The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-05-19

Whatever may be the strength of Mr. DOUGLAS
claims to be nominated as the Democratic candi-
date for the Presidency, the gross improperly of
obtruding them upon the Senate, must be con-
coded. 1t might have been expected that he
would from time to time, in his speeches before
that body, explain his political views and defend
his political consistency, and this he could have
done without forgetting the character of the assem-
bly, he was addressing. Opportunities for the dis
cussion of party politics continually, and we may
say daily, present themselves of which every Sen
ator may readily take advantage, and on such oc-
casions any speaker who participates in the de.
bate may define his position without violating the
rules OF taste and decorum, to which respect for
himself, as well as for the Senate, should compel
him to adhere. These, however, Mr.. DOUGLAS
absolutely set at nought, when in the course of
the very able argument upon 'tsouatter sove
relgnty that he made few days ago, he intro
duced and enlarged upon topics which should
nave been reserved for the hustings After re-
mlndlng his audience that Senators are not
CHOSEN tor the purpose of making up party plat
''forms, he proceeded TO review those heretofore
constructed by State and National Conventions
and TO indicate the one which he desired to see
adonted nv the Democratic party. and nass;no
from platforms TO more personal matters, ne mus
spoke of himself and his aspirations:
The party decided at Charleston aso by a majority
OF the whole electoral college, that the choice of
me democratic party OF America for the Presidency of
the United States giving fifty votes majority over all
the other candidates combined.
They have decided them-decided them in nv favor on
ali points platform, organization, and, least of ALL the
Individual My friends who know best know that
that mfr -Enou that
preferred seat in the Senate for the next six wears TO
being elected President-know that my name would
never nave been presented at Charleston except for the
attempt to prescribe hereto, be
chairman of committee in the body where he sat.
was forced to allow to go there in selfdefence
and will now say had gentlemen, friend foe re.
ceived majority of that Convention me- the light
ming would have carried the message withdrawing my
name from before the country have not lust enough
Tor Office TO desire to be the nominee against the known
WISHES ana nrst choice of majority of the Democratic
party In 1907, the instant Franklin Pierce had ority
vote the telegraph carried my message copgratuatin
MN as the choice of the party and it read in the
convention before the vote announced In 1886 the
instant that Mr. Buchanan received majority vote the
lightning carried my message that James Buchanan
having received majority of the votes of the party in
my opinion was entitled to the nomination and apnea
ing to my friends to give him the twothirds vote and
then make it unanimous"
In this extract it will be seen that Mr.. DOUGLAS
almost asserts his claim to the nomination as a
political right. His illusions to the readiness
with which he renowned his pretensions when
Mr. PIERCE and Mr.. BUCHANAN respectively re-
celved bare majorties of the votes in the Con-
ventons of 1852 and 1856, can have been made
only to suggest the analogy between their position
at those times and his situation now. These per-
sona "reminiscences were evidently brouobt for
ward at this critical juncture for no other pur-
pose, and 1t is impossible to regard Mr. DOUGLAS
discussion of these points as anything but an
argument Of his case before the approaching
Convention at Baltimore But it matters little
what the objects Of the orator really were. for.
looked Mt in any light whatsoever, this portion
OF his speech, considering the time and place.
"hen and where it was delivered, is wholly in
ueienslble. The Senate has already suffered in
the estimation Of the country because its members
IN their efforts TO advance their own ends, have
in great measure ceased to concern Themselves
about maintaining its influence and supporting its
dignity. 1t has become, like the coordinate
branch of the Federal Legislature, the arena in
which politicians settle their partisan disputes or
struggle for popularity and power, and the people
have of late years manifested less and less interest
in lis proceedings. The interminable personal
conflicts, In which so great part of its annual
sessions are consumed, are beginning to disgust
men as well rs to weary them, and nothing
is more common than to hear them thus
express themselves, everywhere throughout the
country. OF course one individual is respon-
sible for this state of things. But Mr. DOUGLAS
has, heretofore, done at least much as his col
leagues to bring it about, and in the present in
stance he has gone far beyond either them or
his predecessors. Never before, we believe, has
any statesman advocated, in his place, in the Sem
ate his claims to the Presidency, and if the ex-
ample thus set is followed in the future, the conse-
quences may be easily foreseen. When the Senate
is reduced to the level of an ordinary political
meeting, and the Presidency is held to be prize
to which the strongest partisan in a Convention
is prima faeie entitled, then both must fall into
contempt. 1t therefore especially becomes those
who sit in the former and aspire to the latter to
abstain from any act or word which is, in the re.
hottest degree, calculated to produce this I'M
toward result.