Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-05-01

say~ When leading Black Republican or
gan, the New York Daily Times, thus speaks
of the freesoil champion of the Topeka con-
vention, he must indeed be fallen to the lowest
depth of depths
Senator Douglas and Col. Lane.
Upon another page we publish letter from
Senator Douglas, concerning demand made
upon him by Col. J. II. Lane, of Kansas, for an
explanation of language he had used in debate.
The history of this affair is as follows: On
the 9Th instant memorial was presented to
the Senate by Gen. Cass, purporting to be
signed by the members elect of the Kansas
(Free State) LEGISLATURE. On the 9th it was
alleged that the signatures could not be gen.
uine, nasmuch as they were all written in one
hand. The memorial was accordingly rejected
Subsequently Col LANE sent into the Senate
petition, accompanied by the original memorial
of which the one previously presented was
alleged to be copy This was referred to the
Committee on Territories, Of which Mr.. Doug
las was chairman Upon examination Mr..
Douglass found as he alleges that, instead of
being copy, the original had been greatly and
materially altered; and upon that statement il
was again rejected.
On the 18th, Col Lane addressed to Mr..
Douglass letter, subsequently embodied in
his card, published in the Times Of Friday
last,) reminding him that, previous to his re-
port IN conversation he had told Mr. Douglas
that it "was prepared under his direction in
conformity with the authority vested in him.
and complaining that Mr. Douglass, after this
frank exploration, should still have repeated
his charge that the memorial had been essen.
TALLY and materially altered since its signature.
Col. Lane therefore asks Of him "such an ex-
PLANTATION Of his language upon that occasion
as will remove all imputation upon the in
tegrty of his action motive in connexion
with that memorial" This letter was handed
TO Senator Douglas by Hon c. 4. Watson.
The letter which we publish this morning was
written by Dir. Douglas to Mr.. Watson in reply
TO Col Lane,-or rather for the purpose Of ex.
planning to Mr. w. why he could not comply
with Col Lanes demand Accompanying the
letter is note from several gentlemen, de.
signed to sustain Mr.. Douglas in not havisg
regarded and treated Col. Lanes letter as a
challenge TO fight duel.
Col. Lane, upon hearing Of this letter and
its contents, published a card, which was given
in the Times Of Friday last, denouucing Mr..
Douglas as coward and charging him also
with having betrayed the confidence Of private
friendship. The only reply Mr.. Douglas makes
to this, is the publication Of the letter to which
Col. Lane alludes.
So far as this is personal controversy, we
have no hesitation in saying that Senator
Douglas has the best Of it. As to the altera.
tons in the memorial, we can express no opin-
ion, because we know nothing of the facts
except from the statements Of the respective
parties. Mr. Douglas alleges that they were
material that in the original memorial the
sigpers denied the right Of Congress to or
uanizo a Territorial Govern FIR Kapeos
whereas, in the altered document, as presented,
they we're made explicitly to acknowledge it.
Col Lane does not deny this allegee alteration,
but declares that all the changes were made
by him |" in conformity with authority
vested in him." 1t is not easy to suppose that
he could have authority to rcrerSe the principles
professed by the signers of the memorial-but
even If he had, the exercise Of such an authority
would be act Of very questionable propriety.
Aside from this matter, we cannot agree with
COL Lane in attributing cowardce to Senator
Douglas, merely because he did not consider
his letter challenge. If Col. Lane designed
to invite hostile meetings he should have been
explicit This mode of challenging by IN
ference, adds fresh absurdity, (which it does
not at all need,) TO the system Of duelline.
If the allegations in the letter Of Mr. Doug
las are true, it must be confessed that Col.
Lane has taken very injudicious and unwar-
rantabe course, in endeavoring to bring the
wishes OF the people Of Kansas to the knowledge
Of the Senate. If they are not true, Col Lane
should lose no time in disproving them.
~
DANIEL s. D1cKINsoN.-Tbe Norwalk tOhio)
Experiment. an Old Line Democratic paper Of
says;
"The Hon. Daniel s. Dickinson of New
J fork, we see It stated, will be brought forward
as candidate for the Presidency, at the Gin
cinnati Convention. He is a Democrat of the
old school," and we could support him with
pleasure"