of Execu-
tive power he did not deserve to be my
friend. Applause. Here permit me to say
that the great contest between the Executive
and myself was this; he claimed the right to
control the vote Of Il Senator in opposition to
the wishes of his constituents. | claimed that
the representatives, of the people is independ
ent and should always act independent of
Executive power. When you permit the
Executive to direct a representative how he
shall vote, you convert this Republic into
a despotism, That's So Why elect a
Congress, ifthe President has a right to tell
the members how they are to yote2 There
is an end Of representative government when
ever the Executive is permitted to use or
abuse his power by controlling the action of
the representative against the wishes of his
constituents and of his individual conscience
Hence, in my opinion, was fghtinga great
er battle in Illinois in 1858 than the mere
question who should be Senator. EApplause
In my person the question was Submitted to
the eCple of Illinois, whether or not their
Senator should be the mere tool Of Executive
dictation. They decided it right"l Yes,
they did decide it right, in opposition TO an
unholy alliance between the Republicans aud
the Federal office holders