The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-11-09
SPEECH OF
Hon. Stephen A. Douglas,
MEASURES OF ADJUSTMENT

1he agitation on the subject Of Slavery now
going IN through this broad RepuLlic, presents an
extraordinary spectacle.
| Congress, alter session Of nine months. has
succeeded III passing system Of measures which
ARE believed to be Just 10 all parts Of the country
and ought to be satisfactory To the people.
In some Of the southern states we ind that ex.
ira sessions of the Legislature are being called
fer the purpose Of organizing systematic and eff.
clent measures Of resistance To the execution of
the laws Of the Union, and for the adoption Of dis.
union as the remedy. These votes Of congress
are to be forcibly resisted at the south upon the
ground that they are a base surrer der to the
north Of all southern rights. At the north the
people are called upon to resist them upon the
ground that they sacrifice the rights and inter.
ests Of the NORTH and surrender every thing te the
south
At the south these measures are denounced As
drgraceful concession to Free SollI.nl, for the
purpose Of securing Abolition votes At the
north the same measures are denounced with e.
quail violence rs a total abandonment OF the rights
OF frecmcn for the purpose OF conciliating the
slave power
| For these contradictory reasons tie people at
each end ofthe Union are appealed to resist by
violence the laws Of the land and the authority
OF the tcGeral government even unto death and
disunion.
The southern nulfers repudate tic authority
nf the highest judicial tribunal ON earth because
they nllcdge it to be plant aud corrupt instru-
mrnt III the hands Of northern Abolionism. Here
We are told that the same exalted Tribunal Is n
corrupt and supple instrument in the hands OF the
slave power.
Strlnge and rrcconcilible positions Both can.
not he true, and. trust in God neither may prove
to be. We have fallen on evil times when pas.
sion and prejudice can 50 far blind the judgment
and deaden the coIscienccs Of men that the truth
eilnuot be seen and felt.
The people at one end Of the Union or the 9th
er are acting under fatal dclusion upon this
subject. Should We not pause consider and reflect
whether 1t is we or they that have been so gross.
~ drceycdi 1t is my purpose this evening to
give a candid and impartial exposition Of these
measures TO the end that the truth may be known
1t does not become free people To rush madly
and blndly into violence and blood. .hcd, ard
death, and dlsunon, without first satisfying our
conferences upon whose souls the guilty consc-
qucnces must rest.
/ These measures, known as the Compromise
scheme, are q IN number.
: /. The admission Of California with her free
constitution.
/ 2 The creation Of Territorial Government for
]
domestic institutions.
/ 3 The creation of a Territorial Goyernmen, for
New Mexico, with like provisions
! 4. The adjustment oi the disputed Boundary
with Texas
! B. The abolition Of the slave trade in the Dis
trlct Of Columbia
! Il. The Fugitive Slave Bill
/ ihe first three Of these measures California
Utah, ana New Mexico, prepared with my own
hand, and reported from the committee on Tern
tories as It's chairman in the precise share H.
which they now stand on the Statute Book with
one or two unrportant amendments. for which
also voted. therefore hold myself as rcspou-
sble to YOU ms my constituents, for these meas.
urcs as they passed. If there l. anything wrong
m them hold me accountable---if there Is an,
thing OF merit give II to those who passed th
bills. These measures are predicNtrd on thu
great Fundamental principle that every peeps
ought TO pnsscss the right of forming and rrgua
ting their own internal affairs aud domestic inst
tutlons. IN their own way | believe that thos,
ofour fellow citizens who have or NAV emigrat,
to California, Utah, or New Mexico, have los
none Of their intelligence and patriotism by III, |
wa,slde believe that after their arrival thel. |
and when they had become familiar with III, |
country, and identified their interests with At, they |
are fully MS competent 10 Judge for ,hrm.eve,
what kind of laws aud institution. M. best adal-
ted to their coudl,on, rs We are who never sa;,
the country, and know very little about it. To
question their competency 10 do this Is to den, |
Their capncity for seitgovernment II they hav, |
the requisite intelligence and honesty to be Gu
trusted with the enactment of laws for the gov
ernuont oi white men, know Of no reason why
they should not he deemed comrctcn, to lCgis
late Tor The negroes. II they nre sufficiently en-
hghtened 10 make laws for the protection of life.
liberty, and property, of morals aud education, -
to regulate the relations of husband aud wife, OF
paien, and chlld, ! am not aware that it requires
any higher dogree Of civilization To regulate the
affairs OF mnster and servant. These things are
all conhded by the Constitution to each state 10
decide for itself, and know of no reason why the
same principle should not be extended to the ter.
fitWles MY votes AND actions have been in nc.
cordance with this principle in all cases except
the Instance IN which | voted under your instruc.
tons. That was your vote, and not mine do
hold myself responsible for H. / believed then
and believe now, that il was better for the cause
OF freedom, of humanity, and Of republicarism to
leave the people interested to settle all these
questions for Themselves They have intellccts
and consciences rs well NJ We, and have more in.
terest In doing that which Is best for themselves
and their posterity than We have as their self.
constituted and oiiicious guardians. | deem il
fortunate for the country that the Congress Of the
United States took the same views on the subject
and passed the bills in the shape in which o.
rigina''y reported them. So far as the question
of slavery is concerned, am sure that any man
who will take the pains to examine the history of
the question will come to the conclusion that this
Is the true policy as well MS the sound republican
doctrine.
Mr. Douglas here went into nm historical view
of the subject, To show that slavery had never
been in fact excluded from one inch Of the Amer
can continent When the Federal Constitution
OF 81 twelve Of the thirteen states then coinpos.
ing the Confederation held slaves, and sustained .
the institution Of slavery by their laws. Since ,
that period slavery has been abolished in six Of
these twelve original slave states How was |
this eiIectedi BY the Wilmot Provi,o' Nobo. ,
dv had ever heard Of Mr. Wilmot in those days .
Was 1t done by an act Of Congrcssl No Con. i
grcss had no power over tho subject, and never I
attempted to interfere with it, Slavery was a.
bolished in those states by the people of each nc ,
ting for themselves and upon their own motion ,
and responsibility, The people became convinc.
ed that It was Tor thor interests and the interest.
Of thor posterity, pccuniarily and morally. and ,
thsx .Ns tN..IN Nl.... r. : a Ia