Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-01-26

gsess. They differed As TO the power
OF Congress. but all sides agreed t.
bow with due submission TO whatever
decision the CONT rendered in that
case. After the Court had decided
that Congress had no power. then FOR
the first time the Senator from Him
ois raised the question. unfortunately
and ! regret il for his sake and nv
own. and for the sake Of the country
he raised the question that Terri
tory could exclude Slavery In spite Of
Congress. without derivation of power
from Congress. and ne alone Is rcspon-
sible for it.
Mr.. Davis. Dem. Of Miss.-Isup-
pose the Senator from Illinois referred
to those who must know his opinions
in 1862 | did know that he sdvo-
Gated the doctrine of sovereignty ia the
Territories-the right to do what they
please. | did not agree with him
then
Nr.'Dougias (interrupting IL viii
correct the Senator-never TO 10 any
thing inconsistent with the Constitu-
tion OF the United States.
Mr.. Davi>-rhe Senator's opinion
went beyond that of the Senator from
Michigan. now Secretary of State.
Mr.. Douglas--I wish to state that
| do not wish to be engaged in con-
troversy in the speech of the Senator
from Ohio, but certainly will show
from the record that he is mistaken in
the position he assigns me then, al
though | then held precisely the opii.-
ions hold now.
Mr.. Davis-I believe he did. al
though there was an intermediate Pc
riod when he lid not-I think about
the period of the enactment of the
kansas-Nebraska Bill. | think he
was more sound then than now.
Mr.. Donglas-When the question
comes up for discussion. | will show
that when the Kansas Nebraska bin
passed. ! said its sole object was that
the people of Territory might intro
duce or exclude Slavery through the
Territorial Legislature. when a Terri
tory. as well a. when State: and no
man who heard me then can have an
excnse for not knowing my position.
and the recod will sustain me.
Mr.. Davis--l do not doubt the Sem
ator recollects what he said. was
not u member of the Senate then.
Mr. Douglas-I hope the Senator
will not express an opinion then.
Mr.. Davis-I will not express an
opinion about that time. but the Lam
gnage of the bill does show that the
Senator has changed his views as en-
tertained in 1850. ] simply thought
1t necessary to say this. that l might
not be put in the category of those
who endorsed the Senator as having
held those opinions all the time he was
chairman of the Committee on Terri
tories. / am not, like the Senator
from Missouri. (Mr. Green. one of
those who regretted that he was re-
moved from the Committee on Terri
tories. ! thought it eminently proper.
when he held opinions differing from
the majority, that he should cease to
be chairman of that committee.
Mr. Douglas-I DO not know We,
that hold opinions not entertained
by the majority. / believe / hold
opinions sustained by three fourths OF
the Democracy of the Union. believe
that can show from the record that
majority of the Senate at the time un
derstood the Kansas Nebraska bill az
1t was framed. | am prepared To
show. also. that the difference of opin-
ion was no cause of discrimination in
the formation Of the committee. and
show, too. that IL the House of Repre-
sentatives. after the Kansas Nebraska
bill passed. that the question was put
to Mr. Richardson. the Denocfatic
nominee for Speaker. whether no
thought 4 Territorial Legislature could
exclude Slavery by territorial enact
ment during it, Territorial existence.
and that gentleman answered in writ
ing and after that answer every South
ern member but three voted Tor him
as sound on the Territorial question.
Mr.. Dsyis--l DO not know what the
Senator will he able 10 DO from the
record. The Senator's opinion upon
the power OF Territorial Legislature
was deemed a sufficient cause by tho
Democracy not 10 continue him in the
position OF chairman Of the Commit
tee on Territories. Issy it was due to
themselves and due TO the Senator.
Mr.. Douglas--I have never com
planned. never intended 10 sllude 10
it in this body: but do assert the re-
cord shows that the Senate knew
eleven wears ago that | held the iden,i-