Washington telegraph., 1852-04-07
vs.. Douglas and the South.

Ns
We have always understood, from our
Democratic cotemporaries that Mr.. Doug
las. the favorite. candidate of the Young
Democracy for the Presidency, was a
strong and undoubted supporter of the
constitutional rights of the South. True it
is, we we're entirely ignorant Of any espe-
cial manifestation, on his part, of a desire
to protect the southern people in the en-
ioyment of their inalienable prerogatives,
vet such was the zeal and apparent truthful
ness with which the proposition was urged.
that we let it pass, at the time, for what it
was worth.
The thing has now, however, gone far
enough If the Douglas organs are allowed,
much longer, to assert, uncontradicted, that
he has ever been friend to the Southern
people, they'will not only, by continued rep
etition induce a general belief in their
statements, but convince themselves of the
truth of what they knew to be unfounded at
the start
The record shows that Senator Douglas
has avowed doctrines which strike at the
dearest interests and most sacred rights of
the slaveholding States AS proof of this,
we copy the following extract from a speech
delivered by him in the United States Sen
ate on the 18th of March, 1850, and which
may be found in the CongyesStonaI Gko5e,
Vol. XXI, page 359-as we find it in the
Macon (Ga.) Citizen. A desire to prevent
our Democratic Southern Rights breth-
ren from committing themselves unreserv-
edly to the support Of a man whose opin-
ions, at the period referred to, were direct
" in conflict with their own, as well as
to ''vindicate the truth Of history i'm
pei us to call their attention to the extract
referred to-
In reference to the action of Congress
upon the territorial question, Mr. Douglas
then and there said:
'It as no giolation of Soaitheyn RightS
to pr0hibjt SIaCcry, nor of Northern ri ghts
to leave the people to decide The question
for themselves. In this sense, no geograph-
ical section of the Union Is entitled to any
share Of the territories. The Senator from
South Carolina VIII therefore excuse me for
expressing the opinion that all of his COM
plants under this head are predjcated upon
one great fundamental error-the error OF
supposing That his particular section has a
right TO have due share OF the territories
set apart and assigned TO it."
From The foregoing extract it VIII be seen
that Mr.. Douglas unqpalifedly admits the
power OF Congress to prohjbu siGrery IN
tie tc1rit0ries' or at least, that it would be
no violation Of Southern Rights to do So
This is doctrine wholly at war with every
interest Of the South, so far as the insli!u-
ton Of slavery is concerned. Admit the
/ principle OF interference, and it is without
limitation. IfCongress possesses any power
at all in the premises, that power cannot be
restricted or confined. 1t applies to- and j,
supreme over all The territories belonging
to the Union, whether in the North or in The
South
Are the Southern Democratic supporters
Of Mr. Douglas prepared to endorse such
an cdious and dangerous doctrine! Il they
are not, how can they vote for him! lie
believes it to be ali right and proper ion
Congress to prohibit slavery in the terrific.
ries They cannot sustain him without sus.
tanning his doctrines. They must take him
as they fad him, not as they would have
him. Their course in reference to his nom
nation viii show the sincerity Of their pro
fcssed devotion to the South-of which VIC
intend to make a note
Ne50 Orleans Bulletin.