Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-11-28
MlisteIlaneous.
SENATOR DOUGLAS.

Soon after Gen. Pierce's Inauguration
/ was seated before Wier's grand picture
of the Embarkation, in the rotunda of
the Capitol, when clear and decided
voice behind me said, in an excited
tone:
81 believe in the right of every State
and of the people thereof, to regulate
their own domestic affairs"
| looked around and saw two men,
both rather low of stature, one fair and
slender, and the other stouter, black
haired, and large, lion-like head, of
which the face was partly turned from
me. They were engaged in animated
conversation. | lost the first part of
the fair mans reply, but caught the
words:
Spirit of the Federal compact" =
don't apply to Territories.
Yes, 20 Territories Territories are
but States under age" said he with the
large head, throwing back his dark locks
as lion losses his name when he stops
to gaze on his foe.
8" States under age? Exactly, and
therefore to be governed by their lawful
guardian, Uncle Sam said the fairest
man. with low, pleasant laugh, as the
short turn of their walk brought them
in full face.
Z" But guardian must not impair or
trammel the future rights Of his wards,
and"
lost the rest of the lion head words,
and most of the reply of the other, but
as their walk brought them back in car
shot caught something about ''non in
tervention."
There was another defiant toss of the
black locks, and this sentence, of which
every word and tone will live forever in
my memory:
" Non-intervcntion is the only law Of
salvation for the Union. 1t is the only
platform on which all the States can
stand together and keep the peace"
"And this rule you would apply to
al the Territories present and future 2"
asked his companion in thoughtful
tone.
ITO all the Territories now and for
ever" was the emphatic reply, as he
stopped short and abruptly faced the
other.
And to the District of Columbia,
alsoT'
ITO the District Of Columbia, Also"
They looked steadily at each other for
N ,,s4 al
pressive movement of the head that told
beyond the power of words, of fixed
and radical difference Of sentiment, bow
ed an adieu, and disappeared in different
directions.
Two ladies passed by them as they
were leaving, and came towards the pic
ture | was pretending to examine in Or
der to cover the interest which had in
voluntarily forced me into listening to
this conversation.
"Who are those gentlemen ?" inquired
one of the ladies Of the other
/ think the one who bowed and
made way for us is Senator Seward, of
New York, F" was the reply.
80 Indeed can that abominable aboli-
zionist have such an intellectual face and
such an air Of refinement and high
breeding n exclaimed the questioner, in
tone Of unqualified establishment.
"And is the other a disunion aboli-
zionist, tool" continued the dark-eyed
maid Of the South.
Gle disunionist No, indeed that
is Douglas of Illinois"
Douglas of Illinois, is i'll Well, he
looks like a man 10 give and cat good
dinners, than one to make that speech
on the Monroe Doctrine that your father
and mine thought so wonderfully wise
and lion-hearted."
The young lady's expression Zion
hearted" chimed in with my fancy that {
he had the most lion-like head, and IL {
aided to stereotype the incident on my
IL did not sec Washington or Doug [
las again for more than n year. Ny
next visit to the Capitol was in the midst {
Of the debates on the Kansas-Nebraska ,
bill. AS chairman Of the Senate Com I
nittee on Territories, Douglas had en-
bodied the darling thought which had ,
been struggling for years in his breast, I
ont which simple 10 il now ba0ins "a Z