In a debate which was precipitated by a resolution of Senator Pugh, the old sores were rent open.  Senator Davis of Mississippi was particularly irritating in his allusions to the Freeport, and other recent, heresies of the Senator from Illinois.  In the give and take which followed, Douglas was beset behind and before.  But his fighting blood was up and he promised to return blow for blow, with interest.  Let every man make his assault, and when all were through, he would “fire into the lump."[812] “I am not seeking a nomination,” he declared, “I am willing to take one provided I can assume it on principles that I believe to be sound; but in the event of your making a platform that I could not conscientiously execute in good faith if I were elected, I will not stand upon it and be a candidate.”  For his part he would like to know “who it is that has the right to say who is in the party and who not?” He believed that he was backed by two-thirds of the Democracy of the United States.  Did one-third of the Democratic party propose to read out the remaining two-thirds?  “I have no grievances, but I have no concessions.  I have no abandonment of position or principle; no recantation to make to any man or body of men on earth."[813]

Some days later Douglas made it equally clear that he had no recantation to make for the sake of Republican support.  Speaking of the need of some measure by which the States might be protected against acts of violence like the Harper’s Ferry affair, he roundly denounced that outrage as “the natural, logical, inevitable result of the doctrines and teachings of the Republican party, as explained and enforced in their platform, their partisan presses, their pamphlets and books, and especially in the speeches of their leaders in and out of Congress."[814] True, they disavowed the act of John Brown, but they should also repudiate and denounce the doctrines and teachings which produced the act.  Fraternal peace was possible only upon “that good old golden principle which teaches all men to mind their own business and let their neighbors’ alone.”  When men so act, the Union can endure forever as the fathers made it, composed of free and slave States.[815] “Then the senator is really indifferent to slavery, as he is reported to have said?” queried Fessenden.  “Sir,” replied Douglas, “I hold the doctrine that a statesman will adapt his laws to the wants, conditions, and interests of the people to be governed by them.  Slavery may be very essential in one climate and totally useless in another.  If I were a citizen of Louisiana I would vote for retaining and maintaining slavery, because I believe the good of the people would require it.  As a citizen of Illinois I am utterly opposed to it, because our interests would not be promoted by it."[816]