“The south denies that Congress has any jurisdiction over the subject of slavery, and contends that the _people of the territories alone_, when they frame a constitution, preparatory to admission into the Union, _have a right to speak and be heard on that matter_. This fact being settled, _it really seems to us that this exciting question might be speedily adjusted_, if calm counsels prevail. The south contends for her honor, and for the great principles of non-intervention and state equality. _Why, then, cannot all unite, and permit California to come into the Union as soon as she can frame a constitution?_ Then, according to the doctrines which prevail on both sides of Mason’s and Dixon’s line, she may constitutionally establish her domestic institutions on any basis consistent with republican principles. _The south could lose nothing by adopting this course. On the contrary, she would save all for which she contends._” MR. BADGER’S REPLY. TO THE EDITORS OF THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER; A communication in your paper of yesterday, from the Hon. HORACE MANN, of the House of Representatives, seems to require a brief notice from me. The honorable gentleman accuses me of having treated him with gross injustice in a recent speech, in which I referred to the closing paragraph of a speech of his, and made some comments thereupon. Now, in what consists the injustice? I quoted that paragraph from his speech, and he does not deny that it was quoted truly. There is not a word or syllable attributed to him, not a word or syllable alleged or insinuated to have been spoken by him, except that paragraph, and that he admits was spoken and printed by him just as I quoted it. Then, in the statement of his language, I have done him no injustice. In my comments, I gave “in other words,”--in my own words,--what I deemed a true interpretation of his; and, as I attributed to him no language which he did not use; as every thing to which he objects is, and upon the face of my remarks plainly purports to be, merely my own commentary upon the single quotation correctly taken from the gentleman’s speech, it is very obvious that I have “fabricated” nothing. Whether the interpretation given to the honorable gentleman’s language be correct or incorrect, a just carrying of it out to its true results, or an unfair exaggeration, intelligent men will be able to decide from the reading of my speech, which presents together both the text and the commentary, and to them I am willing to leave it.