The true Democrat., 1854-12-27
Very truly yours,
 THOMAS J. RUsK. Hon. Emile LaSere, Chairman, etc.

1 VERANDA HOTEL, New Orleans, Dec. 2 '54. Hon. Emile Ia Sere end others, members of he
 Conamittee::
 l GENTLEMEN-I acknowledge the receipt of your note, enclosing the proceenidgs had at a meeting of the democracy of New Orleans, and inviting me to unite with them in the contem- plated public reception of that distinguished Senator, the Hon. Stephen A. Douglas of Hi nois.
 1 learn that it will not be in the power of that distinguished Senator, during his present short and hurried stay in your city, to meet the democracy and accept the warm and cordial tes- timonials of their grateful respect for him per sonally, and their high admiration of his emi- nent public services.
 l l sympathize deeply with the feeling that dictates this public manifestation of respect and regard for the Senator. It was my fortune to have served with him upon the committee which reported the Kansas and Nebraska bill, and to have been familiar with the provisions of the bill through every change from its inception, and with the facts, opinions and arguments which led to its adoption in its present form
 As law 1t is nothing to the South, that it is not to the North. All the South know this. ! ceived the sanction of the distinguished Sena- tor. Had the Senator produced bill which excluded the people of the South from the territories-which violated that spirit pervad- ing the constitution, protecting and guaranteeing the property and rights of the Southern people which outraged the principles of the con- promise act of l95O-which negatived the right of a people to make their own laws and estab- | k " tlo constitutional condition that it be republican in its form-then it is just to conclude, from what we have witnessed, that the Senator would have secured the warm approval, received the endorsement, and excited the enthusiastic de- votion oi those who now bitterly condemn and reentlessly pursue him.
 We are not grateful to the Senator that he has established for Us a new privilege, or sol itary right, not ours heretofore, by both the constitution and the latest legislation He has not done so. He has sought to be just to us. but no more. He has been faithful to the con- stltutlon in this that he has refused to violate | 1t.
 It Is not extravagant gratitude we feel for the full discharge of the most palpable dutes-it Is not eXtravagant admiration we express for the proud observance of lofty and sacred polt- ical obligations. No, we claim these at the hands of every upright and concientious public servant; but It IS, that we see eXemplified in the brutal abuse and bitter prosecutions heaped upon the Senator, the implacable enmity felt towards ourselves by many of our fellow eiti- zens at the North-the interruptions length to which they carry it-and we sympathse deep- ly and invountarily that he should be made our explation, whilst we are compelled to wit ness 1t, but are powerless to avert or mode rate it.
 We express our sympathy; it is right to do so, and its about the only return we can ren- der the faithful public servant Among his own people, as we know, he must look for the consequences of his own action. To the just among them we can commend him-it is all we may do; and as strong as may be the confi- dence we individually entertain, that the ma- jority of the North will be just to the South and faithful to the constitution, so with like and just equal confidence may we rely that thai majority Will approve or condemn, reward ol destroy the Northern politician, who does now or who hereafter may occupy the position o the distinguished Senator
 thank you, gentlemen, for the honor yor have done me, of inviting me to unite with tn, democracy of New Orleans in extending to the Hon. Stephen A. Douglas cordial testimonials of distinguished respect, and must mingle my own with tha general regret that the engage. ments of that Senator may not now permit hin to accept them.
 have the honor to be,
 Your obedient humble servant,
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