New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-16
XXXVIrH CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
SENATE. .WAsu1serok Nav Is 1860.

|
The noise and confusion in the galleries, which arc
crowded, is 10 great that scarcely anything can be
| heard.
| On motion of Mr. PUGH the bill amendatory of the
act to establish Territorial Government in Utah was
| taken mp.
| After some discussion, the subject was postponed
| until Monday next.
The bill for the relief of Arson Dart Superintendent
| of Indian Affairs in Oregon, was taken up
| MIR. LANE Dem, Oregon explained the bill
Without action the special order Mr.. Davss resolu-
| tons was taken up.
| Mr. DOUGLAS Dem, Him. President, have
respect for that species of discussion which consists
in assaults upon the personal character of any Senator
i have no desire TO elevate my own position by at
tempting TO pull down others TO place any Senator
in false position before his constituents. have
assaults to make upon any one and impeachment OF
| the record ] am willing that each Senator should
stand before the country and his constituency up
the record made for himself lido not complain Of
30 much of the speech of the Senator from Mississippi
Mr. Davis arragns my political position for il
seems to have been necessary for him TO draw par
ale between his opinions and my own. In self-de-
fense il may he necessary for ALSO to refer to the
position of that Senator, by way of contrast to my
| own, with view TO illustrate my own opinions 1
| shall not indulge to-day in the discussion of any
abstract theory of government much less 60 into the
discussion of the legal issue which has lately been
attempted to be forced the Democratic party as a
judicial ISSUE Upon former occasion, when forced
into discussion with the Attorney General of the
United States did amufe myself with the discussion
Of certain legal propositions not because they had any
thing to do With the political issues before the country
but because that law officer seemed TO have official
duties TO occupy his time and had the leisure to reply
| to him. The principal points which | shall direct
my remarks to-day and the sole cause why am deliv
erng any speech will be found in certain extracts from
the speech of the Senator from Mississippi Davis.
THE Clerk read several extracts from Mr. Dayiss
| speech, denouncing the doctrine OF Squatter Sow
ereigntyl.
MIR. DAVIS Dem. Miss made an explanation to
| the effect that had he known, he might have made
some verbal correction and also stating that Mr. Cas-
longer believer in the doctrine, but had yield
| cd TO the decision of the Supreme Court.
| Mr.. DOUGLAS stated that he had taken the speech
he found it in The Globe and wished it understood
that he desired not to he interrupted, and continued
intend TO treat him (Nr. Davis fairly and kindly, as
doubt not it has been his intention TO treat The
facts stated in these extracts concusivey show that
this doctrine of Squaer Sovereignty, non-nterven
ton, the Senator has nderenty used the terms,
did not originate with me in its application to the Terri
tories of the United States but that il was distinctly
proclaimed by Gen. Cass in his Nicholson letter. He
became the nominee of the Democratic party with
full knowledge Of his opinions with regard to non-nter
venton and supported by that party that ISSUE
The same doctrine incorporated in the Compro-
mise OF 1850, in opposition TO the efforts of
the Senator from Mississippi and in harmony with the
views and efforts of myself, and reaftrmed by the
Baltimore Convention OF 1852, and Gen. Pierce was
elected President of the United States upon this
doctrine, and il again affirmed by the Congress of
the United States iii the Kansas and Nebraska bill of
1850 and had its first trial and yielded s first fruits
facts substantially and positively affirmed by the
Senator from Mississippi, and these facts dsprove
and refute the charge often made in the last year.
that have changed my opinions with regard TO this
question since lSj6. The Senator from Mississippi has
done service, has searched the records for me
with view to my condemnation, and the result of his
search is TO prodnte the most conclusive and incon
esble evidence tn, his charge of my having changed
nv opinions which was the preteXt for my removal
from the Committee Territories was not true He
tells YOU frankly what~the world knew before, that
he has always opposed this doctrine of non-nteryen-
ton And he claims after it has yielded its blighting
effects on the plains OF Kansas, the Supreme Court
has come TO his rescue and he u now trlumphantly
sustained in his opposition TO TINS doctrine IN 1873
1850 and 1851. Sir whether he is sustained or
not in the views which he then held, and which
then combated is not material as to find out which
is right in the point Ut issue then and now, by the
Senator from Mississippi and myself. 1propose, in
the first place invite the attention Of the Senate
the fact that this doctrine Of non-inerycntion py
Congress with Sav' EyoIabt hS S.1rIv Se Ue tbe
American people, and the Democratic party, in 1877
with view to its decision by the Convention of lSiS
The Senator has referred to a letter of Gen. Cass
which bears date Dec "a lS47, and tells the Senate
what all of us knew before, that that letter in manu-
script, prior to its publication, passed around
among Southern and Northwestern Democrats 10 re-
ceve their sanction The latter prepared and
in private circulation for days and weeks before the
date ii bears of its public issue. The Senator
informs that he, at the time dssented from the doc
| trine Of non-ineTven0n as stated IN the Nicholson
letter, bul other Southern Senators opposed 10
me, at any rate, other leading politicians would
not be able TO say, when submitted to them, they con,
DENIED il frankly the Senator from Mississippi did
during that period while this letter being circu
lated. The especial friend and right-hand bower of
Mr.. Cass Mr. Daniel s. Dickinson presented two
outions to the Senate, embodyng the same doctrine.
Mr.. PUGH read the resolutions referred to.
Mr.. DOUGLAS-It will be observed these resolu
tons, presented in December, lSE, assert distinctly
the doctrine which the Senator from Mississippi then
and now denOunces. | am not aware that MIR. Dick
nsOn and Gen. Cas- have ever discalmed their Views
much less the doctrine of these resolutions and the
Nicholson letter; yet my record on this question Is
held up to the world and 10 the country as If stood
alone in the Democratic party hereto then and a
hereto now, and therefore am not entitled TO fellow
shpn the regular Democratic organization am aware
that some other people and some States OF TINS Union
held this doctrine Of non-ineryenOn, regular Squat
ter Sovereignty if You pleasefor they correatve
terms | will call attention to the resolutions adopted
by the Legislature Of Florida which passed the Senate
of that State Dec. 80 lSf7, and the Hodse of Rep
resentatives Dec. %, and We're approved by the
| Gov. Dec. 30. / am aware that Florida subse-
queny passed resolutions asserting doctrines incon-
sisten with these and this evidence that this
| doctrine, for which | am now arragned, was not
deemed TO be political heresy at that day Ii may not
be improper here to remark that during this session of
Congress, received letter from State Senator of
Florida inclosng resolutions which he had introduced
for the repeal of those resolutions which have read
being unsound and unconstitutional and dangerous
TO the rights Of the South, and denouncng me by name
as the great author of all this mischief which is to
strike down Southern rights. Mr.. Pngh tDem
Ohio read the resolutions. 1t will be observed that
in their resolutions the State ofrFOrda had declared
that the Territorial Legislature, while in Territorial
condition, had the exclusive right TO determine for IT.
self whether Slavery shall shall not exist within the
limits Of such Territory. As have remarked Florida
changed her policy, but if she solemny proclaimed that
doctrine to the world IA sovereign State of this
Union, should think she could forgive us for remain