The daily union., 1856-01-29
From the cAleaso Times.
SENATOR DOUGLAS AND rHr mi SrBRAsx@ Ri l'1 AcT 'c,,.

Ii will be remembered that quoted recent debate In
the House Of Representatives in which Mr. Cox OF Ken
tucky, called upon various members om the northern
States 10 testify as TO the grounds upon which northern
democrats defended the Nebraska bill and that with per
feet unanmity they stated that Messrs Cass Douglas
Pugb the democratic senator from Ohio, and the most
prominent members OF the democratic party in the North
vest advocated II the best abolition measure ever
passed - Charleston Mercury 9h
We have read that debate and the only witness that
gave testimony w. A. Howard Of Detroit an in
tolerant and ayowed abolidonst We assert positively,
that so far the above paragraph in the Mercury charges
that Senator Douglas defended the Nebraska act
an abolition measure best" otherwise II is untrue
And when the Mercury seeks TO assa the friends Of the
constitution In this section think decent respect for
ITSELF If not for Others should induce seek other
witnesses than avowed oonists. The demoeray of m
nos everywhere in Chicago, Quincy, at Cairo, and at
Paris defend the Nebraska because is right in itself
Gen. Shields whose speech the Mercury manges, did say
that the operation Of the Nebraska act Kansas would
be certainly free il the Wmo provso enacted
to keep slavery out Of it. Other democrats thought too
and have declared They say that 1t is wrong for Con-
gress to egsate TO keep slavery of the Territory and
have shown their sincerity in that conviction by voting
down the provso They think that if slavery is to be
cuded il must be excluded by the free choice of the people
Of the Territory, consutonally expressed and have
evinced the sincerity of their opinion by voting away the
Missouri restriction and leaving the Territory free of any
congressional action the democracy Of Illinois, without
dissenting voice-and that democracy is in majority
here of twenty-five thousandendorse the Nebraska act
because it is right and whether under 1t slavery 20 to
Kansas slavery be excluded in way will affect their
Judgment influence them to abandon the sacred princ
pie upon which that act is erected
The fact that the Mercury find in the columns
of the Washington Union anything to sustain its i'll
tempered assaults adds weight to its accusations.
The democracy Of Illinois have organ at Washing
ton their platform is the constitution which speaks for
itself and needs explanatory medium and they do
authorize any newspaper, however prominent to
preach another doctrine in their They sustained
themselves in 1854 that PLATFORM and with the appro-
val of good consccnccs they will do the in 1856 and
in all time to come. .#s.au
NuTE-Tt is not true that "the Mercury can find
in the columns OF the Washington Union anythng
sustain its il-tempered assaults upon Judge Doug
las, and the Tines ought to have known this sufficient
y well to induce it to refrain from the unjust If not
"ill-tempered" aluson to the Union. Several months
ago when General Cass assaed for advocating the
Nebraska bill upon the principle Of his Nicholson letter the
Washington Union defended him. and said that this
question he stood side by side with Douglas Bright
Toucey and the host of true northern democrats and if
General Cass to be charged with unsoundness for
cupyipg this ground then the charge equally appca
BILE all northern 1t this position Of the Union
to which the Mercury alluded and which the Times
bases its beral nsnuaon II is the FIRST time have
it inmaed that Judge Douglas differed with General
Cass this question, convinced Of the
fact although the Chicago Times recognise such
difference. We have regarded them standing
shoulder to shoulder the great doctrine
ton and should regret exceedingly to learn that
have mistaken their postons.EDToRs WASHINGTON
UNION