Year: 1860

ture possessed a power which Congress did
not.


| Mr.. Douglas admitted that be regarded
this as a Judicial question, and did so now


The Dred Scott dicision did not settle it
, 1t was not argued before the court Il
would have been disgraceful if the cour,
had desided upon what was not before il.
When Territorial Legislature passed an


enactmen. prohibiting Slavery, the Su-


preme Court could decide the question, and
be would respect the decision and help to


carry it out in good faith. That was the


understanding when the Nebraska oil was


passed. He did not believe the decision


of the court would be gainst his views.
Mr. Green stated his views as to the un-


derstanding at the time of the passage Of
the Kansas Nebraska bill, and said the Sen


ator from illinois would not dare to dispute


his propositions.


Douglas replied that the word "dare"


was unnecessary, and it was unnecessary to


handy words. He dared to assert the


truth. He thought he knew what his own


opinions had been as well as the Senator


from Missouri. He would vindicate every


word be had said, and when the Senators


had all gotten through with their bills of


indictment against him, he would fire at


them in the lump.


Green, (excitedly. 1.-THE Senator can


fire away whenever it suits his convenience,


either at US in lump, or Individually


There is one individual who is ready to


meet him al Philipppi. know and assert


that no man ever claimed that the Terrific


ries possessed more power than Congress,


until the Freeport speech.


Pugh resumed. 1t was easy to thrust
personal feeling and personal assaults into
controversy. 1t had been done by the
Senator from Mississippi, and initiated by
the Senator from Missouri. He contended
that the question of the power of the peo-
pie of the Territories was still an open ques-
tiop. When it was decided by the courts
he was ready to obey. The whole contro-
versy had been forced on the Senator from
Illinois and himself under circumstances of
outrage and indignity which had to be met.
If it continued TO be pressed in this manner
the fale of the Democratic party is sealed.
The subject had been thrust forward by the
President in his message, by the Vice Presi-
dent in his address to the Legislature, and
on this floor. He referred to the Execu-
tive dictation, and attempt TO coece free
men by cutting off their heads as postmas-
ters and custom house officers. The Sena-
tor from Georgia now wanted law passed
to enable slaves to be held in territories in
defiance of all law, and insisted on the
Charleston Convention sustaining this de-
mand. If that was the sentiment of the
Southern delegates, he hoped they would
say SO on the first day of the Convention.
He cared nothing for the threats OF opposi-
ton to Northern nominee made by the
Senator from Georgia. He concluded by
declaring his determination, as delegate
to the Charleston Convention, to support
his present views, and insisted that the pro-
scription against his branch Of the party
muet cease.


Douglas said the state of his health
would not permit him to engage in a
lengthy debate. When his assailants had
gotten through, he would reply to them in
heap,


Davis thought the Senator from Illinois
exalted himself above his level when he
supposed it necessary to have combination
formed against him. AS TO his going at
them in the lump, he had better try to get
through with one of them.


Douglas would institute no comparison
between himself and the Senator as TO the
modesty of their bearing. He bad been
assailed while lying on sick-bed, as rot
ton, by one who had confessed to rotten
ness at heart twelve years ago. No as
saults would be make on any one. He had
no fondness for controversy, and his posi-
ton was purely defensive.


Clay, of Alabama, said he would show
that the Senator had changed his views
In 1850 he voted for the Wimot proviso.
He would not have extended the right hand |
OF fellowship as Democrat if he had not
believed that he had changed his views
The complaints of assaults and combina-
tion looked like seeking popular sympa-
patty, which he abhorred as the act of
demagogue. He feared that the Sena-
tor was like Cleon, who rushed into
the marketplace exhibiting self-inficted |
wounds to excite sympathy and secure pro-
lection.


Douglas denied seeking popular sympa-
thy. He neeer would have alluded to his |
deposition from the chairmanship of the |
Committee on Territories if i: had not been
thrown in his face. He denied the right
of the Senator from Alabama, to criticise
his Democracy. He did not think the
Senator's opposition would affect his vote
in Alabama. He never had made speeches
to bolt the nomination of the Convention
unless his man was selected. The Sena-
tor, by his pronunciamientos, had put him
self outside of the Democratic party. If
the Senator did not extend the right hand
of political fellowship he would survive the
the stroke. If he happened to be nomlna-
ted at Charleston, he would consider
the Senator from Alabama as much hon
ored by his accepting his vote as he himself
would be in receivingit. He (Douglas) did
not covet the nomipation at Charleston
He would not accept it except upon plat
form conforming TO his views. He would
never commit the meness of being elect
ed on a platform and kick it over af-
terwards. He believed that two-thirds of
the Democracy of the country were with |