The true Democrat., 1856-02-19
From the Jackson MissiSsippian

position, on the 12th of January, he lost the votes of two of the members from this State Messrs. Quitman and Barksdale We have not seen any evidence of the fact stated in re- ference to the course of the latter; but, on the contrary, discover that, on the 16th, he was still voting for Mr. Richardson. Our files o Washington papers are not complete, however and he may have acted with General Quitman in withholding his vote temporarily from Mr. Richardson.
 The reasons assigned by General Quitmaa for withholding his vote from the caucus nomi- nee on two ballots, and then returning to his support, are alike creditable to his head and heart-eloquent, frank, manly and patriotic- We copy them, as reported in the Globe oi the 16th
 MR. QUITMAN. MT. Clerk I am not much in the habit of explainingmy action in this House but feel it due to others as well as myself to explain the reasons for my withholding yester- day, on two ballots, my vote from the honora. ble gentleman from Illinois, Mir. Richardson. l have not at any time had the slightest dis trust of that gentleman, nor did 1 at any mo- ment cease to have the fullest confidence in him, both politically and personally. did not doubt, at any time after the explanations he made upon this floor oil Saturday, that that gentleman would administer the duties of the chair, should he be elected Speaker, in man. her entirely satisfactory to myself and to that section of the Union from which I come, and in accordance with my views of the constitu- tion of the United States and the equality of the States. never had any doubt upon that subject. But it occurred to me, on reading carefully, on yesterday morning, the explana- tons made by the honorable gentleman from Illinois, Mir. Richardson, on Saturday last, 1 might be considered as endorsing his opinions by voting for him. Although have never be- fore had the honor of holding seat on this floor, yet my political opinions have been re- corded ill my own State, and it may be that they are somewhat known to the people of the United States. I have some pride of ronsis- tency upon subjects of political principles.
 know that that gallant gentleman las, for seven years past, struggled in this House and elsewhere for the equal rights of the States of this Union. 1 honor him for this With his usual candor, he declared here on Satur- day, that although he believed there might be a naked constitutional power in the federal go- vernment to restrict slavery in the territories yet he considered that the exercise of such power would be unjust and wrong; and thus far infer that he regards such act in violation of the spirit of the constitution; practically this is sufficient. But, hold that as the prin- ciple of the equality of the States is fundamen- tai in our system, any act subversive of 1t is unconstitutional. Congress has no more power to violate that equality than to destroy State My opinions on this subject may be ultra, but they are not merely sectional. l would ap- ply them as we'll to Massachusetts and Yer. mont as to Mississippi and Louisiana. It is true that we who reside in the minority sec- tion are more deeply interested in the protec- tion of the reserved rights of the States than those who control the power of the govern ment, and are thus able to protect themselves. We must, therefore, be excused for insisting on principles, though they may not be attended with immediate practical results; and am free to admit that l have more confidence in one who, like the gentleman from Illinois, deems the exercise of this power wrong and unjust, and would therefore oppose it, than in one who believes it to be against the letter of the con. stitution, but would otherwise favor its exer- clSe.
 Thus concurring to a great extent in the posi- tions which the honorable gentleman from Illinois has avowed, and upon which he has fearessly acted heretofore, 1 find myself diff fering from him on this point only-that 1 be- lleve 1t to be against both the letter and spirit of the constitution for Congress to attempt to shut out from all or any part of the common territory the institution of negro slavery.
 On the other point indirectly presented, hold that the inhabitants of the territories, when they become people in the technical sense of the word, and not until then, are entitled to es- tablish political systems. Until by the assent, express or implied, of Congress, the people of portion of the common territory of these States assume the exercise of sovereign powers they have no right or power to impair the rights ot the citizens of any of the States to the equal use, occupation, and enjoyment of the common territory of the States. When their territorial condition ceases-when they assume the exercise of sovereign powers, they have the entire control of the political system and of the political institutions under which they are to live. They should be left free to choose for themselves their domestic institutions. should consider myself derelict to my duty, in voting against the admission of State be- cause she chose to exclude the institutions of my own section of country, as 1 would in voting to exclude her from a participation in the common benefits of the federal Union, because, in the formation of her State constitution, she chose to adopt the institution of slavery.
 Thus, while have thought proper briefly to express my dissent from some of the views of the honorable gentleman from Illinois, MT. Richardson,] must express my full confidence Tn him. l am entirely satisfied that he will do all that l could ask for the constitutional rights of the section of country which 1 represent, and for the constitutional rights of all sections of the country believe his position is pre- ferable to any other candidate upon this floor, and as long as there is any prospect of his cleo tion, and so long as some other course shall not be adopted; and in doing 50, l beg to say, l shall discharge duty to my own conscience to my own constituents, and, as believe, my duty to the whole of this great country.
 One Week Later from Europe
 Foreign Markets, etc.
 New York, Feb. 9.-The new Cunard steam ship Persia, Capt Judkins has arrived here from Liverpool with the mails of the 26th ult., comprising intelligence from Europe ge- nerally one week later than that brought by AL.