The Feliciana Democrat., 1858-11-20
THE SPEECH OF DOUGLAS.


tor Douglas at Alton, Illinois, where the last joint
debate took place between him and his Black Repub
lcan competitor, Lincoln and here we append some
remarks of the editor of the n. o. Courier, who mad
heard him speak, in September, in part OF Illinois,
where the Black Republicans are largely in the as
cendan and who declares, that his language and all
of the positions in this speech are identical with the
one then delivered. He remarks
"Herc then. we have Judge Dnuglas as he is, rs
he has been. as he will be. His speech has all that
pcrspicuty which marks his style. 1t is clear, exact
explicit and direct in terms. as well rs cogent and
consistent In argument"
senator Douglas opposition in Congress at the late
session was not an abandonment of Democracy, and
we can confidently refer to the Alton speech torproo
that 1t was not.
"IIowever much views may differ as to his course
In the first session OF the thirtyth Congress. there
can be M two opinions ~ to his present posi- ton
lie stands firmly by the Constitution, interpreting its
guarantees, checks and limitations according to the
oil honored and cherished tencts Of the State Rights
Democracy. H. abides by and sustains the principles
OF the Constitution as enunciaed and proclaimed In
the decision of the Supreme Federal Court lie stands
the Democratic platform and on every plank of II.
lie declares his adhesion to Democratic organization
and his determination to support Democratic nomin-
ecs. He shows the courage of true man and the
ability of statesman in resisting all outside n'uen-
ccs brought to bear on local elections come from
what they may. AS ian ardent advocate Of the
rights of the States he could do less. The great
doctrine of nonntervention by one State in the al
fairs Of another. or by the Federal Government, in ai
fairs Of any State i vigorously set forth illustrated
and mana;ncd. HI wants States. Governments par
ties and administrations to mind their own business
exclusively
i What he says of the rights duties and powers OF
the people of Territories must BE- construed accord
ing to the Democratic platform which is his platform
and the Dred Scott decision which he approves and
defends. He ahirms the right of people of all the
States to 60 vita any property. slaves included to
any Territory and that the Constitution guarantees
their property rights His assertion made. or allcg-
ed to have been made, in former speech, that mas
much a. local police regulations were required for
the protection of slave property and as the nhabit
ants of Territory could not be compelled to pass
any Territorial laws but what they pleased to pass
their refusal or neglect to pass them would operate
as a virtual exclusion Of slavery not justify and
was not intended to Justify such refusal or neglect
\ His sole meaning was that If the inhabitants OF q
Territory did not want 81 avery they would not have
it, and he has repeatedly declared that if they do
want 1t they will have and the Constitution susains
them. Neither language nor logic can be warped in
such way as to construe this into 'squater soger
eighty"
Wlat we like best of all in this speech is that por
ton where he proclams that this country was settled
by white men. that the declaration of independence
referred to white men, that the Federal and Stat
governments were formed by white men to preserv
! the rights and liberties Of white men, In his vc'
the negro is an inferior and can't be citizen and III
is willing that the people Of each State may do witt
him as they please. II there isn all the North
thier member Of the Democratic white men, party
than Judge Douglas we have not yet heard hi
name