, 1861-01-10

The New York 1imes says: at used
" to be supposed that no man could turn
ohis back upon his own face,-but Senator
aDouglas proves that this is a mistake." !"
Heproves also that few persons can per-
form thst difficult feat go dexuously as
himself. There are not many persons who
could cover IN unblushing a7oWal Of their
own lack Of principle SO neatly as he. ~
@can 60 to war for my country, but I can
anot 60 to war for party PLATFORM says
Mr. Douglas What is the obvious mean
Ing Of these words? We understand them
to imply that he (Douglas} can never fight
for an idea, however just however high,
however holy! If any Of his friends un-
ders:and it differently, We should like to
hear their Interpretation While it is no
novelty to the American people to learn
that Mr. Douglas cannot go to war for any
set Of ideas, it is quite astonishing to hear
aim proclaim the fact We have contended
for many years that he~is not the sort Of
man to have any fixed policy or abiding
principles, but We hive generally met with
= round denial from his supporters. We
have published again and again our belief
that he would ultimately yield his precious
squatter sovezeignty-his "great principle"
to the dragooning Of the slaye' drivers,
but he has proclaimed from q hundred
stumps that he would never do SO bastard
" thing. We hare asserted, we know
not bow often, that he had nothing in his
composition which could not be scared out
of him, but his followers have vowed him
to be "lttlc giant" and have staked eve
Eything upon his pluck He has now justi-
fed our estimate Of his character, and Civ
On them the lie point blank.
But it happens that Mr. Douglas has mis-
stated his ewn position. He Eays that he
can 60 to wnr for his country but not for
his platform We say that he can 60 to
war for neither. His speech is public ad-
vertisement Of the fnct that he cannot 20
to war for his country. His country Is at
this moment in danger. It is assailed by
traitors to the Fcderal Union. Mr. Critten-
den has unconscious1y administered sharp
rebuke to 4fr. Douglas in asking t'whether
there is q constitutional WY to overthrow
thu f.o,>-AsA-.1-s."- En,,.h f.aro1trA:
rebels are oyerthroTing The Constitution
as fast as their feeble strength will allow,
yet Hi. Douglas cannot fight them. They
are not only making war against his plat
form, but against his country, and yet
be cannot fight them on either is
sue! 4 few loose remarks about
preserving the Union,, accompanied
with an exhortation 10 all Northern men
to get down Oh their bellies, as the suitable
1ay to preserve it-this is the. full extent
Of hls disposition to fight either for his
country or his platform: We confess that
here is more complete justification of his
political enemies, of their hard words and
hard thoughts, in times past, than they had
any right to expect We admit with sad
ness, tha: it is more ample cognovit than
We. desired to sce- We had been led to
hope from tho brave words uttered at Nor
folk that If the time should ever come when
Ar. Douglas should feel obliged to abandon
his platform, he could at least lift up
brave voice and brave arm for his native
land, for the Union Of the States and for
the Constitution as our fathers made it.
But it is useless to hope for anything from
an ingrained coward Gen. Cass has
passed for doughface these many years,
yet he tears his portfolio in pieces
and hinss it at the President in
q rage because efficient measures arc not
taken for fighting the enemies Of his eoun-
try. Nj. johnson Of Tennessee is a slave
State Senator, get he calls upon all patriots
to crush the treason BY military force Mr.
Holt Of Georgia, is slave State Secretary,
yet he puts forth the energies of the War
Department to silence the enemies Of the
Onion at the SAnuon'Bmouth. hi. Toucey,
Judge Black and Secretary Stanton are
full blooded aDanites' according to the
definition Of Mr.. Douglas and his friends,
yet they have Joined the friends Of the Con-
stitution in the effort to suppress misera-
bic pro-slaTery insurrection with bullets,
II bullets be needed. Last OF all Mr.. Bu-
high position to put an end to the rebellion
with the strong arm Of executive force. It
remains for Senator Douglas Of Illinois to |
to put stumbling blocks in their path and,
to the extent Of his ability, to thwart the
moral force Of this succession OF miracles!
FURNISHING A REPUBLICAN CITY. |
The political leaders Of Missouri enter |
tain very hostile feelings to the city Of St. |
Louis, on account Of the Republican pro-
c1ivities Of its citizens- Always 10th to
grant it any Legislative favors heretofore, it
now appears that there is a disposition
among them to enact laws, by wny Of pun
ishaent, especially designed to cripple the
government Of that city, to withdraw from
"a - s-x- ..rl