Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-10-27

tie with his parry, should be- found eIRnEeliRg Bih
its enemies, ana The enemies q the peace and per
petuity Of this Union.
I would remark that still felt unwilling to sur
render Judge Douglas and, to satisfy my own mind
better made trip in July to Springfield, Illinois,
for the special purpose Of hearing him speak, and
having an Interview with him. Through the kind
ness Of q mutual friend obtained an interview with
him alone OnIhe evening previous this interview
iRtimatsd to Judge Douglas that Mr. Blair had
written such letter as has been stated when he re-
rled that he thought it could not be so When
met him according TO appointment, stated TO him
positively that Blair had written such letter and re-
Quested him to state to me whether he had ever had
any conversation with Mr.. Blair justify it. Judge
Douglas said that he did not remember to have
had any conversation with Mr.. Blair that would
have justified him in writing any such letter; that
he might at some time, when dealing in badlnsge
with Mr. Blair have made some loose expression,
but hat be never had any conversation with him to
justify the writing Of such letter. further asked
Judge Douglas whether he intended to support the
nominees Of the Charleston Convention, aud abide
by its action. He stated TO me that he had received
many letters this subject, TO none OF which he had
replied ia writing, bur that in meeting with his
friends he had Invariably answered that question in
this way That he had always been Democrat,
and expected TO remain one and that he expected TO
support the nominees of the Charleston Convention,
unless that Convention made platform that he could
not siauQ Cu-iuAt ne luteuutQ 10 1OllOW INC great
principle Of popular sovereignty 10 wherever It's
logical deductions and conclusions might lead him
He said that if the Convention made platform on
which he could not stand there would be nothing
left for him but walk out Of II and take his OVID
course have tried 10 give the substance Of HE
plies so that the reader may get it just has it came
from Judge Douglas. Bis answers not as clear
as [ would have liked them; get after hearing his
soeech and having had this conversation, made up
nv mind 10 be content. stated to the friend who
arranged the interview for ne, and so l remained
until learned from source, with such particularly
as 10 circumstances and time that doubt left
on nv mind Of its truth, that Judge Douglas had
sent message to Mr.. Blair by Mr. Colfax, Of Ind-
ans in substance as follows: 'Tell Mr. Blair 10
come and see me; wish TO give him James S. Green's
pace in the Udied States Senate" Mr. Colfax de-
livered this message TO Dir Blair and in compliance
with this request, Mr. Blair did 60 to rec Judge
Douglas when Judge Douglass presented to Mr.. Blair
the feasibility Of their being able to defeat James s.
GlFen for the Uniei States Senate in Missouri, by
uniting their influence The matter was argued be-
tween Them, and if It thought sttainable Judge
Douglas was willing 10 aid in II.
Judge Douglas l learn, further stated at this in
teryieW, that his Kansas Nebraska policy Was de-
signed and would have the effect Of surrounding
the Slave with Free States and thus crush out
Sla7ery-thst be hoped the movement for enamel
pa ion in Missouri would be successful aDd expressed
his warm sympathy with all movements against
Slavery that could legitimsie'y be made.
Much more occurred, which it is unnecessary to
state as having been told to me The first was suf-
fcient for me, Tor felt that il Ju ige Douglas was
willing TO give to the leader Of Emancipation in
State, and prominent candidate for the Vice Pres-
idency Of the Republican party, the seat Of such q
Democrat as James S. Green 10 the United Safes
Senate it proved all that was charged upon him
Mr.. Blair being An EmaucipsiioRist, snd endorsing
the doctrines Of the Republican party, Judge Doug
las could not be willing to aid in giving him the
seat of a faithful able and reisble Democrat, with
out endorsing his position.
