Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-12-07

Democracy Of that State. It presents striking
contrast with the time serving and treacherOus
policy Of Mr.. DOUGLAS and his allies in the North,
and administers just and whitening rebuke to The
handful Of protesting Democrats At the South who
seem to have discovered new merit in his recent
ssrtiOn Of their cause. .sss
Below we copy the greater pCriien Of the bold,
manly and able speech, delivered on the occasion
By the Hon. JAMES NJ HUaHEs, the present Con
gressnsn from the third district Of Indisna, afford
ing index to the whole proceedings Of this gath
ering Of the party ia that State. It viii command
the attention Of Democrats in ell sections Of the
Union. We earnestly invoke our readers to read it
with care and attention 1t was addressed to free
State audience; but, unlike the speeches Of Mr.,
DOUGLAS it reads as well in one latitude another
Mr. HUGHES is one Of those gallant men Of the North
who, in the last Congress- rather than desert prin
cple. stood side by side with their Democratic
brethren Of the SDuth and breasted the fury of the
storm, raised agars' them at home by The combined
efforts Of sswARD- Black Republicanism on tie one
hand and DoUoLAs- DOughfaceism on the other. II
Southern men had sympathy to waste, surely it
would have been more 10 their credit to have given
it in aid Of such men, rather than to that spurious
Democracy of Illinois, which, in the language Mr.
HUGHEs. "requires diluted doses of abOltionism to
give tone TO their stomaches " But no remarks
of ours can give additional force to the ble remarks
which follow. Mr.. HUGHEs said:
In 1856, we met together in this hall, proclaimed
our creed and went forth to victory. Never was
there more devoted, united and gallant army than
that which ashbel P. Wlsrd led in that memorable
contest. Isdiana achieved laurels then that should
live forever green upon her brow had the honor
to draft the State platform Of 1856 on the slavery
question the leading issue of the State and National
election at that time. TWAS broad and UnequVoca.
It endorsed the compromise measures Of 1850, and
their application embodied in the Nebraska bill.
Upon the construction of that famous bil some diff
ference OF opinion existed. Some commended for
State Equality, the construction nov established by
the bred Scott decision; others for Squatter Sever
eipnty The former was more acceptable to the
South the latter to the North. The platform left
that question to Judicial decision, By which it is
needless say the Democratic party always abides.
The preference Of our people doubtless vas for
Souatter Sovereignty. We believed that the more
expedient snd acceptable mode Of sstling the ques
ton of Slavery in the Territories. We would most
Of us have been graiifed had the Supreme Court Of
the United States recognized the legality Of Squatier
Sovereignty yet even here, in Indiana, there were
those who denied that and favored State Equality.
The bred Scott decision has settled that question.
That decision has been sanctioned and accepted by
the Democratic party everywhere. II is not in
hict with the Cincinnati platform. 1t will doubtless
be approved by the Charleston Convention.
Let me remind you of the resolution adopted by
orr State Convention Of the 9Th of January last.
resolution which one opposed, not those
shining lights who subsidiDg into Republi>
csnism, as kindred drops are mingled into one. 1t
is the unanimous voice OF the Democracy Of In
diana, expressed in plain and vigorous language
ResoIUed, That in the late decision of the Su-
vrar Fn11rf kno fhn brad
recognize the legal expression Of the doctrine of the
Constitution Of the United States, and of the State
of Indiana, and we hereby denOunce and hold up to
the universal execrsion aud scOrn Of all loyal
American citizens the loathsome doctrine of negro
equality now sustained and indorsed by the So
called Republican prrty of Indiana, as the natural
and inevitable consequence of their opposition to
the Supreme Court decision above named"
The bred Scott decision disposes Of the question
of slavery in the Territories forever, if faithfully
adhered to- and the national PLATFORM founded upen
justice, upon which the Democratic party Of the
whole Union stand With unbrOken front. AS
to the admission of Slave States into the Union the
Republicans profess to be divided among them>
selves. We are united! We adhere to our doctrine
that they may come in, when in the language Of the
Cincinnati platform, They have sufficient popus
ton, with without slavery, their respective
constituents may prescribe"
The Kansas question: temporary issue-is SCI
tied upon the English bill, in conformity with the
principle to population, laid down in the Cincin
att platform and let me add in the Fillmore plats
form too Il is well known to you that have voted
for that bill 1t is scarcely necessary to add, ap
prove it. i defended that population clause in all
Of my late canvass, and intend to stand By IL,
have seen it charged il Southern newspapers,
and in the speeches of some Southern men who !
ought to have known better, that Northern Demo-
cratic representatives nave deserted the English |
bill.
It may be true as to some it Is not true to all
it is entirely untrue to myself Il is just as far
from being The letters of certain distinguished
Southern Democrats upon Illinois politics, recently pub
Iished are from being either Uise UeH timed
Uery free 10 declare my opi.ioH that those letters
Usry bad taste.
Now what ground shall we, as party in Indiana /
occupy on the Slavery question in the future |
Shall we 20 forward, shall we 60 back? We will |
be called upon to unfurl the flag for the great
battle Of 1860. l say let us stand by the bred |
Scott decision-let us stand by the English bill.
have witnessed with regret indications Of pur-
pose 10 keep enough of the slavery question open
and in doubt to serve as preext for agitation, and
TO make an issue for electio3eeTing purposes. The
prolific brain Of Mr.. Douglas has brought forth He0
species Of Sguatter Sovereignty called HtiHdy gis>
laon the purpose Of Chieh is that although the Con-
stuton of the United States protects SLAVE property
the Territories II needs the aid of Territorial lsgsatioH
70 giUeH effect AStute discovery truly The combined
ssc of this patent Squatter Sovereignty and the Dred
this slavery e0ntroUsSy from Chieh zee set out The
same views have been attributed TO Senator Davis of
l have no doubt he has been misrep- I
resented He never uttered such an opinion. If |
aHy Southern to tcith such doctrine let
rs cali him a Doughface and let bid han go home.
The Democratic party IN tn North nisUHderstood
indeed t0hen siebly and spurious philanthropy is
CURED be- hem-Ohn they require any such diluted h
doses Of AbolitioHism TO gUe tone to their St0mdchs
say TO you tonight, that if the Constitution Of
he United States gives to the STAKEHOLDER the right
10 hold his slave in the Territories, IS believe it
ices, that right is perfect in the Territory, and
needs no Territorial legislation TO make CO. be-
ieve express the sentiment Of every true Demo-
,rat in the State of Indiana when / say that l am
'or the Constitution of the Union with its conse-
luences immediate and remote, and if that COnsti~
ution imposes manacles upon every negro IN the
nation am for it STILL because it is the Constitu-
ion Of my country, and take the decision Of the
Supreme Court as the binding exposition Of its
srms.
If the bred Scott decision is adhered to in its
meaning there must be an end 10 this sgitstion-We
will have no more political issues slavery-but if
t is misinterpreted, evaded or frittered away, we
viii again be divided, distracted and cursed with
lavery agitation.
few words now upon another topic-the course
f Mr. Douglas, Of Illinois, and some OF his friends
this State, and the policy to be pursued towards
hem hereafter.
Our last State Convention passed resolution
ordially indorsing the Administration of Mr.. Bus
hanan, and l believe that the Democracy Of In
lana this day love him well they did in 1856.
T. nou0Iaa pleased IN kp IN Mr. Bu- /