The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-08-25
WASHINGTON ITEMS.

SENATOR DoUGLAs.-We understand that, in
private conversation, Senator Douglas gives
utterance to sentiments still more heretical, if
than he has yet thought proper TO make public.
In the presence of Democrats and Republicans,
few evenings since, he ridiculed the idea that
the Constitution carries Slavery into the Terri
tories, or that the bred Scott case has 50 de-
cided; or, if it had so decided, that it would
amount to anything. We understand, also, that
he denies the right of shareholders to carry
their slaves into the unorganized Territories /;
that they would in such a case be trespassers
This position, by the way, would seem to spoil
his theory of popular sovereignty. That is a
strange sort of sovereignty which depends en-
tirely upon the will of Congre 5. He insists
that it requires a special enactnz ent of the Ter
ritorial Legislature to establish slavery.
NJ. Douglas thinks that not Tess Than fifteen
thousand slares hare been imported into the
Union ,cithin t,oelce months. He sd'o more
than three hundred ne,cly-imported Slares IN
VickSbug, during his recent Southern tour
and as many at Memphis. lie Is said 10 hare
spoken lcdrmly against the ha.le. We derive
these statements from persons u responsibility,
and if they true, We shall be happy to
recognise the fact, and to admit that we have
in another paragraph criticised Mr.. Douglass
last letter with undue severity.
Mr. Iverson, of Georgia, who is in the city,
and was present at the conversation above re-
ferred to, expressed himself as rot ready to ea-
dorse Mr.. Stephens's plan of,reopening the
slave trade He thought it dangerous ground
to take; but whether the danger impends over
the South or the Democratic party, we are un
able to say. K
PUBLIC ADvERTIsING.-Th vt jobs of pub
lie advertising which have heretofore been
given to the Star and HltellgeHcer as the dai
lies having the largest permanent circulation,
have recently been given to the Star and States,
the batelligencer being cut off. The Constitu
ton, as usual, will continue to receive the same
Jobs as a special favor. We h.ar ugly stories
about the manner in which these printing
jobs are disposed Of Perhaps committee
of investigation would throw gome light upon
the subject
ANOTHER DUEL.-Mr. o. Jennings Wise has
had duel with Mr.. Old, Of the Richmond Err
aminer, during the past week, This, we be-
lieve, is the third affair of honor " which Mr.
Wise has had during the preSent year. The
parties fought near Mr.. Blair'sfin Montgomery
county, Nd. Two shots were exchanged, but
no blood was shed.
A Mr.. French, the pay clerk IN the Treasury
Department, has been arrested on a charge of
forging vouchers.
Judge Hogan, of the State department, has
been appointed translator in place of Professor
Dimitry, appointed Minister to Nicaragua. Mr..
Jefferson, of the same Department, has been
promoted to a third class clerks.5ip.
Hon. Sherrard Clemens, memter of Congress
from Virginia, recently submitted to painful
surgical operation at Easton, "a. The opera
ton consisted in the removal ofTa portion of
detached bone in his thigh, whish had been
source of much irritation to his rmb ever since
his duel with Mr. Wise, at which time the in
jury causing the wound was done. After re-
moving the bone, a portion o. the ball was
found embedded in it.