Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-05-18
xxxvI.h ooNGREss-F1RsT SESSION.
WASHINGTON, May IL.

WASHINGTON, May IL.
SENATE.-Mr. Davis resumed his speech.
The Democratic party of the Union, unless
they stood on principle, are to be destroyed.
The Senator from Illinois had assailed every
prominent Democrat in the country, not even
excepting the President Of the United States,
whose position should have sealed his lips.
He (Dayvis) denied that the Presidents letter
sustained the principles of non-intervention,
as interpreted by Mr.. Douglas. The Southern
delegates withdrew from the Charleston
Convention only because that Convention
had failed to announce the true principles Of
the Democratic party. He denied that the
speech of Yancey justified the charge OF dis
union intentions.
He then quoted from Mr.. Stephens's letter
to show that he did not sustain, as Mr.. Doug
las had stated, his theory that Squatter Sow
ereignty was contained in the Nebraska Bill
and Cincinnati Platform, and said that Mr..
Douglas had cited only so much of the letter
as sustained his purpose, and suppressed that
which fully asserted the doctrine of protec-
ton to slave property in the Territories.
| Mr.. Davis defended the majority report at
| Charleston, and then argued that the South,
| in supporting General Cass, had not sustained
| the doctrine of the Nicholson letter partcu-
larly.
| Mr.. Douglas explained that he had merely
| said they did not then make it test.
| Mr.. Davis said that in the case of the vote
| of the South for Richardson for Speaker,
they voted for him in spite of his doctrines,
because they preferred him to Banks. llli-
nois had voted for him (Davis) at the Con-
yention for the Vice-Presidency, but he had
never assumed that by SO doing she had
adopted all his opinions.
MI. Davis then argued that the resolutions
of the Democratic Convention of 1s4S did
not sustain the theory of the Squattel
Sovereignty of Douglas, and denied thai
either Convention of l84S, '52 or '56 intended
to deny to Congress the right to protec
property on sea or land, in Territories o
otherwise.
/ If was decided by the Nebraska Bill tina
the people of the Territories had all tn
, powers of sovereign State, what was Their
! to be decided by the Supreme Court2 Abso
lutely nothing. How could they understan
, the Senator'S proposition to refer the matte
, | to the decision of the Supreme Court, Will
| he contended that il was entirely under tn
) control of the people of the Territories.
4 A discussion on legal points ensued bt
A tween Messrs. Davis and Douglas.
: Mr.. Davis asked, if the Senator was electe
a President, whether he would sign bi
s passed by Congress to protect property In u
= Territories.
d Mr.. Douglas answered that it would
v time enough TO answer that when he gt
}, into the place referred TO-.
l Mr. Davis asked if the Territorial Legisl
e ture passed law TO embarrass the action
l. the fugitive slave-law, would Mr.. Dougli
d vote to repeal that legislation,
e Mr.. Douglas said that the Supreme Cou
le had decided that matter; neither State or
E. Territory could interfere with the renditiC
ID of fugitive slaves. No legislation was ther
d fore necessary.
b. Mr.. Davis said he thought he had show
v, non-intervention as proclaimed by the Sc
n ator as q shadowy and unsubstantial thin
st dependant upon circumstances. They cou
Id repeal the old French law, giving slavery
ly Konsas, but not the old Mexican law, pr
c. hibiting it in New Mexico. II the right
the people of the Territories is complete, he
IS, can the Senator from Illinois propose
iy repeal the organic act of Utah2 He vel
ty mently denied that Southern men desired
"a force slavery on any Territory. All th
on desired was that there should be no discrin
a nation against species Of property owned
by any citizen.
nat Mr.. Davis contended that Mr.. Douglas,
eff his course on the Lecompton CONSTITUTE
as had placed himself outside Of the Democrs
all party. .l,
on warmly attached to the existing form Of q
If ernment, and clung TO the Democratic pa
in as the last hope of the country, but whene
that party becomes recreant TO its time-h
snt ored principles, she will abandon it. VIII
nd ever the Union ceases TO be ConstitutiO
one; whenever it becomes powerless for
tn purpose for which it was established, I
In they will find themselves outside of its {
ent fines. There was time TO reconcile the
sensions in the Democratic party, and
would not yet abandon the hope that u m
, TO not yet be done. He would ask Mr., Don
il, in the sectional vote he received, he
.ire not see that a large portion OF the VI
were opposed TO him, and II he presse'