Subsequent to this information coming into my
possession Judge Douglas made his Freeport speech
in which he declared that the people Of Territory
have the lawful right TO exclude Slavery from It
whilst in q Territorial condition He says 1t may
be done by uafriendly legislation,
Had l not made up my mind to abandon Judge
Douglas before, certainly should have done so after
his declaration that the people of a Territory,
through their Territorial legislature could lawful
ly exclude slavery from the Territory. / do not
believe, nor is il the position Of Che Democrats |
party as established by the platform laid down at
the Cincinnati Convention. That Convention en-
dOrsed the principle of the Kansas Nebraska bill |
in regard TO Territories viz: "That the people there
Of should be left perfectly free to form and regulate
their own domestic institutions in their own way, !
SUBJECT TO The CONSTITUTION OFTHE UNITED STATEs."
The Supreme Court Of the United States has de- /
cared that Congress has not the power 10 exclude /
slavery from the Territories of the United States,
and, not having it, cannot delegate it to the people
thereof Therefore the people cannot lawfully exer-
else az unconstitutional power. Every act passed |
by Territorial Legislature having for its object |
the exclusion Of slave property from the Territory
would be null and void, and of no force from the
beginning; and hold that it is the duty Of the Con-
gress Of the United States 10 provide for the prOtec
ton Of slave property in the the Territories, If the
Legislature thereof should fail to do so, as much as
it is its duty under the Constitution to provide
times and places for holding elections for members
of Congress in the States in the event of the States
failing 10 do so. The people of q Territory derive
their power from the General Government, and they
must exercise it within the limits of the Constitution.
It is q most mOnsirous doctrine TO assume that the
people Of Territory have a right TO viola the |
ConsttuG,n IN. The people must exercise their power
subject TO what the Supreme COurl has declared the
law Of the land and if they fail TO do
so, or attempt 10 violate their Constitutional oblgs-
lions, it will be the duty of the General Govern
ment to terpose Unless this doctrine obtains
We have IN wisely and very unnecessarily Bgita'ed
the people Of this Union. Already have seen the
seed soWn by Judge Douglas on this subject spring-
ing I'D in Kansas. The Kansas Herald Of Freedom
gives his speech at Frseport AMI then proolaims
that is the right doctrine and that the next Ter
ritoral Legislature of Kansas will throw The u8der-
ground railroad the surface; will give the slave
the right to strike back; that the slaves Of Terri
tory will be freed without TeeompeBse 10 their own
srs; and warns the owners Of this species Of prop
sry to regard lis language prophetic for it will
surely be carried out. This language is 10 deter
people with slave property from moving into the t
Territory between this time and the time this Terri
.Ory can come into the Union as a State, and to =
alarm those already there with this kind Of prop t
,rIy Of the Territory The people of the South
Will never submit to such ouirages their rights I
n the common property of all the States guaranteed
o them by the Constitution and highest judicial
tribunal known 10 our Government Judge Doug
as, 10 this matter, has done injury 10 this Gov
eminent that he can never repair. I fear that c
es in this suggestion Of his untold mischief; and :
it does not come, IL will be owing TO the patriot
sm Of the people, aud not to his prudence and wise
Ounsels. r
With all the knowledge in my breast Of his acts
moving hat Mr. Blair would make good all that a
lave srared were Judge Douglas 70 permit him to D
peak, {anG he is rea ~ 10 speak, if the Judge con
euts;l believing also that &c rye I. Brown, Editor
f the Alton COurieT, Senators Wilson Of Msssachu-
etts King Of New York. Trumbul Of Illinois and Rep L
esenatives Wash buTne Of Illinois, Kellogg FANS
yor b. Lovejoy and others could tale unfold that q
you'd o0rro0orale and 20 TO sustain the worst b
tic ons in reference TO Judge Douglas IL would
ave despised myself the meansst Of hypocrites
o have protested longer faith ia his Democracy.
Why does he call upon these gentlemen to exoneIse q
i'm from these charges il inpacentf Why not ask
hem to tell all they knoW-al that did psssi viii q
Judge Douglas state, or call On the gentlemen here