Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-11-23
senators Davis ana Douglas.


A studious effort has been made by those VINO de-
fsnd the positions assumed By Judge DOueLAs in his
Fresport speech to represent his opinions iden-
tioal with thoss expressed by Senator DAVIS, Of
Mississippi Il was thought that the known and
well deserved popularity which Mr.. DAVIS enjoys at
the South, would render an endorsement from him
sufficient guaranty for the sOundness Of Judge
DOUGLAS sentiments and would commend him to the
favor Of the slsEehOlding States. Judge DoUoLAs,
himself, fully appreciated the advantages Of such
endorsement and in his speech at Alton endesyOred
to establish correspondence between the views
previously expressed by him and those attributed to
the distinguished Senator from Mississippi he
sought protection from the just indignation Of the
Southern people, under the sanction and authority Of
Statesman whose fidelity to the South is unim-
peaohed and unimpesehable. Anxious, in the last
hours Of the CANVASS to via back the favor and
fdence Of the national Democracy which he had for
feited BY his course in the Senate, and having
secured all the support he could expect from the
Black Republicans, by the enunciaton, in hsearlier
speeches. Of the Odous doctrine that the first settlers
IN the territories, could by lawful means exclude
the people Of the slaveholding States from the
jOyment Of the public domain--the common property
Of al the states-he attempted in this last effort to
prepare the way for his restoration to full fellowship
in the Democratic party BY qualifying his opinions
and miseOnstruing those Of Senator DAVIS and thus
producing the impression that they were the same.
In the able and eloquent speech recently delivered
by Mr.. DAVIS in Jackson, Miss, which we publish
to-day, he exposes the utter groundlessness of this
pretsnoe, and shows that he had at no time and in
no way cOunteRsneed the doctrine Of squatter SOW
ereignty announced by Mr. DOUGLAS in his Freeport
speech. Mr.. DAVIS language, at Portland, will not
legitimatey bear the construction which has some
times been placed upon it. He contended that in a
new territory where no local laws existed for the
protection Of slave property, and 0hers the community
g0as opposed is existence such property would be
30 insecure ss to be almost valueless On the other
hand Mr.. DOUGLAS commended land he stated it with
some appearance of i'll nature st his position being
dOubted) that "tEs people Of territory can By Iaafg
z1saHs exclude slaVsry before Il 5Ieomss STATE" 'Mr.
LINCOLN he said, had heard him express that opip-
ion ga hundred times on every stump in Illinois"
This then, was Judge DOUGLAS deliberate and set
tied opinion, and even the decision of the Supreme
Court had not shaken it. He held that "whatever
the Supreme Court might hereafter decide as to the
abstract question, Of whether slavery may go in,
under the constitution or not STILL in mis- opinion
the people Of territory had right to admit
clude it, either by refusing to legslate the sub
ject ct all I'VE give abstract Of the Senator's opinA
iOns) or by 'unfriendly legislation" Now inssmuch
as the Supreme Court had distinctly decided before
this speech was delivered that the constitution does
allow the citizens Of all sections to 60 and settle
with their property in the territories and that Meth
eF Congress the territorial legislature has any
right to exclude slave other property pass laws
unfiendy to its existence, Judge DOUGLAS FreepOrt
speech may be regarded as an unqualified repudia-
tion Of the bred Scott decision. Mr. LIEooLN, who
is strongly opposed to that decision was satisfied
with the opinion expressed by Judge DOUGLAS and
ceased to argue the question with him.
These sentiments, it will be readily believed by
those familiar with Senator DAVIS public life are
not approved, not even tolerated by him. If any
doubt remains on that subject, in any mind, peru
sal Of his speech, at jackson, will remove it. We
commend the document to the attentive perusal of
our readers. 1t is eloquent, dignifed aud manly,
and every sentence is with sentiments of devO-
ton to Southern interests and Southern rights The
graphic description of the celebrated msneuver Of
the Mississippi Rifles on the bloody field Of Buena
Vista, possesses more than ordinary historical in
terest, as coming from the man who commanded the
regiment and directed the movement. We feel that
We confer favor upon readers in presenting the
speech entire.