Year: 1861

The idea of uniting the Breckenridge and
Douglas parties, at such a time as this, is TIE
most ridiculous one ever entertained by men
claiming to have common sense. The only
possible basis of union IL the one poor opin-
ion, entertained by the Breckinridge and
certain Douglas men, that coercion is not
now good policy; that, since things have
gone so far, n pcaccable adjustment is the
best. The Marysvilc Express seems to think
that this little thing Of an opinion, the mere
breath of the passing moment, is mighty
ligninent to bind men together and to hold
them in one grand party. How ridiculous !
party formed on a mere phasc of political
affairs, which may pass into something else
in a week. and is as fckle as the shadow of
cloud, is mighty party in prospect, is il
not?


Douglas men are opposed to coerciye
measures, in advance of attempts at coInpfo-
mise Mr. Douglas himself is anxious for
compromise But he believes in the power
Of coercion. lie denies the right of secession,
The Breckinridge faction are therefore the
antagonism to him and his principles Mr..
Douglas will never fraternize with party
which puts State sovereignty above the SOW
ercignIy of the Federal Government; which
puts the constitutional Interpretation Of n
State Convention above the authority Of II
judicial decision Of the Supreme Court of the
United States; which allows a State Legisa-
ture to nulliGy law Of Congress; which al
lows Il State to dictate to all the balance Of
the confcdelated members on what terms it
Union as a mere iedguc between separate.
sovereign and independent States or nations,
instead of n GoUernmeH Neither he nor
his adhcrents will ever shake hands with
any such party. A desire for compromise is
one thing but the doctrine OF treason, seces-
zion and rebellion is another


The idea of the Express seems TO be that Il
great Democratic party must be formed.
whose sole object is to be to compromise the
prevailing troubles, if possible, and, then, if
that fails, TO go in for peaceable separation
ofthe GulfStates Fl om the North According
to that programme, there are hundreds of
Republicans who could just as well join the
EXprcsss projected party as anybody else;
for they are in favor of compromise, if posi-
BILE, and peaceaLle separation, if separation
must take place.


The whole thing is absurd. Long before
any party could be organized or could make
itself felt in political canvass, the existing
difficulties would be determined in one shape
or another, 10y the action of Congress, and
the already existing authorities of the several
States.


The only parties that can now properly
exist in the country ct all, are a party for the
Union and party against it. Whether II
man is Democrat, Wing, Republican, or
what not, signifies very little but it matters
vast deal if he is "A Secessioni5t per Sc and
an enemy to the Union There is many
be against it and in favor of revolution, any
constitutional right of the South had been
stricken down 10y the Federal Government,
but the rrecirtate, uncalled for and indefcn-
sble action of the Gulf States, in refusing all
moderation and deccncy, and openly deryng
the laws of the United States, forces them to
forget the distinctions of party and to stand
10y the integrity of the Union They have
no choice left them. The Internal course of
the seeding States has driven them to such
a pass that they must take ground against
those with whom in any Just course they
would have acted. They are not Republic
cans, and they are not secessionists They
believe the Republican President powerless
to injure the South even if he were disposed
and, at any rate, until he d9cs strike down
some Southern right, they are for standing
by the Uniou. Such men cannot be expec-
ted TO lend helping hand to a revolution
based on mere hostility to the Union, because
it IS the Union.