Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-01-26

Mr.. Pugh-I did not know when
spoke. do know now. sss
Mr.. Dasis-I will say that was my i'm
preston.
The speech was addressed to the peopl,
of the Northern States in reply to the oft
repeated charge of forcing slavery upon ,
community. He could put no otLer inter
probation on il than that it was, in The Ian
guage of the Senator from Missouri, sug
gesting to the p ople of the Territories te
keep out slavery.
Mr.. Davis would say that he addressed
an audience more intelligent than the Sen
ator, if that was his construction. They
perfectly understood him and put no such
Interpretation on it. He said that no sort
of property could be held under The laws il
juries were opposed. He had cited par
ticular case in Utah.
NJ. Pugh said be did not know what
the audience understood. The Senators
language in print must go forth TO the coun-
try to be judged.
Mr.. Davis said the Senator put in what
he could not find. Nothing was said
about Legislation, but something was said
about the power of the people when oppo-
sed to a particular kind Of property.
Mr.. Pugh read over Mr.. Davis speech
to sustain his construction, and said that
if the Territorial Legislature was in ses-
sion looking for ways and means to pre-
vent slavery in the Territory. they could
do no better than to follow the Senator'S
advice.
Mr.. Davis-Do you say there is advice
in my speech to the Territ orial Legislature
to pass laws to embarrass the right to
property in slavesi
Mr.. Pugh.-No; but you suggest the
passage of laws. He explained that what
he meant was, that Mr.. Davis. speech was
as much advice as Mr.. Douglas speech at
Freeport.
Mr.. Davis denied Mr.. Pugh's right TO
say even that much. He had said nothing
about legislation.
Mr.. Pugh said that the language was
not applied to Congress, but to the peo-
pie of the Territories.
Mr. Davis replied that everybody knew
what he meant. Territorial legislation was
the creature of Congress, and Congress in
directly legislated for the Territories.
Mr.. Pugh said that did not alter it.
He read the language, and it had gone TO
the country.
Mr.. Davis replied that he had sent it to
the country himself to meet just such
perversions as had been made by the Sem
ator.
Mr.. Pugh denied having made any per-
version. He had only read the Senator's
remarks. He was willing to leave the
country to judge. 1t was idle to have any
further controversy.
Mr.. Davis-Quite so.
Mr.. Pugh then commented upon Mr..
Douglas removal from the chairmanship
of the Committee on Territories because
of the Freeport speech.
Mr.. Green said that he had never said
that be was removed in consequence of
that. He was opposed TO that removal,
and if he could restore harmony he was
willing to resign his place on that comlAit-
tee or in the Senate; but the Senator had
repeated that sentiment time and again in
his triumphal march through the Southern
States, and he supposed that it was in con-
of these repeated assertions that
he had been removed.
Mr.. Douglas, of Illinois, explained that
he had said in his speeches that slavery
might be excluded by non-action or un-
friendly legislation. Every Senator knew
that that had been his opinion while Chair
man of the Committee on Territories.
Mr.. Mason, Of Virginia, had not so un-
derstood the former position of the Sena-
tor from Illinois.
Mr.. Douglas said that no one in the
Senate had an excuse for not knowing it.
He had repeated it as often as the question
came up.
Mr.. Green contended that all had agreed |
to abide by the Dred Scott decision, and
since then the Senator from Illinois had
raised the question.
Mr.. Davis thought that about the peri
cd of the passage of the Kansas Nebraska
act. the Senator from Illinois was souuder
than at any other time.
MI. Douglas said, at the proper time,
when the sas-Nebraska act, on the
very night of its passage, he held and ex-
pressed the opinion which be now enter
tanned as to the power of the people of
the Territories. @
Mr.. Davis said he was not then a mem
Der of this body, and did not therefore
have the happiness to hear the Senator.
Mr.. Douelas-Then, you should not ex-
press an opinion as TO my soundness, if
you did not know my views.
Mr. Davis continued, and expressed the
opinion that Mr.. Douglas had properly
been deposed from the craftsmanship of
lhe Committee on Territories, as bis views
we're not in accordance with those of the
majority.
Mr. Douglas believed three-fourtbs Of
Of the Democracy of the country agreed
with him. He would show by record,
that majority had understood the terms
Of the Nebraska act as he did. Mr.. Rich
ardson, who was nominee for Speaker Of
the House, wrote letter in which he re.
cognized the power of the people in the
Territories, and after that got every South
eFa Democratic vote except three.
Mr.. Davis reiterated that Mr.. Douglas
was deposed because his views were not
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