The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-10-31
Dissraceful.

WHEN man aspires TO a lofty and respect
able position among his fellow-men, there is a
certain Fitness of things" which requires that
he shall observe those proprieties which pertain
to that position. 1t is expected of men who are
candidates for petty Offices, which are sought on
ly for the emolument they afford, that they
will resort to artifce, and play the demagogue,
to the extent of their ability, in order to secure
the favor of the populace; and, although such
conduct is condemned by all right-thinking men,
the offenders generally escape adequate punish
ment either through their own obscurity, or
through that moral obtuseness which is insensi-
bic to the lash of popular opinion. When, how
ever, dscreditable agencies are employed by one
who seeks an elevated and honorable post to
which no other than gentleman should aspire,
he makes himself at once, an object of uniyer-
sal scorn for even the meanest and most vulgar
will despise that meaner vulgarity, which, while
it processes to be bound by them, unblushingly
violates every rule Of common deeency.
One Stephen A. Douglas, who is desperate
and already defeated candidate for the most ex-
allied Office in the world, made his appearance,
last week, in Memphis, in the course of an cleo.
pioneering stumping tour which would not very
greatly rebound to the credit of grog-shop loaf
er who desired only to be made constable, and
having collected a crowd to listen to him, he
proceeded to appeal to the ignorance of his audi.
tory in one OF the most shameless specimens Of
demagogism that ever fell under our observa.
ton. Knowing the charge to be false he stig.
Intized that large majority of the Southern peo.
pie who support Mr.. Breckenridge as secession.
lists" and then proceeded to speaksof secession
itself as though if it took place, it would be the
work of the Southern Legislatures, as the per.
sonal liberty bilr' of Massachusetts is the work
of the Legislature of that State. lie also spoke
of the claim, asserted by South Carolina, of a
right on her part to withdraw from the Union,
as a mere claim, setup by private citizens of that
State, of "a reserved right to STEAL" and an at.
tempt to 'screen themselves from punishment
upon the plea that majority in the South Car
olina Legislature had authorized them to steal-'
A more deliberate and infamous SANDER was new
err uttered by mortal man. Mr.. Douglas has
repeatedly listened, in the Senate, to discussions
upon the doctrine of State Rights, and he knOies
that no advocate Of that doctrine has ever pre-,
tended that Safe Legislature possessed au.
thority to absolve the people of their State from
the duty of obedience to the general government
He knows, also that if any movement in the
South looking to secession, is ever inaugurated
it will be the act of The people, in the same SOW
ercign capacity in which they made their States
parties to the Constitution. lie desired, howcv
or, to commit fraud upon those of his hearers
who were ignorant and creduous and, to this
end, he resorted to the miserable bubble We
have adverted to-a quibbc which would have
been discreditable to third-rate pettifogger ar
guing a three dollar case before a magistrate
and which is so disgraccful to Mr.. Douglas thai
it should call down upon his head the contempt
Of every honorable mind. V