The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1857-01-17
OBJ ftIitiana 1cmocrat.
SPEECH or HON. +. G. DAVIDSON.


ring the Presidents message to the Committee
OF the Whole on the state of the Union, aud
the printing of ten thousand extra copies there
of, Hon. Thomas Green Davidson member OF
Congress from this district of Louisiana, OBJ
tanned the floor, and delivered n mastery argu
mcn' on the slavery question. Ills debut is
spoken Of rs brilliant and triumphant by those
who witnessed its effect We have the whole
speech before us, but our contracted columns
will not permit its insertion entire; we must
therefore content ourselves with giving an out
line of its substance.
Mr. Davidson said it was not his intention
of discussing the slavery question in Congress
in any shape or form; that he would onIy 40
so Incidentally lie took the broad ground
that Congress did not now, nor never did
have, the power to lcgiSlatc on that vcXcd Qucs-
ton He adyertcd to the constitutions Of the
different, colonies prior to the adoption Of the
Federal Constitution, reading thcrciron aIl-
tl,ority establishing the right Of the people to
govern and make laws adapted TO their wants
This was the principle Of the constitutions: it
was the doctrine Of the Nebraska bill, aud it
was the aim Of the Democratic party to make
it universal. Mr. -. tIcn went ino a ScarrI-
ing history Of the ordnance of 1857. and its
coded by Nirginia; the acquisition Of Louisiana.
and the rights Guaranteed the people TO hold
their property under the treaty. With France
lie fully established thc constitutional sqtny
of slavery, and made some scathine' comments
Oh tie history Of Massachusetts in regard TO
its abolition Thi+ portion III I'LL argument N
fortified by many learned authorize, That can.
not be questioned
..l.. II. r ,
rights, Mr.. Davidson encountered 4 cro..ratr.
clIism from 4. X. Marshall. Of Kentucky. and
Il number Of opposition members: and, III this
il his fort il i needless "a >fatc that W. camc
off with llying colors Humphrey &IarshaII cr
Kentucky, and Il. ID Campbell. Of Ohio, ~.
ccived Il passing not,rr AMI From lhi.p oiut
the speech is so characteristic Of ourasinla and
ready representative. THAT We nrye ii coupletn
Mr.. u. Said:
Sir, have been amused bytllccogryc which
has been pursued hv the gentlemen from Ohio
and Kentucky. MIR Canrula.I aul Mr.. II
Marshall The lIou>a viii very Win rrnen.
her Il scene which occurred her. during The
election for Speaker. TIE gcutlcman from
Kentucky came here in All tho priaa or bower.
he had looked all around and he had seen rhat
Know = othingism bad one HUNDRED and TWEEN
ty.ior advocates lii this House afi tha nan.
tlelnan felt large. Yes SIR: c;p#lr. after he
had swept G0ul with his couqu.riag r-.oas
venture 10 say, dd not feel NOR. potent to
destroy his enemies j,,uu did the gentleman
from Kentucky 10 destroy mr. Democratic par
~. lie came her, and ID ,owi that there
was Soue mistake a1out lhn position tb"y were
10 occupy. Ta' erGrrnm FROM Kentucky
and the gentleman from Ohio aud other Rep
rcSen'utiyes from the free States, did uot hap
pen 10 understand each other; one was for
sam. and tie others were for sam with 5om
III ms legs and they rot qlamrliag about tho
twelfth section, which never thought amoant-
ed to much; and the gentleman from Kentucky
yon all remember read the gentleman from
ONO out OF the American party because he
would not stand upon the twelfth section, and
the gentleman from Ohio read The gr talnan
from Kentucky ont hecansc he would stand
uponl.' Wei, Just after that, Oh the I'D Of
February, the twelfth section was abolished,
and TINT very night the gentleman from Ken
lucky and the gentleman from Ohio went up
to q of-eioSu and both addressed the same
s,IIi, Il