The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1860-09-19
Hon. / r.. Wiefall,

not national but State rights government. He
labored for hour by abstruse, metaphys-
ical fine spun hairspittng process Of reason esab
fish this point. While we concede to him the credit
of presenting facts in plausible manner and being at
times peTspicuous and forcible, he was not always
sustained his assumptions by candor and truth;
frequently incomprehensble in extreme nice distinctions
which lie attempted to make often illogical in his
conclusions, and more than once refuted himself by
glazing Inconsistencies and incongrues. Wethink he
selected the wrong time and place and vastly mistoo his
audience in commenting upon the principles and genius
of government, and delivering homy upon political
philosophy, He wandered too far into the labyrinths
of metaphysics entirely too rarifed in his dis
examinations and too sublimated generally in his
ratiocination to prevent the Simon-pure uIlwashed
democracy from being mystifed and lost in political
fog.
But if the distinguished senator plunged his auditors
into mental perplexities, and bewldered them by a
seemingly learned but pedantc discussion upon govern
ment he made ample aonement and was freely forgiven,
if to Judge from the hideous shouts and stick
and heel applause that greeted the rampant blood and
thunder defamation that followed.
The subject of protection to property in the terrific
ries next commanded his attention. He rug the
changes upon the violated rights of the SOUTH yet he
told us in no instance how the south had lost right
or suffered injury. The special advocate of this
plank in the Breckenridge platform which demands
that it is the duty of the federal in all of its
departments protect the rights of persons andpropery
in the territories when nccessaryhe failed to tell the
people that at the last session of congress when senator
Brown of Mississippi introduced bill to protect slave
ry in the territories that the committee upon territories
crushed the bill in the commtteeroom and never made
any report to the senate upon it. The Texas SENATOR
likewise failed to tell the people, that when jeff Davis
introduced his notorious resolutions and Mr.. Brown
offered an amendment, declaring that it was Hen,
necessary protect slavery in the territories that the
democratic senate voted it down. Why did not Col.
WigraIl, while he dwclt with such peculiar emphasis
upon this plank, and held it UP a. the palladium
Of southern rights; while he so cordially endorsed it
as the only security and savationto the SOUTH why did
not tell his audience the of entering his protest
in the T. S. senate against the amendment of Mr..
Brown? If protection of such absolute and vital
necessity when the Breckenridge platform was adopted
"A time be it remembered when no one demanded it
was demanded by Browns amendment The speaker
knew full well that he could not reconcile this patent
inconsistency of his party. Hence he ignored it and
dared not meet it with his Characteristic boldncss He
may shrek into the cars of the southern people the
discordant cry of wolf! wolf! till he is hoarse They
know it is false alarm, and it viii die away with the
echo it creates.
The redoubtabe Colonel then wiped away the per-
praton that freely followed his tempcsuous clustering
rant and ustan rolled up his sleeves and took fresh
start by pitching cadong into John Bell 1t was his
cndcavor to make him appear as a sort of negative
character; if anything semi-bac republicans wholly
unworthy Of the trust and confidence of the south All
who have read the record of John Bell and marked his
wise bold, independent patriotic course as a public
man. easily see how superbly ridiculous Col Wigra
made hmselfin the wholesale denunciatons against his
character. TO doubt that Mr. Bell is sound to the core
upon the slavery question, that he is profound and
reliable statesman, emnenty qualified 10y his experience
and capacity to administer this government with honor
to himself, credit to the country and justice to both
sccons-to doubt these things we say argues an gno
prejudice that i'll becomes one who occupies
the distinguished position of U. S. senator But Col
Wigall is an mpulsive man. He permits his passions
to master his judgment lis prejudces to overcome his
reason and his zeal to runaway with his discretion
Besides this he has the common desire to please and
he applauded, the ambition to be considered bold
daring upon the stump, Hence, he deals largely
in ytuperaton and abuse and is frequently guilty of
descending to vuSarity and slang, in order make
telling hit or to producea laugh Could lie see in print
of his speeches. similar to the latter part of the
even he would blush, if he has any sense of deecncy
left
The conclusion Of his speech a bitter TRADE on
Mr.. Douglas. lie declared that the Illinois senator
never democrat that instead Of being treacher-
to the democratic party he had acted as spy in its
camp The idea of stgmatsing him as Stephen Arnold
Douglas paraphrase which the Texas senator re-
pudiatcd. He branded hima Stephen Andre Douglas,
which elcitedrOunds ofapplause. Col Wigfal should
bemore particular in interpreting the initials of names.
Some ibcral minded man fond of this kind of specu-
laton and knowing the Coonels strong dsunon scnti-
ments might style him Louis Traitor Wigfall.
But have space to extend this article further.
The friends Of judge Douglas may rejoice that Colonel
WghIl is going to Pennsylvania to take the stump,
and the Breckenridge followers may be glad that he has
left this part Of the world Asfor ourselves would
willingly contribute to pay him canyass State if
he would pledge himself to make such speeches as he
delivered here.
NOBLE SENrfMExTS-Mr DOUGLAS in company with