The Feliciana Democrat., 1858-10-02
A CONCLUSIVE REJOINDER.

The Richmond Enquirer thus replies to charge
made by the Washington Union that II is playing
treacherous part in defending Senator Douglas from
the false Interpretations made by the Union oil his
position in relation to the Drcd Scott decision.
1--WE are reluctant to request courtesy or even an
act of justice at the hands of newspaper whch pre-
icrs the election OF n Black Republican to the United
States Senate proceeds the Enquirer and asks OF The
Union to publish its reply. II then continues "Wc
hold now as we have from the beginning OF the con-
lest in Illinois that Senator Douglas is doing more
than any other Northern man for the vindication of
the political rights of the South. We prefer him, not
only before Black Republican candidate, but before
any other Democrat for the position of Senator from
Illinois. We fully endorse his position with regard
to the position of existing Federal legislation For the
protection of of the constitutional rights of the south
and appreciate very highly his able efforts to i'm
press this truth on the minds of the people That
this protection is insufficient the Union will not
venture to deny 1t neither denies the fact that the
Nebraska act affords positive protection to slavery
in the Territories the equally undeniable fact
that the Badger amendment did operate to deprive
slavery in The territories of prcexsting protective
laws.
The attempt to fix the responsibility of these de-
fccts on Senator Douglas is the Unions effort moi
ours The Nebraska act achieved two great objects
lst The denial by Congress of its own power to abo
ish slavery in the territories. ID The acknowledge
mcnt of the right of people of territory, about tc
become State to abolish or to recognize the nsii
tuition of slavery through the agency of state con
vention. This was done on the recommendation OF
Senator Douglas 1t was impossible at the time fol
him. to push his recommendations further. Southern
Senators, instead of coming forward to require posi-
tive legislation for the protection of slave propert,
in the territories, while territories urged the rcpea
Of prc-eyising laws for such protection They feared
the result of direct trial of strength before Congress
and sought compromise. IL was southern men who
chose to leave the point undecided by Congressional
enactment even to whether the territorial legisla
ture could prohibit slavery. 1t is doubtful whether
some of them did not even favor the construction o
the Nebraska act which acknowledges such territora
authority. We remember but one instance in whcl
this construction, was, at the time, openly contro
vcrted on the floor of the Senate by Southern man
That Senator-to his honor be it spoken-was Jane,
Y. Mason of Virginia
s'While southern men were thus employed in urc
ing the repeal of laws protecting slavery in the terri
tories certainly northern man would have found il
worse than useless to attempt the passage of new
protective laws. Thus it is nndenablc, that Will,
Seaator Douglas. the originator of the Kansas ac,
deserves the chief credit for the benefits which it has
conferred. he is, at the time the least response
BILE among its supporters, for the defects which it ON
bodies One Of these defects has since been partial
ly corrected by the Drcd Scott decision. Senator
Douglas has not hesitated to endorse that decision
And now he boldly points out the fact that the dcfcc
is not yet totally corrected, lie refuses in an opcr
and manly spirit to lull the friends of constitutions
right into false security. His explanations poin
out the undeniabe fact that something more mus
be done, before southern man can find entire seen
rity for his property in our common territories
What southern man is doing more than this for tl
sake of the constitutional rights of the south? How
many are doing as much And yet this is the nar
against whom the Union is daily cndcavoring /,
strengthen the hands of Black Rcpublicanism /
Judge Douglas false to the Constitutional rights o
the south, or has the Union ceased to be Democratic
newspaper? The voice of n large number of the Dem
ocratic press, from Maine to Texas, from Pennsyya
MIA to California, already asserts the latter