The weekly Mississippian., 1860-09-26
Hon. Z. q. c. Lamar.
-

This gentleman IS hIling series OF aP-
pointments IN Norfh Mississippi-speaking
with great effect and carrying conviction
wherever he appears smcng the people
The following is an extract from report o.
a recent speech dilivered by him in Hernando.
Il IS copied from the Peoples Press:
Just before ascending the stand, the Doug |
las electors for this county handed Col. L. the |
following written interrogatores, which he |
answered under their appropriate heads, IN the |
course of his remarks, fully, frankly, categorl-
cally, and we wrote his answers down as ne |
delivered them. Here are the questions
/. If Lincoln is elected President OF the
Tinted States in November next, are you in
favor Of an immediate dissolution OF the
Union. or OF the secession of Mississippi from
the Union?
Q. If Territorial Legislature at any time
nroh;bits the introduction of slaves into sucn
Territory, or passes any law unirlendiy 70
slavery. are you in favor Of Congress repeal
ing such Territorial laws?
3. Can you explain why the Senate reluseu
to concur with Mr.. A. G. Brown, IN his pro
position to repeal the laws of Kansas nosuie
! to slavery, and to give it that protection py
Congress that is claimed by the breckenridge
party?
4. Will you please reconcile Congressional
protection with Congressional non lnterVen-
tion?
5. Has Congress the right to compel the
existence of slavery in Territory, against the
wishes of majority of the people of such
| Territory, after they have an organized Terri
torial Government
Answer to the first question:
If that event should find the South so torn
| by party divisions as to be moro concerned
| with each other than in resisting the common
enemy, and so reduced by long endurance Of
insult as to 10 ready to submit TO indignity
and inequality, then, in my opinion, her lon
ger continuance in the Union will involve her
IN worse fate than she seeks to avoid by sub
mission. But should her people become uni
ted under this impending calamity, would
advise her to strike for her equality, her lib
erty her civilization, and the hopes of man
kind for free government even though the
Union should perish in the conflict But
consider the safety of the South consists more
in united effort to prevent this calamity,
than in trusting to he chance OF redeeming
herself after the Black Republican party shall,
by getting possession of the common Govern
ment, be able to work out their daSnning aud
desolating schemes.
Now, I would ask DIR. Rice, the Douglas
elector for this county, the same question.
Answer have not made up my mind on
that subject yet.
Col. LII think your answer wise and
patriotic one, and honor you for it. IL you
have not made up your mind, it is right that
you should say so. The subject requires calm
deliberation and great reflection, and should
not be thus suddenly thrown into the arena
of party politics. But suppose Lincoln is
elected, and South Carolina secedes, will DR..
Rice join Douglas, and with him help the Abo-
litionists to whip her back into the Union, as
Douglas now says he will?
DR.. Rice-No, never! ! would fight for
: her sooner than against her.
Col L.-Then, in the name Of God, don't
vote for Douglas, and give him a stick with
} which to break your own head.
To the second question l reply-Yes, when
necessary; Ito which he gave satisfactory ex-
planation under this head.)
To the Third-Thc Senate did not concur
with Mr.. Brown, because the necessity for
Congressional protection did not then appear.
Under the decision Of the Supreme Court, the
anti.slavery laws OF Kansas are unconstitu-
tional, null and void, and every judicial officer,
every Justice Of the peace in that Territory, il
he does his sworn duty, is armed with the
power of protecting the STAKEHOLDER in his
rights. Now, there was no evidence before
the Senate to show that these officers had been
} recreant to their duty in single instance, and
il was wrong to presume them iInpotent and
dishonest before their fidelity to the Constitu-
ton had been tested. | suppose this was their
reason. It was the reason why ], as your
, representative did not deem it my duty to in
troduce bill in the lower house to repeal
III these laws. gss M G
>-Yo the fourth--I think can, satisfactorily
We did agree to non-intervention, incfudihg
the slavery question. But noh-intervrntion
was only given on this express condition, viz:
They were to legislate conStGtttiuaalIys they
were not to violate the spirit or the letter Of
the Constitution of the United States and all
parties agreed that the Supreme Court should
decide what was or was not constitutional lie
gislation. Now, that Court decides that the
Territory cannot legMlate against slavery, bat
is bound to protect it, and when they break
this condition, they forfeit their right 20 non
Intervention.
70 illustrate. The subject Of prescribing
the qualification Of voters, as one Of their do
mestic institutions, was peculiarly and ex-
pressly intrusted to their Territorial Legisla-
ture to manage in their own way; and yet,
when they so prescribed the qualification Of
voters as to compel man to believe in slave
ry, and exclude the free State men from voting,
Mr.. Douglas himself and all his satellites,
went in for Congressional protection TO the
Abolitionists and they did repeal the laws, be-
cause they were unconstitutional and unfair,
and the Territory had violated the coadi-
tion upon which non-interyention had been
granted. & VI
1 To the ffth-The substance Of his answer
was: The Territorial Legislature is as much
bound to perform constitutional duty as 1t is
to respect constitutional si5lts, and it is just
as wrong for it not to do what the Constitu-
ton requires it to do, as it is for it to do what
the Constitution says it shall not do; and If
they are recreant to their duty in this respect,
and the slave owner goes there while it is
Territory, and the existing remedies fail him.,
it is the duty Of Congress TO pass such legisla-
ton as may be necessary to secure the enjoy.
ment of an important right guaranteed by the
Consultation.
/ He then took the Dred Scott decision, and
informed DR.. Rice that he could answer this
question in the very language of the Court
and said to the Doctor q" If I prove to you
that the Court, to which the question was re-
ferred, did decide that Congress should protect
the slave owner in bis rights, when the Iegis-
lature and local authorities ail to do their duty
in this behalf will you go with me in this
contest?' DIR. Rice answered !: I" Yes will =
Col. Lamar then commenced reading the
language Of the Court, whercupon DR. Rice, as
If to make assurance doubly sure'' LEFT his
seat. walked up on the stand, and looking with
Col. Lamar, read it, and when he got through,
DIR. Rice replied: i give it up and went
back to his seat amid the most tremendous
applause for Lamar; whereupon Col. Lamar
very gallantly and inagnanilnonsly turned tho
applause and excitement from himself by pro-
posing three cheers for DIR. Rice which were
| given with hearty good will for every man
present greatly admired the manliness and
candor Of the Doctor.
1t is impossible to give those who were IN
| fortunate enough to be absent an adequate
idea OF the powerful effect of the speech. A
mere outline Of its strong points would occu-
py more space than we can ask for III this
| issue, nor have we thought Of mentioning any
Of the many figures of his glowing rhetoric.
i will be long time. before We shall hear the
like again,
Tribute Of Respect.
A