Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-10-25
Democrats ! Remember
your country, in the hour
of her need, if you would
preserve the Union and the
Constitution.

Douglas on the Charge OF LecOmptOnism'
1t will be remembered that we published some
proof a few days since, attacking the sincerity and
consistency of Mr.. DOUGLAS, in opposing the adms-
sion of Kansas Rnder the Lecompton Constitution.
Mr. DOUGLAS referring 20 the letters elected by the
Kansas Committee, and published very generally
throughout the Union, says
The charge is distinctly made, that not only de-
vised the LecomptOn Constitution but that it was
submitted to me, and that approved 1t, together
with the plan of submitting the slavery clause
TLaughter.l | desire to say to you that 1t Is false
in every particular. Immense applause. never
saw the Lecompton Constitution until after it had
been adopted in Kansas by the Convention, and sent
to the President of the United States for acceptance
never saw the schedule by which the slavery
clause was submitted until after it was forwarded
to the States for publication. Inever heard, nor
conceived. nor dreamed that any man on earth ever
thought of such scheme. | make these statements
distinctly without equivOcatiOn or mental reserva-
ton. appeal to GOd IN Tie presence Of high Hedren
and tbs audience, that the charge IS false, care not
lolO made Il.
Speaking Of his correspondence with Zen CAL
HouN. President of the Lecompton Convention, he
says:
am very sure l wrote him no letter upon the
subject of politics. the LecOmptOn Constitution,
pending the session of the Convention.
lie further says in reference to his correspondence
with Gen CALHOUN, that fewmonths ago he received
a letter from near relative of Gen. CALHOUN that
Federal Office holder in Nebraska had offered
Mrs. CALHOUN $1,000 ifshe would allow him to look
over Gen. CALHOUNs private papers and take out all
the private papers that Judge DOUGLAS, had ever
written to her husband" which she Indignantly re-
jected Mr.. DOUGLAS proceeds:
Mrs Calhoun authorized her relative to inform
me of these facts which he did, together with the
tender her part to surrender to all the letters
| ever wrote to her deceased husband | ans ered
that had never written any letter to the late Gen
eral Calhoun that was ashamed to have the whole
world it. That 1t was possible that, IN the hurry
and freedom ofprivate correspondence that might
sometimes nave expressed myself carelessly or m
elegantly but there was nothing in my letters which
| was afraid to let the public know. | added that
appreciated the noble conduct of Mrs Calhoun and
that she authorized 10 forward the letters 10
me, if it was her will. received letter from her
in reply in which she stated that she had carefully
examined all her husbands private papers, and
there was no letter to be found written by me to
him since 1852 or So
This makes up the issue squarey between Judge
DOUGLAS and his accusers. Now, the proof alone
can determine where the rights is.
1t is now charged all over the country. says the
Louisville Courier, that while the Lecompton qucs-
ton was before Congress Mr.. DOUGLAS was in fire.
quent conference with Black Republican leaders,
and that negotiations were going on between him
and them looking to his alliance with the Black Re
publican party and his leadership of it in the Pres
idental contest Of 1860 Several of Che Republican
leaders have of late alluded the subject but have
not felt themselves justified to reveal the pri
vate conferences held between Mr.. DouGLAS and
! themselves without his authority for them to do so
1t has been stated that the charge to which we al
lude would be fully established against Mr. DOUGLAS
if he dare to consent that the veil of privacy shaL
, be removed. and that Messrs BLAIR, CovoDE, BUR
IYGAuE etc, he permitted to speak out all they
, know upon the subject The whole country L
cIamoring into the ears of Mr.. DOUGLAS the moment
| o,Is ouestion as to whether he will allow the wit
nesscs to testify all they know in reference to IN;
completely with Black Republicanism in 1878
VIII he allow them to do so? viii he-dare he
answer? This question is certainly not less i'm
! portant than the Norfolk questions and so far
| as his own honor is concerned, is far more
important Again. we ask, will he answer
Mr. DoyGrAs should to complete his yindicatior
relieve BLAIR CovoDE and BURLNGAME and all 9th
crs from all confidential obligations and let them
tell what they know, until he does so he cannot free
| himself entirely from Suspicion OH 'il9 Su"J0N'
While he is relieving BLAIR & Co. from their obliga
tons we ask him to call to the stand Hon. GEORGE
W. PuGH, Of Ohio, let HIM state whether or not Mr.
PuGu dill not understand him as favOring such q
submission to the people Of the LecomPton Consttu
| ton rs was made Let Mr. PUGH state his under
standing of Mr. DOUGLAS position as he receredH tro"
Mr. DouGIAs himself. Let Mr.. PUGH state what
passed between Judge DOUGLAS and him at Mr.
PuGH's Office IN Cincinnati or elsewhere. Much ha,
been said IN private circles as TO what transprec
between the Senator OF Ohio and Judge DOUGLAS OF
a certain occasion in relation to LecOmpton, let Mr.
DoUGLAs and the world have the benefit of Mr.
PUGH's testimony and thus silence rumor Mr.
PuGH is Judge DOUGLAS most intimate persona
friend and ablest political advocate. Let hin