Instead of finding Mr. Douglas down on his marrow-bones at the feet of slavery, we should see the same man standing up firm and strong in behalf of the glorious old Ordinance of 1787 . Freedom's battle was fought and lost in 1850, and the cowards and traitors have all run to the winning side. But although anti-Slavery is weak in political circles, it was never stronger with the masses of the people. The great heart of the country is sound. We expect to see Slavery go on pressing and pushing the advantages it derived from the adjustment of 1850, till a reaction is created that will again convulse the country to its center.
Slavery is imperious, encroaching, truculent, belligerent.
Its own conduct will thus ultimately generate an explosive force that must blow it to atoms. This movement of Douglas to override and virtually repeal the Missouri Compromise is one step in this direction. Let the Country take notice that this convulsion is not commenced on the side of Freedom. The views expressed in this document are for educational, historical, and scholarly use only, and are not intended to represent the views of the project contributors or Furman University.