The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1860-05-30
Mr.. Douglass Speech.

The Baltimore American publishes a
special report of Mr. Douglass speech in
the United States Senate on the 18th and
10Th instant. 1t was a very long speech
altogether the time of delivering it being
about six hours. Ii Is hardly necessary TO
say that it was an able one in defence OF
popular, or squatter sovereignty. The
American says: "Mr. Douglas maintains
" his favorite doctrine ably, determinedly.
and with defiant air that seems to EN-
brace an unalterable resolution not to
"swerve from the position he has assum-
ed whilst challenging his opponents to
- do their worst. The speech appears to
" be prepared with more care and research
than Mr.. Douglas has usually bestowed
upon his Senatorial efforts, and the con
clusion of his remarks yesterday were
alike effective and amusing by the CO.
vert sarcasm with which the arraigned
the former and present position of some
"ot the most prominent opponents on
the question of Territorial Sovereignty.
Mr.. DIS proposition to take Mr.. Buch-
anan's letter of exceptance of his NOM
"ination upon the Cincinnati platform as
the platform upon which he is now will
ling to stand will be recognized as a capi-
I" tai political hit Altogether the speech
has pervading spice of retaliatory ma.
lice that gives it more interest than usu-
ally belongs to such documents"
The substance of Mr. Douglas 5 argu-
ment was that he has not moved from
his position on the slavery question. He
SAYS that the prominent democratic poll
ticians Of the country accepted his doc
trine as the true one. Some of his cita-
Of i
fy his conclusions They are doubtful
This Is the plea of precedent in govern
ment whose policy-not principles-is al
ways changing. Fifteen years ago-or
even five years ago-the squatter doctrine
was, comparatively, harmless. Now the
evil of it has impressed itself on the pub.
lie mind. Admitting that the politicians
then accepted it, there is no reason why
not they should hold fast to it, especially
when popular opinion in the South-~is-
er than the politicians-distrusts and re.
jects it. For our own part, we can fnC
nothing of value in this part of Nj
Douglass argument. He proves his owl
consistency, but by no means that he isas
wise as those men of the South who re
iect his doctrine, even though they them
selves may have entertained it some year,
| dgO.-HOClfe I71bDic.
The Washington Constitution, in refer
ring to this speech. says:
1t is idle for Mr.. Douglas 10 refer to
| the differences which existed in the party
in lS4S. in 1850, in 1852. in 1854, and in
1856, with reference to slavery in the ter.
ritories. Those difficulties did exist. it is
true, but in 1854 those democrats who
held that slavery could not exist in the
Territories under the Constitution. and
| those democrats who believed that il
could not exist there without express
enactment, solemnly agreed that they
would refer the dispute to the Supreme
| Court of the Uuited States, and that
they would abide the decision From the
| lay that the Supreme Court rendered it.
| judgment in the case of bred Scott. no
honest difference Of opinion on the sub
/ ect was possible among democrats.