Year: 1859

Witness.

 The Independent Balance and ourself, have been, for some time, discussing the attitudes of parties on the slavery question. This discussion has been conducted with courtesy and as much fairness as disputants usually exhibit. Being on subject so important, 1t was calculated to interest our readers, and as the Balance was one of the principal opposition organs in the State, we were anxious to see what position it would take We endeavored to state fair ly the grounds taken by our opponent, but, either they were so vaguely laid down, or our hair was so thick that they became twisted in getting through, it so happened that whenever we answered the point made we were told that it was not exactly what he wanted. ltappeared to us that the po- sitions taken by the Balance were changed or modified each week and chameleonlike took different hues. For instance, 1t start ed with the assertion that the democratic party, north, was abolitionized. It finally modified this by saying that it was no sounder than other parties. It accused the democratic party of agitating the slavery question. It explained by saying it meant at the south. It now says it does not blame it for agitating the abstract question, but the making of it political hobby is what it condemns, as if the social condition of the slave can be considered without ref ence to politics. We are glad to see the Balance speaking of Giddings, Seward, Greeley, Phillips and others of that kid ney, to its infinite credit, use these words:

 s' Better, thousand times better the imposition of democracy with all their corruption and mismanage- ment of the government than such men these"

 Barring the explosives and stuff about corruption, this is great concession, and shows that the Balance, though cake, unlike Ephriam is a cake partially turned. Time and patience, says the proverb, change the mulberry leafinto satin. So, by patient teaching, plentiful use of soap, sand and water, the editor of the Balance might be changed into a democrat. Whether it would pay to take the trouble, is another question.

 In order to sustain the positions assun- ed, defined, reassumed and redetined, the Balance made extracts from the N |. Day Book and other papers. We promptly ad- mitted the Day Book and other democratic papers to be witnesses, though it was amu- sing to see it introduce evidence to sustain one position that effectually destroyed one before taken. So, in order to prove cer- tain democratic leaders at the north were shaky, 1t quoted from democratic jour- nal denouncing them for that very feature, thus, by the exception proving the rule.- It pointed to its witnesses with great deal of pride and chuckled hugely at find ing itself in good democratic company. Its witnesses having answered, unfortunate

 

 ly for him, did not stop at the close of the direct examination, bA went on to tell the whole truth And ohl horror of horrors. its own witnesses turn and bear testimony against him.

 We ask our readers to peruse the fol- lowing. We will not be so cruel as to ask the editor of the Balante to read it all at once. The questions he put to us as posers are there truthfully and completely an swered. Let him remember that this is his own witness; that he must not bring a man in to testify and then discredit him, and the statements below must be taken in all their force against him. He had better be careful how he produces witnesses in his next case, as he has utterly lost this one. His other witnesses will testify to the same state of facts and the Balance will, of course, submit at once, to be non suited This is what his witness says:

 ''The Southern Election.

 The elections to come off very soon in several of the southern States, excite not a little attention at the north. This is, d.ubtess, mainly owing to the fact of their bearing upon the next Presden- tial election, and particularly the composition of the next Congress. Both of these matters just now of the utmost moment to our citizens for no one can tell the consequences involved, what the result may be. There are now elected at thenorth one hundred and eleven republicans and know nothings which, for want of better name, are called opposition. Besides these there are eight anti Lecomptonites and six Douglas democrats-