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

Wo W uos uAo W 10Y tue sPiouulu srusu Uoist Wv
suddenly upon the eyes Of our readers, for it might
breed an ophthslmia. Mr.. Van Antwerp is philos-
opher of The admirable school of the ma dne
Bunsby, and reasOna after the cautious style Of
that eminent man "If 20 be as how, why then,
Gas it were--so to speak," Mr.. Van Antwerp''
asonies in making up bis mind mast have surpassed
those Of colo and cholera ia intensity. tie must
have been in condition in which his dinners ds-
agreed with HMM which wine was mocker
and the odor of uttOn-chops misery. Men, oil
over the world, were shouting cyan Antwerp OF
Keokuk is down on Douglas" The Breckin-
ridge men, throughout the Union, with pride, con-
fdence, and gratitude, claimed him as their own.
He might, without vanity, picture to himself, as
the precious intelligence reached the White House,
an unwopted smile lighting up the wasted features
of Mr.. Buchanan, and might hear the amiable
tones of that public patriarch, cheerfuliy crying;
"It's ell right-Van Antwerp Of Keokuk is down
" on Douglas" The Keokuk Gate City-which Is
newspaper-con6rmed the thrilling tidings Ii was
time to speak. 1t was time to undeceive the minds
of the hieh and the humble. To keep silence was
TO triAe with the fate of the Republic. He has
spoken. He "goes for -!
We cannot speak it yet This decision is too
momeptous to be lightly announced. 1t has been
the chief misfortune Of the political Life of the Hon.
Stephen A. Douglas that, in an unhappy moment,
be Lost the political confidence of V. P. Van Ant
werp of Keokuk, Iowa. They had lived and loved
together since the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred aud thirty Eight; and it is possible
that the same couch may, upon some emergency,
have sustained both their dormant fOrms. But
what is Friendship but name? charm that lulls
to sleep7 a shade that follows wealth and fame,
and leaves the wretch to weep! Van Antwerp
could at any time embrace Douglas, and shed tears
of affection over his shoulder; but Pythias found
the "Squatter Sovereignty" of Damon too much
for bis stomach. SterDly sitting the promptiogs OF
personal affection, with firm hand sun6erng the
golden links of friendship, regardless of hallowed
associations and Of precious memories he pro-
nounced the doctrine of "Squatter Sovereignty" to
be- in his opinion, San untenable and fallaclous
"dogma," and ga peruicious fallacy." Therefore
he "goes for -"
There is the very devil to pay in the country,
and Van Antwerp of Keokuk, Iowa, knows it, and
says go as boldly as if he had just touched glasses
with Miss Harriet Lane, or welcomed to the hos
FATALITIES of bis stomach ga modest quencher' of
the Presidents nonpareil sold wheat" He ap-
prehends indeed, that the dreadful day approach
ing in which few dinners will be given, and in
which Gen. Scott will have scant time for whist
playing. He is in low state, truly. he notices
that /" the public mind is in feyerish aud excited
conditions" and, like Pythoness in pantaloons,
he breaks out in this wild mai ner: "WOe, woe
"unto the country in my deliberate judgment,
"should the madcened and reckless fanaticism OF
"the day attain its object by placing the Chief OF
Black Republcapism at the helm of State.
"Yours, respectfully, V. p. Van Antwerp" This
"maddened and reckless fanaticism" he thinks
has been intensified il not kndled by Mr. Douglass
specially" and therefore he "goes for -"
-" Breckenridge" wehear the impatient reader
exclaimirg which shows the folly of impotence.
The prospects of Breckenridge may be pleasing, or
they may be painful, but he cannot have the sup
port of Van Antwerp, either to secure his triumph
or to mitigate his misfortunes. Van Antwerp, like
a patriot, a noble, seIfdevoted, selfforgetting,
forgiyipg old trump (if we may be allowed the ex-
pression) goes for"-Douglas He has thought
it all over in the morning with his bitters, at noon
with his dinner, at night with his " night-cap" and
his prayers; and although he loves Mr.. Buchanan,
and entertains ehiyalrous feeling for Miss Lane,
and was certainly very nobly treated on board the
cutter, yet as a citizen of KeOkuk, whohas played
whist with Gen. Scott, and has therefore thou
sand reasons for preserving the Constitution and
the Union, he must ego for" Dir. Douglas. His
reasoning is very clear and commendable: " The
- election of Lincoln will be political ruin to the
" country of the bluest kind. He will be elected
"if Keokuk, Iowa, votes for him. Rcokuk,
" Iowa, will vote for him unless Yours Respect
" fully supports Douglas; aud, therefore, ahem
though, upon my soul, ahem!-l do not like to
50 do il, ahem yet, ahem Il suppose | must"
There is another sprig OF NORWOOD foe poor old
Mr.. BuchaDans cock-tai of destiny
We should not have deemed this letter OF
sufficient importance for special notice. if the ven
ceable Van Antwerp had not been an old friend,
and if there were not all about U.s. many gentlemen
of all ages who are now agitated by qualms of the
same 4uandsry over which the sage of Keokuk has
20 nobly triumpbed. We entreat them to study
his example aud to emulate his selt-devotion.
Firmly, periodically, ungudsDgly, he has rsked all
his dinners for the neat four years. He might
have been asked to the White House; he might
have stirred his toddy with Government spoon;
he might have eaten bucbwheat AaPjacks with Mr..
Buchanan in his retirement AlI-all has been
sacrificed upon the altar ofpatriotsm In or out
of office victorious or defeated we tell S. A.