Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-09-17
r.etter nom len Davis.

publshes the snhjoined letter fran the Hon. JET
ferscn Davis, of Mississippi. correcting certain
s.assnssss contained in Douglas recent Ilarperan
ESSAY. The work goes brasey on. and VIC think
BY he time the people have to vote for President,
the precious li,sle demagogue from Illinois, will
have been shown up 10 thoroughly. that he WI
not bs able to command the support ofn corporas
guard. Tho letter Of Mr.. Davis follows
0AxLAnp, Nh, Sept. 8. 1859.
Epiroa SrArEs--Sir Ia your paper Of the 9th
inst, end IN essay by the Hon. y. A. Douglas.
on Popular Sovereignty in tho Territories md
observe that the author quotes from q discussion
between him and myself on the bill If 1850 To
tablish civil government for the Territory Of
New Mexico, nut his extracts IRE part,al M to
rnisrepresent the position which then and
since have held. I will not tax your courtesy by
asking for the use Of your columns reply 10 tho
arguments OF the essay, or 10 yindicate the pcmoc
racy Of the South from the supppsiti'n mat are
correctly described In his classification OF the po
liticAl opinions Of the country on tho sui cot OF
Territorial government, TO reute his assumption
that the existence OF local law in New Mexico,
which prohibited slavery" was All uud,sputed
fact. Whoever refers to the debate from which he
.qnotes will not fail 10 observe that it was shown
TO have been not 8 municipal law, but tho result
~
law at all. was Of the character Of public Or po-
litical law, which II was commended was repealed
by the transfer Of Jurisdiction 10 the U",e States
and the consequent SUGGESTION OF the Territory to
The provisions Of our Constitution. Hence tho
conmsnt which Mr.. Douglas makes upon the ex-
TRACTS he selected from the remarks Of Mr.. Gay
and myself perverts the position which he had
full opportunity 10 know was held by myself aud
.othsrs who participated In tho debate.
MY object In addressing You this letter. is TO re-
qaest that you will give 10 your reader. an add
tionai extract from the remarks Of Mr.. Douglas to
.cauntsrAet the impression which he made by the
extract already published.
Mr.. Douglas thus quotes from himself:
With reference 10 the protection Of property in
slaves, Mr. Douglas said
al havs q word to say to tho honorable Senator
from Mississippi, (Mr. Davis.) lie insists tina,
en- not In favor Of protecting property. and that
his amendment h offered for the purpose Of pro
rtecting property under the Constitution. Now,
Or. ! ask you what authority he has for assuming
thsti Do not desire to protect pr perty because
wish 70 allow the people 10 pass such laws us
they deem proper respecting their rights to proper
y without any exceptionf lie might just as well
say that am opposed 70 protecting property in
merchandise in steamboats,, in cattle. In rcai cs-
tate as to say that am opposed 10 protecting pro-
perty Of any other description; for desire TO put
them oil on al equality. and allow the people IN
make their own laws in respect TO the whole OF
them" :
If. astheuce is to be Inferred, Mr. Douglas wish
ed to give to nil property equal protection and re-
curity he was epppsed to any exception, OBJ
strnction, or Discrimination against property in
slaves. II will naturally be asked. what theu was
my position with which he a. directly ansagonxedf
The injustice OF his extract ia made apparent by
quoting further from his own remarks on the Same
point and in the same connection:
Mr.. Douglas Butthe Senator from Mississippi
4 A-kA ~ = A. e. 4 4
quirss Congrsss 10 protect property, but that am
oontsnding against II. Not at all, sir. 1 desire
% give thsm such . government as will enable
<he = protect property Of every kind and desorip-
tien. wish to make no exception. lie desires
- nakean exception.
.1f. Davis Not at al. sir.
II. Dsuglas. The government eontended for
AueAWtxes them 20 protset property in horses in
aaklle, ID nerchandiss and property Of every kind
- Asssiptsa. ssal and personal; bat the Senator
1soH Mississippi says that yos must cxsiade Afri-
IN slavsfy.
Il. paris; No y. I I'D No suoh thing.
~. DsnflAa- JIG ek6sptsd-
VII! sxpiaia. h Z assaskiag tie bill. ba. had
.eslmg = % With the hill. eIcsps y Try and bot
~ N Dssslas I begin 10 discover nv srror am
Senator rsspoasibls for To work Of the
ArsDs'ia Yin Ais ssas.) Iswss avery great err
NJ: Doeelas- Twas making war apaa him nv
.lss.ks y must ray my respects 70 ihe sommis-
4 q fxl nsssIlsna ,his coa.maaissss 4 Nv c.,,n
-. e ssher. psrtio6s u ths dsl..ts
z 80 ssaRioss psopesisioas ere
ss y = 3 g. .s;s! 81 II =. 8. s s,s..
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