New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-11-18

Webster with the brilliant diction of Patrick
Henry. On the other hand, Sldell never es-
sayed to lecture the Senate, as was the wont
of Mason. With rare talent for intrigue, an
assiduity that never tired, and a patience that
worked through all obstacles that interviewed
between him aud his object, he was content to
be "a sly, cautious, dark, INSCRIPTIONS traitor,
leaving pompouS Mason to make himself ridicu-
lous before the scenes, while he pursued MS
devious designs behind the curtain. There was
one point, beside their common desire Tor the
dissolution OF the Union, in which these hoary
traitors cordially agreed. They hated Douglas
with the intensity of fiends. They took every
pains TO thwart him--to humble him; they em-
braced every opportunity to sneer at hm-to
depreciate him; and they toiled night and day
to depose him from the leadership Of the Demo-
cratic party. They were deep in the plot
which prevented his nomination to the PresI-
dency last year, and were the chief instiSator'
of the cabal which broke up the Charleston
Convention, put two Democratic candidates In
the field, and thus secured the election oil Lin
coin. And they did all this for the purpose o.
making his success q prete1t for destroying
the Union. In this raid upon Douglas, the
different natures of these arch,aPostates were
made conspicuous. Mason, naughty, sell.im-
portant, and insOlent, treated Douglas with
cOntempt-as an upstart who was to be put
down with scowls and sneers. But Sldell
nd
indomitable character and vast resources OF
the Illinois Senator. So, be, throughout the
Winter of lS59-60, with his eye upon the ult-
mate dismemberment of the Republic, taxed
all the willy arts Of his yenomous nature to
prevent Douglas obtaining what but for this
he was sure to have, the regular and harno-
NOUS nomination of the party, with superior
chances of success in the campaign. Shdell
and Mason were selected by the ConfedeTates
to represent their desperate cause in Europe,
because of their intimacy with our foreign re-
latons, the latter having long been Chairman
of the Senate Committee on that subject, OF
which tho former was also prominent mem
Der.
Gwin is an offender OF less marked type.
Throughout the several stages of this scheme
for destroying the Constitution, there has been
an inner and an outer circle of conspirstors
While Davis, Slidell, and Macon belonged to
the inner circle, Hunter, Breckenridge, and
GwD, more cautious, aud perhaps more cow
ardly, lowered around the outer edges Of the
Il in
the House Of Representatives. biisfortunes
overlook him. He emigrated to California,
taking with him his interruptions nature; and
his strong preudices and aflinlties for the South
and Southern institutions Failing to obscure
the golden empire Of tho Pacific with the
black cloud OF negro Slavery, Gwin fell N
with the popular current, and was soon borne
into The United States Senate. An admirer,
ana, so FAR as was prudent for the Representa-
tive Of Free State, the follower OF his Old
friend JEFF. Davis, Gwin managed, BY his
seemingly hearty advocacy OF a Pacific Rail
road to keep himself aGoat in biz new West
ern home. But oil this time his leart was
among the cotton plantations Of his old abode.
While in the Senate be wa. hot 50 much the
counselor and confidant Of Daysas bis confederate
and tool lie helped forward the disunion
scheme by indirection. Holding Po'ition a'
Senator Of a nonslayeholding state, he was
the better able to betFay to his Southern mas
ters the opinions and purposes Of bis Northern
associates. But dark ard damniGg as are BIS
crimes, as the dupe aDd instrument Of worse
traitors than himself, be is wider known and
more deeply detesiei es the cruel Persecuior
of the brave ard honest Frederick, whom he
pursued with fendish fury from the moment
of bis rise in California, till he fell welter.ng
in his blood. Unable to bend the inne1ibo
spirit Of Broderick TO bis base purposes, Gwiu
determined that he should be sacrificed; and
doubtless he, more than any other pcrson, or
gained and energizel the murderous plot that
finally comprised tie death Of ono Of tie noblest
men on the Pacihc coast.
Such are the faint outlines Of the character
and achievements of the three rebe-traitors
whom our military aud naval forces have just
sent TO our shores. The loyal heart of the
country, without stopping either to inquire how
the feat was accomplished, or to calculate tie
consequences incident to the way in which it
was performed will bound with eXultatlon and
Joy at the fact that these conspirators against
the best Government on earth have fallen into
the hands of its ministers of justice.
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