New-York daily tribune., 1859-01-14
SLIDELL IN REPLY TO DOUGLAS
SENATE CHAMBER, jan. Is, 1850.

StNath Jan. Il, foo0s
In note os,sd the 7th ipstsnt signed by the Uss.
s. A. Douglas addressed to the editor of IH Sfsfes,
and pub'hed last evetiog, Mr. Dong as siter qasesl
The following passage from any published sts'srees of
18th December last viz: "Mr Donglzs has, by as
tiorizrg and couptepsr cling anony ymoos attacks %
through person officiating as his ptivate secrs-
''isry lost al claim TO the explansiion that zoe
"otterwise have promptly volunteered to give hi NJ
makes the foIlowirg remarks: Ii Is doe "a ny
"s-li TO publish an emphatic denial OF the Gass
"of the implication ia tho shove paragraph IL q
"rot true that l have authorized OF codntsnanceA
" atony nous attacks upon Dir. Sheell.
This DECLARATION imposes uoon ns the secessfy OF
sbosirg the grounds on which made tina, hArge.
During my welt 10 Nes Orleans in November lsst, a.
ditor Of paper published there, who Is friend ADD
pat ian of Mr.. Dong Cbut WI a. the ssme time
not urfierdly to me formed Eat he al received
an anonymous letter from Caicsgo for publication 10
that he did rot intepd t. publish it. but desired NE 70
see H. he accordingly produced the paper and read
ne certain portions OF II extremely vituperaiive.
told him that had heard enough Of IT, and irsastsA
on knowing the . sme OF the author, aud hog tae
paper bad been Forwarded to him. To this be ct 6rst
cemured but my urgent insist sncs that hat tho
ri. 1t to knew the meme of the author, he said that
Rad beer sent to him 10 the osdicary form Of Bows
paper spopdei ce, either without signature 90
with al assumed one and had been accompanied By
a letter from Mr.. James B Sheridan. requested
lin Ia give me the ran Q in writing, which he Old. l
heve il Tow 10 my possession L had heard thN this
ACCOMPANIED him ,hro1gh his late canvass, no )ortsd
lis speeches sc and also asked the editor shethsr
Mr.. SbeIidon did not stand IN this relsua 70 Mr.
Dorelas His rep wss that he so understood having
rad oti er letters fom bm. then declared to tho
editor in the OF another persoc and sabss
auentl, repeated the declaration 10 otper hieeds shst
n my enivs in Washir gton, where expected, H
course to meet NJ. Douglas, Ishould call on bin or
cat. gorios reply whether or BOT he had Authorized
this letter Of Secretary, ard should DO governed IN
nv course toward him by bis answer.
As soon as head of the charge about the negroes
and b. fore my departure lon the 10Th OF Novembss
lsstl from New Orleans for Washington, bad written
to MI MoIiatton in whose toe slaves vera,
o.p,ins 10 the ost unqua lied terms the st.teaouA
attributed to me by The Chicogo Press osd Tri6sss.
II Douglas arrive in New-Oresns on the let or u
Decemb. T. saw beth the editor above alluded to asd
Mr. NJ, attop and could not have failed 70 kuow iron
them that had denied having msdc any such state
ment about the pegroes as had been falsely attr-
brted to me lie must also S nave ,l, xeows from from
been courtepanced, if not Authorized, by him,
| and that my conviction ON this point haA
been strengthened by the fact Of the edtoTs
having re,eved letters bearing the frank OF Mr.
Dougiss, thus ss thought, connecting him directly
With SheridsDs letter; YET Douglas made 10 COM
nun TO me- disclsimed 10 aoy manner hsviag
counteI apced the anon ymoos attack. Nay there
paragraph in bis card Of yesterday which fairly admits
lie cor siIucton that be bad denounced 10 Chicago
IA caun pistor on the authority ofs statement o
pned To Dr. Bransrd, without ever calling on him -
learn wi ether there foundation Tor tue chsfHe,
wi en- the event proves that DR. Bansrd, fcaed upon,
would have ehown the whole story to be fabric alton.
II seems 10 me that a of the oourtesiss
Of hfe and of our position Senator'S shoali have
dictated the proprety Of calling on me either TO deny
the statement or TO vindicate its truth yet never
occurred to Nr. Douglas to suggest even doubt of
ny having been capable Of originating such
cAlumDy .s
Il was not until the 18th or 10th December thatl
heard fcr the first time that Dr. Brnuards name haa
been cited ss authority for the sts'emept uppts1 70
me- Two weeks haa elapsed snce Mr.. Douglss he'd
arrived in New Orleans aud beeo appdsed of the or-
Gun stances above detailed, Of my denial of the truth
cf the state nt snd Of my conviction that he coaae-
nsnced Sberdans letter.
Ihsd received from him assurance Of his regree
at having denounced the calumoy Ia Chicago, 80 fer
as COM eced with my name, nothing TO n6icste The
sighest desire 10 uLds ceive me- II mad indeed, beea
deceived in relation TO The letter Of his Secretary and
had DO opportunity Of calling on him for sxplaustice
IN person, nor any BesLs Of knowing when he wsul1
sriive IN Washington.
Ii Was under thssc circumstances, and In view q
zee facts that mai the publication Of the l8.h
un. In my judgment they formed q very sufi cieut
warrant for The declaration contained in IT, "that Nc.
"Dougiss had authorized ard couotenssoed anony-
nous attacks on me- through person officiating -
{" his private Secretary"
JOHN sLIDALI.