The Nevada journal., 1860-05-11
L.atham,s speech,


Senator Latham was delivered of g
speech on the 10th of April, on the slavery
question. On reading it, we are at loss
whether to admire the impudenee OF to
turn in disgust from the shallowness of the
speech. There is certainly nothing new in
it, if we except the squirming, the wiring
in and wiring outssto get betwixt and be-
tween position for himself There is moth
ing of the straight up and down in the
speech. After reading it, one is puzzled
where to place the bantam upstart. That
be is south of the clothes line is apparent
enough. What sort of principles he en-
tertains is anothef question:, If we can ar
rive at them approximatively,we should say
he holds to the power of Co ongress in the
Territories as long as they remain Terrific
ries, to deal with slavery. So far he is
Republican. There is a flourish of popu-
lar sovereignty in the speech, but when
closely scanned amounts to a flourish only
But studied effort is every where anpa-
rent in the sp eech to keep as near hailing
distance of the ultra southern wing of the
Democracy as possible 1t may be that
in asserting the power of Congress over
slavery in the Territories he merely designs
to convey the impression that that pow
er can only be used for the protection of
property, meaning property in slaves, and
no further. If so, we can see no difference
between Latham and jeff. Davis, except the
difference in intellect and manlncss. One
is ready to back and fill, while :he other
is like prominent land mark, you know
where to find in all sorts of weather
The speech of Senator Latham is not
borrowed from Seward this time it may
be from Cush ing however for aught we
know to the contrary. Not having kept
the track of Gushing through every phase
of politics from rank abolitionism to ne
gro Democracy, we could not say how
largely Latham may have drawn upon his
old banker on this occasion. Caleb has an
immense deposit. In fact Caleb's writings
and sayings are as fruitful in political ex-
cerpts suitable for any stripe of politician
as Shakespeare is in observations on human
nature.
Latham has presumed to combat the doc
-trines of Senator Seward on this occasion.
The only impression he leaves after the as
sault is that of his own weakness and pre-
sumption. The attack is that of horse
fly The horse is unharmed unless he
swallow the egg of the insect, when he may
die of the bolts. The Republican courser
has only not to mind the buzzing insect
and he is safe.
The Sacramento Union, with its usual
truthfulness, says 1.-The speech is rather that
of peace-maker than an assailant 1t
does not contain a word calculated to
wound or offend an opponent" We quote
the following in proof that the statements
of the Union are true.
ave are continually told in this body that
the Republicans, party, do not intend to at
tack Slavery in the Slave States. but merely
mean to confine it to its present limits; cannot
believe such declarations are founded in truth or
sincere on the Part of those who make them.'
There is nothing in being called liars
and demagogues for Republican senators
to take offense at!
The speech, to say the least, is wishy
washy affair from beginning to end. There
is neither reason, fairness, or truth in its
object.