The Washington union., 1857-09-18
from .he Memphis Appeal.
DINNER 10 COL JEFFERSON DAVIS

the gallant Davis most cordial, hospitable, and COM
plimentary welcome at fernando ON Saturday last ihe
quiet and transformations manner in which he reached the
town prevented the citizens extending TO him, as
suppose originally designed formal reception
on his arrival On Saturday last, excellent dinner
modestly called basket collaton-was prepared ana
served In the courthouse enclosure, Of which Large
number of ladies and gentlemen partook But previ-
GUS TO the discussion of creature comforts provided In
such lavish profusion by our DE neighbo Colonel
Davis addressed his elowctizens substantially fol-
lows
Col Davis said That lie was most happy TO meet his
fellow-citzens of De Soto county from whom he had been
separated for six years and to find his return so many
evidences OF progress and prosperity Inc RAPID curre
of events had during the period OF separation brought
many changes and presented issues which II any other
would require q century to bring forth Among
those changes and that which most gratifying to
him. the steady and rapid progress Of the doctrines
of State rights and the practical exhibition Of southern
Independence The first tho great cornerstone upon
which the constitution rested and the second was neces
say to its preservation and the perpcuity OF the Union
The anagonsm of sectional interests and the differences
of political theory which rendered the compromises OF
the constitution difficult OF adjustmeit, only rendered
them possible because they the differences between
nearly equal parties Less than then could we hope,
from generosity of fraternity, concessions from the North
which we have not the power to demand.
The late administration his connexon with which had
been alluded to in complimentary terms by his friend
Gen Nelms was with which he had become connect
ed both against his personal wishes and interests In sc
cepng position in the cabinet he acted in obedience to
hs Mississippi friends who supposed that he might be OF
service in the federal government His shattered
health at the time required repose and the nieorabe
controversy of 1851 which he desired to see To
its final termination For many years. from consdera
tions both of political and personal friendship, he had
entertained unaering confidence in Franklin Pierce as
honest man, patriotic statesman and sincere ad
heren of the doctrine of strict construction and State
rights for which he Col Davis unsuccessfuy srus
Cling when he last had the pleasure of meeting and
mingling with the people of De Soto county BY the
principles enunciaed and the policy pursued by Pres
idept Pierce he expected and in all future time
to stand fall If he inferred from the language of
Gen. Nelm the delegate to receive and welcome him on
this OCCASION the late President has met your expecta
tions in this regard Colonel Davis felt himself fully com
pesated for any sacrifice which the Office of Secretary
quired him to make TO President Pierce the approba
ton of the right minded people of the Union will be the
grateful and cheering BECAUSE even IN his retirement
he his pursued by the execraons of the aboonsts and
public plunderers of the land
He referred at length to the NAL -treatment and
suffering of the insane paupers and spoke in terms OF
high commendaton of the phanthropic efforts OF Miss
Dix, who cattle like an angel into the dungeon OF the
chained manacoftenties by her Sentleness subduing
his rage casting off his ettes and restoring him to quiet
and rest What wonder that such exhibitions should ex
cite the sympathes of all who were cognzant of Them
and that it happened that various legislatures fixing
their eye nently the end and dsregarng the means
by which it to be accomplished, memoriazed Con-
gress in favor of granting lands of the public domain for
the establishment OF asyus in the various States Con-
gress responding to the pressure enacted law granting
land for the purpose but President Pierce though he
had neither less of feeling for the INDECENT insane or
willingness from his purse to relieve their suerngs
turned public agent to the constitution OF the United
States the guiding star of his political conduct and
finding therein warrant of authority which made the
Congress the grand anoner of the nation and conferred
upon it power to establish eeemosynay institutions, he
put his veto upon the act and returned it to the Con-
gress, where 1t failed by the want OF the constitutional
majority required in such cases In Hike he met
various by which it proposed, at the ex
pense Of the people of the whole country and especially
of the citizens of the South to make internal improve
mcns with such Fortunate localities should be able to
command majority of congressional votes.
Among other he particularly referred to the deep
ming of the mouth of the Mississippi which, however i'm
portant to himself and those who heard him, only con-
stituted more strongly for that reason, in which
they bound to assert and maintain their principles,
declared and reiterated in national and State conven
tons in the legislature and popular bodies and by which
they early and consistently arrayed in opposition to
internal improvements by the federal government He
characterized the whole system demoizng, corrupt
ing and most dangerous to pure administration OF fed
era affairs and deeply regretted that the Executive veto
had been overued by the ardent desire to get possession
of the public treasure for particular but not few works
of internal improvements. What boots it that man
shall call himself democrat it, upon the great questions
which divide parties, he shall be found in every conflict
acting with the enemy and when have been beaten in
still returns to powerful camp to share in the issue
of the ratons which still belongs to democracy,
oity to distribute 1t is the steady maintenance of this
and all other principles of party which constitute the
nationality of the democracy and if the national democ
acy cannot agree upon any cardinal principle of its faith
it should be frankly avowed rather the reverse should
never have been declared.
He reviewed the various appointments to the guberna
toria Office of Kansas and alike exempted from
both Mr. Pierce and Mr. Buchanan for the errors mis-
conduct of their appontees upon the ground that their
anteoedents gave them power to anticipate any diff
Guilty. He found nothing in the instructions given to
Governor Walker which authorized his intervention to
mould the institutions of Kansas and dictate to the in
habtants of the Territory and to their delegates in
vcntion not only what they should, but must do. For
his oconsuar tone to that height He said
he considered the convention invested with full power to
form constitution and either to submit it to the terri
oria inhabitants to send it direct to Congress- in
der that Kansas might be admitted State into the
Union. He thought much error had arisen from the
failure to bear in mind the difference between this
convention of Territory and convention represent
ing the sovereign people of State. He referred to
the doctrine of squatter sovereignty which he
had always considered fallacy, and pointed gen.
orally to the disastrous consequences which had flow
ed from it. But he said, leaving that question
which had been discussed in other times, he now only
presented the view which confined to the present
condition of the Territory under the prevailing theory
and practice When the convention formed the consti
tuition though they should refer and it should receive
the sanction of every man, woman and child who might
then chance to be in the Territory this Joint action Of
the convention and the inhabitants could give effect
to the instrument which had been formed. Territory
had two constituencies people and the federal gov
ernment The ratification in the of State
tion would be final the authority to would