Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1848-08-31
fCoMMUSICATED.1
The Discussion at BAYOU Goula.

tion-The position of our candidates on the Wil,no
Froviso, and the extension of slavery. Combatant
j. Nj. JONES and A.. TALBOT. Scene-Bdyot
GouIa. Time-August Goth
The large ball room of the Buena Vista House
recently arranged as a theatre, was crowded, anc
the prelimIuaries of debate were commenced al
about 10 A. M. No written rules were drawn up
but it was understood that one and a half hours
should be allowed to open, an hour and a half to
reply, and three quarters of an hour to close. Mr..
Talbot offered to throw up for the opening and the
close, TO which Mr.. Jones assented, if Mr.. I. would
discuss, in his opening, the position of Gen. Cass
Mr.. Jones said that MIR. Talbot had uniformly re-
fused TO assign any position whatever to Gen. Cass,
and demanded, if his candidate had all opinion, that
it should be disclosed. Mr.. Talbot oh jected strenu-
ously, however, to showing his hand, and yielded
the opening. Mr.. Jones then inquired if the gem
tleman intended to include the opinions of Mr.. Fill
more. Mr. replied that he intended 10 say moth
ing whatever about Mr.. Fillmore. Mr., J. then stat
ed TO the meeting that Fillmore's position had been
the original ground of the challenge and debate; that
he stood ready to prove, that every democratic
statement in regard TO Fillmore was "garbled, dis
torted and false" and that he was much astonished
at finding the gentleman disposed to dodge the
question at that late hour. Mr.. Talbot still per-
sisting in his refusal, Mr.. Jones then commenced
the debate. He proved concIusiveiy from demo-
cratic documents that Cass was in favor Of the VIII
mot Proviso up to December, l847. In the course
of his debate, he propounded 10 Mr.. Talbot the
two following questions: q
LIST. Do you believe that Southern citizens have
a right TO emigrate with their property to our Terri
toriesl And can they be deprived of this right
without their consent?
Cd. Does not Gen. Cass leave to the decision
of the Territories, while Territories, the question of
the prohibition of slavery within their limits?
Both of (which questions Mr.. Talbot refused TO
answer. Mr.Jones then entered into a heightened
and critical examination of the Nicholson letter
he quoted and explained every portion of the letter
having any reference whatever to the subject, all
incontrovertibiy, that Gen. Cass left the
luestionto the decision of the people of the terrific
ries, as the only legitimate tribunal He quoted
that part ofthe letter wherein Gen. Cass stated him
self to be i'll " favor of leaving to the people of ana
which may be hereafter acquired, the right
to regulate it (the question. of the prohibition of sla>
very for themselves under the general principles of
The constitution" and demanded if Gen. Cass could
mean "that, under the general principles of the
the people of the territory would
have no right to regulate il, whatever? This indeed
would be a depth of ~absurdisy to which he hoped
he gentleman would not sink. He then inquired
( Gen. Cass meant that the territories could only
the enjoymen, of our property without the
light to prohibit its entrance He said that the
mere regulation of the enjoyment of our property
lad never been at issue. Ifsuch had been the pro.
position Of the Wilmot Proviso the South would
lever have opposed it. The question in every
'art oil the letter was plainly the absolute prohibition
slavery, and in one part Gen. Cass expressly
aid the question, it will be therefore seen on ex-
minatlon, does no, regard the exclusion of slavery
rom a region where it now exists, but a prohibition
.ggasnst its introduction achere it does not ~exis,"
which was certainly conclusive as to what Gem
lass thought was "the question" Neither, said
could Gen. Cass have meant that the territories
ould only decide this question when they formed
constitution, for then they would decide it not
S territories, but as States. Their decision could
My become valid when by the passage of their
onstiaitiou they became States. If they could de-
ide this question one day before their admission is
''ates they certainly could one day after their ad-
Mission as territories, for they were just as much
srrltorles at one time as at the other, and just as
ouch subject to territorial disabilities.
Mr.. Jones then passed to the history and mean
,g Of the Baltimore Resolutions, and showed them
} amount to absolutely nothing, if indeed they did
OF indirectly but not less emphatically, declare the |
of Congress over the subject of slavery
ut OF the States. He produced the resolution of.
red by Yancey, denying Congress the right of
'rlsdlction over this matter in the territories, and
,owed it was voted down by ZIG to So, and that if
meant anything, they thereby declared that t
congress had jurisdiction. He then passed to the
osition of General Taylor. He argued that Gen.
:, in refusing to commit himself upon a sectional {
uesdon or take a sectional position involving the t
ofthe Union, had but exhibited another !
roof of that s%tatesmanlike sagacity, which had as c
'nished the world. Should Gen. Taylor pledge q
mself to veto the Wilmot Proviso, from that mo. i
,~t Al -..1. ---.JII