New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-18
SENATOR CLINGMAN.

The United States Senate possesses class Of
| gentlemen in delicate and failing circumstances,
from whom it is always fair to anticipate any kind
Of demonstration, just as we may presume that
man far gone in consumption will try any sort of
nostrum that promises, however doubtully, to
save his life. These gentlemen may be known under
the general classification of those whose term Of
Office expires in 1861. Not all belong to the category
however, because there are some of that class who
are quite willing to retire when the period shall
arrive, and there are others who have so ably and
faithfully represented their constituents that those
constituents will insist upon further service. II is
quite otherwise, however, with our quondam Wing
ally, Mr.. Clingman of North Carolina This gentle
man found good deal Of difficulty in getting into
the Senate at all, and his difficulties in staying in,
now he is there are greater still. He is most
emphaticaly on the anxious seat. We refer to this
circumstance to explain his prOdigous fulmnations
in the Senate on Monday. Mr.. Clngman laid him
self out on that occasion to 90 ahead even of Iyer
son of Georgia, whose cOnsumptiye symptoms are
also slarmiDg-le6l staring him, too, inexorably,
threateningly, In the face.
We have only the Geographic account of Mr.
Clingmans GRAFTON, but this is quite sufficient for
the nerves of any ordinary man. We don't know
that We could stand the shock of the entire speech
1t seems that Dir. CiDgman looks upon the election
of Republican President as furnishing abundant
reason for smashing the Government and he is for
doing it, too, in that event More than this, Mr..
Clngman declares he will not give up the Capitol TO
the Black Republicans, in which to consummate
ba;r 10 ba ia far a,,
is for having it there. That is just what we say that
Clingman clings to the Capitol ike death. He
cannot conceive of any alternative or any calamity
great enough to induce him to yield it, aud espe-
cially that portion of it in which he sts. Sooner
than give up any part and especially sooner than
surrender his seat therein, he is ready to fight, no
wants to fight, he insists he will fight.
Now, we kindly suggest to Mr.. Clinsman that,
instead of making such fuss in respect of fighting,
he had better, at the right time go quietly down to
North Carolina, and try little peaceabe manipu-
latOn on the members of the Legislature who hold
the right title, and interest in and to that part of
the aforesaid Capitol which he is devoutly unwil-
ing to surrender to the enemy. We rather think
that if, by persuasion, by importantly, or by any
other means, the ardent Senator could secure that
particular portion, for the next ak years, that he
would find bis views undergo a sensible change in
regard to the remainder of the edfce. The hon.
Orable Senator has worked himself into such fever,
in view of his own personal misfortunes in case no
should not be returned, that he really thinks he
wants the whole Capitol; but he doesn't. he only
wants his seat in it. Thus irritable children cry
for the moon, and think they want it, and pound
their tiny fists upon the table, even a. children of
larger srewth pound theirs at Washington. But
all the while it is not the moon they after; it is
but big rosy apple. That contents them. THAI
Mr.. Cingman's situation. That soft-cushioned
seat, in that luxurious, silver tinted hall, where
ghing maidens look regetdIy and sdmiringy
down upon the enyied bachelor Of North Carolina,
10 all Mr.. Clinsman wants. Give him that, and
ten sigh no more for wars alarms, no more for
blood, saye that which 80 charp,ngg contrasts
with the lily, in the virgin cheeks that repose in
esuty above his srtisticsly powered pow, ~ be
reclines in the Senate chamber.
1t seems a pity that mere personal aims and AM
billions should enter 80 largely into public concerns,
but it always was 60, and We suppose It always
will be co. But IL Mr.. Cingman's ambitions and
yanities were less, he would be q much more re-
spectacle representative than he is. These gnaw-