The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-01-29
FROM the Philadelphia Mercury, Pop. Sow Dem
Buchanan and Douglas.

James Buchanan manfully doing his duty,
and Stephen A. Douglas protesting bis re di
ness to abandon every principle for the sake
of quetirg the noisy traitors Of the Soulh, i
the latest development Of the present crisis.
We must confess our astonshment at these
manifestations of change Of purpose in the
Eour Of peril. First, as TO the President.
His previous career had given us but little rca
son to hope for vigor aud decision Of action
in behalf of the Union and tho supremacy OF
the government. He seemed to be complete.
y owned BY the secession cons traitors He
followed them 10 the EXTREMIST verge OF the
precipce Of dsunion, pleading thcir cause and
permitting them TO abuse official position to
strengthen the enemies Of the Confedercv.
But on the verge Of being committed to trca-
son, he paused; his eyes were opened to the
real character and purpose Of the men by whom
he bad been surrounded and led; the thun.
ders Of popular Indignation rolled up to the
White House; a sense Of patriotic duty grew
strong within him; he shook off the traitors,
took Union-loying men into his counscls, and
proclaimed his determination 10 protect the
public property and enforce the laws at all
hazards. His recent message to Congress
upon the dangerous condition Of our national
affairs brcathes at once the most devoted pa
triot'sm and the utmost resolution to confront
rebellion with all the power at the command
of the President of the u. States. Let bye
cones be byegoucs. The past caunot be for.
gotten, but ample atonemeut can DO made.
The present attitude Of James Buc hanan will
extort admiration, even from the men who
have most bitterly opposed his administration
and should he continue as he has Lcgun, TO
wield the Federal authority with a vigorous,
determined and patriotic arm, he will return
TO Whca;land laicned with the grateful &C
acknowledgements Of nation he has saved from
dissolution.
And now contemplate the extraordinary
change Of front by Mr.. Stephen A. Douglas.
Coercion was a sound and glorious doctrine to
preach at Norfolk, Virginia. during the bent
Of the President campaign, but it is moi
polite or wise when the hour Tor coercion he's
arrived. Popular sovereignty was a pr ncipIe
which had TO be maintained, though the
DemOcrasc party was shattered into fragments
but It must DO abandoned tho moment the
disunionists renew at Washington the game
began at Charleston aud continued at Balti
more. If Mr.. Douglas was not prepared to
adhere to his principles in the conflict which
every body anticipated after the disruption OF,
the Charleston Convention, why did he not
then capitulato 10 Yancey, and support
Breckenridge and Lanei The "Litte Giant
had much to say, during the c,nvass, about
the principle Of self government being worth
fighting for, even as our revolutionary fathers
fought for it,. And now, when tho call TO
the fi"ld ie sounded, he asks a parlcy, anil
hol,ts the white flag, and signifies his anxiety
to surrender, upon any terms tho in,urgcnt
slave code faction may see fit TO dictate. Our
indignation at this base betrayal is as through
as was our devotion TO the cause Of Mr. Doug
as and popular sovereignty during the Prcsi
dentia! struggle But the Illinois Senator
counts without his host, il hc supposes he can
persuade the great army Of Democrats who
supported him in November last to pass un-
der the yoke now, for the sake Of peace. -
The principle Of sell. government was baptized
in uoblc blood before Stepcn A. Douglas
came into tho world, and it will survive long
after be has inherited his FIVE feet Of Ameri
can soil. AS for Coercion" the Government
which has not the power and the will to en-
force its laws against the most formidable
body Of rebels that may unfur the flag Of
resistance, ia not worthy ef naintainancc iu
any enlightened land. BY his opposition to
coercion" Mr.. Douglas ouly demonstrate
that he never 6eserved-as we confess we
thought he did-to WELD the powers entrus.
ted to the President Of this mighty republic.
II 4 4.