Daily national Democrat., 1858-11-27
Foote. Dixon and Douglas.


is an Important extract Senator Douglas
has been accused of demagogism iu bring
forward his great measure of the Kansas and
/ Nebraska Bill 1t will be seen from the fol.
lowing secret history, not heretofore pub
lished, that he brought that measure forward
under high sense of duty alone, and not
without having overcome, in the first place,
very strong reluctance against it. Ex Sen
ator Dixon says:
OF Judge Douglas personally have a few
words to utter which | could not withhold,
without greatly wronging my own con-
science. When entered the United States
I Senate a few years since, | found him de-
cided favorte with the political party then
dominant both in the Senate and the country.
My mind had been greatly prejudiced against
him, and | felt no disposition whatever to
sympathize or cooperate with him. 1t soon
| became apparent to me, as to others. that he
was upon the whole far the ablest Democrat
| ie member of the body. In the progress of
| time my respect for him both as a gentle
man and statesman greatly increased. |
| found him sociable, affable, and in the high
est degree entertaining and instructive in So
cial intercourse. His power as a debater
seemed to me unequalled in the Senate He
was industrious, energetic bold and skillful
in the management of the concerns of his
party. He was the acknowledged leader oi
the Democratic party in the Senate aud to
confess the truth, seemed to me TO bear the
| honors which eucircled him with sufficient
meekness Such was the palmy state of hi:
reputation and popularity on the day that he
| reported to the Senate his celebrated Kansa.
and Nebraska bill
On examining that bill it struck me that
it was deficient in one material respect il
did not in terms repeal the restrictive pro
vision in regard to slavery embodied in the
Missouri compromise This to me. was a de-
ticiency that thought it imperiously neces
sary to supply. | accordingly offered an
amendment to that effect. My amendment
seemed to take the Senate 10y surprise, and
no one appeared more startled than Judge
! Douglas himself He Immediately came to
my seat and courteously demonstrated against
my amendment, suggesting that the bill
| which he had introduced was almost in the
words of the Territorial acts for the organi-
zation of Utah and New Mexico, that they
being part of the compromise measures of
1850, he had hoped that l., a known and
Jealous friend of the wise and patriotic ad-
justment which had then taken place, would
not bo inclined to do anything to call that
adjustment in question or weaken it before
the country.
Irepied that it was precisely because
had been, and was firm and Jealous friend
of the compromise of 1850 that felt bound
to persist in the movement which had orig
inated that | was well satisfied that the
Missouri restriction, if not expressly repeal
ed, would continue to operate in the Terrific
ry to which it had been applied, thus mega
tiving the great and salutary principle of
non Intervention which constituted the most
prominent and essential feature of the plan
of settlement of 1850 We talked for some
time amicably, and separated Some days
afterwards, Judge Douglas came to my lodg.
ings, whilst was confined by physical in
disposition, and urged me to get up and
take ride out with him in his carriage. |
accepted his invitation and rode out with
him. During our short excursion we talked
on the subject of my proposed amendment,
and Judge Douglas, to my high qualification,
proposed to me that | should allow him to
take charge of the amendment and engraft it
on his Territorial bill. acceded to the pro-
position at once; whereupon a most inter
esting interchange occurred between us.
On this occasion, Judge Douglas spoke to
me in substance thus: al have become per.
fectly satisfied that it is my duty, as a fair
minded national statesman, to cooperate
with you, as proposed, in securing the repeal
of the Missouri compromise restriction. 1t is
due to the South; tits due to the Constitution
heretofore palpably infracted it is due tc
that character for consistency which l have
heretofore labored to maintain. The repeal
| if we can effect it, will produce much stir and
commotion in the free States of the Unior
for season. | shall be assailed by dema
gogues and fanatics there, without stint OF
moderation. Every opprobrious epithet vii
be applied to me. | shall probably be hung
in etiigy in many places. 1t is more thar
probable that | may become permanently
odious among those whose friendship anC
esteem have heretofore possessed This
proceeding may end my political career But
acting under the sense of the duty which an.
imates me, am prepared to make the saeri
flee. will do it."
! He spoke in the most earnest and touch.
| ing manner, and confess that was deeply
affected. | stated to him in reply, "Sir,
once recognized you as a demagogue a mere
| party manager, selfish and intriguing.
now find you warm hearted and ster ing
patriot Go forward in the path of duty you
/
| you ncUer wiH"
The subsequent course Of this extraordina.
ry parsonage is now before the country. His
great speeches on this subject, in the Senate
and elsewhere, have since been made. As a
| true national stateslnan-as an infiexible and
untrng advocate and defender of the con
stitution of his country-as an enlightened
fair minded, and high-souled patriot, he has
fearlessy battled for principle; he has, with
singular consistency, pursued the course
which he promised to pursue when we talked
! together in Washington, neither turning to
! the right nor to the left. Though sometimes
reviled and ridculed by those most benefit
ted by his labors, he has never been heard to
complain. Prosecuted by the leading men
| of the party he has so long served and sus-
toned, he has demeaned himself on all oc.
casions, with moderation and dignity though
he has been ever earnest in the performance
of duty, energetic in combating and over.
coming the obstacles which have so strange
! ly beset his pathway, and always ready to
meet and overthrow such adversaries as have
ventured to encounter him. lie has been
| faithfM to his pledge he has been true to
the South aud the Union, and intend to be
faithful to my own pledge. | am sincerely
grateful for his public services. | feel the
! highest admiration for all his noble qualities
and high achievements, and regard his rep
utation as part of the moral treasures of the
nation itself
And now, in conclusion, permit me to say
that the Southern people cannot enter into
unholy alliance for the destruction of Judge
| Douglas, if they are true to themselves, for
he has made more sacrifice to sustain South
ern institutions than any man now living.
Southern men may, and doubtless have met