The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-03-17
The Great Debate In the Senate.


The speech Of Senator DoUoLAs, which
We publish this morning, will be read with
interest BY the Democracy Of Minnesota.
We believe it fully represents the views Of
the party in this State; and Of one other
fact We are equally certain, it presents the
only platform, upon which We can march to
victory at the ensuing election. The mon.
strous proposition Of q slave code, is most
successfully combated in this speech, and
the principle Of popular sovereignty derives
additional lustre from the lucid comments
of its great author and advocate.
DOUGLAS was not alone in his combat with
the Southern ultras. The Northern Demo
cratic Senators recoiled with no affected
horror from the position assumed by DAVIS,
BRowS, and others. PUGH, BIGLER, BRoD-
ERIcK, and SrUARr, were conspicuous in the
debate. The spirit Of Mr.. PuGn's remarks
may be inferred from the following extract
from his speech:
Now, sir, hope, at least for one, that
the Senator from Mississippi understands
my position distinctly. | tell him will
vote for no code, no act Of Congress TO in
tertere with the local legislation OF the Ter.
ritories excluding or admitting slavery
none. The Senators from Mississippi and
Virginia, severally, have issued their proc
lamaton as to what is TO be the conse-
quence. They hold the Democratic party
in such very light esteem that, if that is
the general sentiment OF them in the North
ern States they will not keep company with
US any longer. Well, sir, they can keep
company with US just as long as they please.
am very sure that will trouble myself to
no very great extent to restrain them. |
am willing to agree with them upon the
principles declared in the platform OF our
party. will stand there and will have
nothing more than the Constitution author
lies. Satisfy me that you have right, IN
der the Constitution Of the United States,
to carry your slaves into Territories, and
hold them there, or into the States and hold
them there, and | will give you as many
acts Of Congress as you can desire. In my
judgment you have no such right. The as
sertion Of it is offensive. The assertion of
it violates the equality Of the States. 1t
puts the rights Of the Southern States far
above the rights of the Northern States.
II degrades every non-slavehOlder in the
United States, and certainly every citizen
of non slaveholding State. We are DO
longer your equals under such doctrine,
and, whether it be in the Democratic party
or anywhere else, as for me, intend to live
on terms Of equslity, or | am content not
to live at ALL"
Mr.. PrGH was followed by Messrs. Brown
GREEN, GwIN and DOUGLAS, in the course
Of which debate the following remarks were
made:
Mr.. DAVIS. The petty controversy to
which | referred was not a squabble as to
whether this particular species of property
should be carried into the Territory or not,
but squabble by which men seek to build
up political reputation by catering to the
prejudice OF msority to exclude the prop
erty of a minority. 1t is that upon which
~ NY hNNi WIN oeoi uLd iHuiEUdtIOil.
"Mr. DoUGLAs. And not with more scorn
than despise to see men from other sections
of the Union pandering to public senti-
ment against what conceive to be common
rights under the Constitution. | am willing
that he should entertain his views, and |
will entertain mine. Sir, it is not for each
man to Judge the motives of others. | do
not impeach the motives of the Senator from
Mississippi. 1t does not become him to i'm
peach the motives OF others am discuss
ing principle here, principle that has re-
ceived the solemn pledge Of the party, to
which We both belong, to carry out.
THE Senator from Mississippi has said
that If any man holding those opinions is the
candidate OF the party for President, be can
not receive his support. The Senator from
Virginia Mr. Mason has said, any man
holding those opinions cannot receive the
support OF Southern State.
let rs see about that. II a man hold.
ING those opinions cannot receive the sup
port OF the Southern Democracy, then that
Democracy has changed amazingly. Ten
years ago General Cas- was the nominee Of
the Democratic party. He was the champi-
on of this doctrine in its broadest and most
unrestri ctcd sense, as explained in his Mich
olson letter ; aud what Southern Democratic
State voted against him as such nominee
Mississippi gave him her vote. Virginia gave
him her vote. Old Virginia now boasts
that her escutcheon has never been furnished
By abandoning the time honored principle Of
the national, Sta,e.rghts, Democratic party.
The Southern Democratic States have, 10 a
man, sustained the candidate Of the party
an these principles. They must change
their line OF policy, if not their principles,
before they can oppose Democrats for enter.
tanning these doctrines.