The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-09
Our Washington Correspondence.
" AoHINUION, HPrII ., IoUz.
J,dge Douglas on Me JTtlnsof Proviso--A VaIwoU

WASHINGTON, April }, 1862.
| Judge Dongla, on the Jp,ln,of Proviso--A Valuable
Aenento Of other days.
1t is now actively attempted by the friends e
Judge Douglas in this city to prove that he is ths
very man, of all others, to carry tho South for ths
democrats in the approaching contest notice thak
some of the state rights democrats in Congros,
| from the South, are willing to join hands with ths
| FREQ soil leaders, most Of whom nre aotiyolx
for Douglas, to soouro his nomination by tho BAL
timors Convention. They must. Of course, be igns-
rant Of the facts Of tho case for if they wore not
thoy never could unite with anybody in his suppssS
! Do thoy forget that he was of tho most psus-
verng aad influential suppo rters Of all the measures
that secured the admission Of California under cir
clmstances that gave rise to much feeling in tho
South THAT no was, in fact, for overy effort advs-
Gated for tho unrestricted admission Of that State:
and that in this ne was supported by tho fros sod
and abolition leaders! IF tho South has forgotten
this, they need only be reminded Of the fact and
the journals of Congress, as printed in the Globs.
will give them tho information in detail But Il
more especially to show the position Of Douglas
on tho Wilmot proviso that commenced this lottsr
few days ago. in order to break the force Of pub
cntion exposing his constant votes in favor Of ths
principle of the Wmot proviso, the friends of
Douglas published q statement that he gave thsss
votes under tho instructions Of his State Log
Let me show how much this excuse for Judge Doug
| las is worth.
] refer your readers and the South to the
| Washington Union, Of November 29, IS49, which
contains full report Of tho speech OF Hon. Stephen
A. Douglas OF Illinois, delivered in tho Reprsson-
tatiyes Hall, mt Springfield, in that State on ths
I'D Of October, 1919. In this speech udgo Douglas
reasserts the opinion, that the Wiot Provso is No
violation OF the constitution Of the United States,
ard bases his opposition to it, not on tho ground
that it is unconstitutional, but that it is inex psd
ent. But this isnot all. In that speech, ho says.
that he voted for tho Wlmot Proviso in one terri-
torial bill, without instructions, and then proceeds
to taunt and twt the Legislature of his State fer
instructing him to do the same thing in the other
| territorial bills and, in tone of grave irony,
reminds the wings that :" it n serious question,
requiring grave and deliberate consideration whothsr
he could consoientously do. under Instructions whaI
ho had just done from the dictates Of his own judg-
ment, without instruction" The following il an
extract from that speech, carefully copied, any
who refer to il may -" In August Of l045, Mr..
ID. had voted for tho Oregon bill, containing oauss
prohibiting slavery in that territory. About four
month"; afterwards the Legislature assembled. and
passed n resolution instfucting our Senators, and
requesting our representatives in Congress, vote
for territorial bills in California and New MoxioO,
containing a prohibition OF slavery in those torri-
tories. In other words, they instruct him to d
precisely what he had just done without Instructions
He had been informed chat his whg friends ana
perhaps few others peculiar ly situated, confidently
expected him TO resign rather than obey those in
I
them in 80 reasonable an expectation. 1t q 10
rous question, however, requiring grave and deli
Z herate consideration, whother he could c0nsoien-
tiously do, under instructions, what he had jus4
done from the dictates of his own Judgment, with
out instructions As the decision Of 30 important .
question required time TO consider he invited them
TO wait and see."
The intelligent reader will see, ut glsnoo, whas
. comprehensive opinion this is. 1t viii be remem-
bered that many democrats took tho Oregon bill
with the provso in August Of 1913, under sors ef
| protest, and Dir. Polk signed 1T under q protest,
because there was pressing necessity that urgently
demanded the organization OF a government in thst
fGr-of region. Even a. it was, however, more thaa
democratic representative was defeated for taxi
ing this course. Among those who voted for the
oregon bill, with this proviso was Judge Douglas
OF Illinois. IL appears he was not 50 tar ehtrsm-
mellod by the circumstances referred to as others
for more than n year after, and Just before one u
the most exciting sessions of Congress ever known,
4 growing out of the determination of tho whg and
he, soillcadors to force the Wilmot proviso ints
the other territorial bills, he publicly and exultx.y
I proclaimed that he had voted for tho Wilmot pro-
vso according to the dictates of his swn Judgment,
without Instructions, and bitterly denounced thoss
who seemed to think he had not tho nerve to do "
again.
This is from the record II would be amplifod,
IL Lecessary; but IA Mercuto said, whom Tybalt
run him Though, "lt will do" At time whea
Southern wings rIpudinting General Scott
because, they say, he s not sound on the slavery
| question, how would this record toll in the South
with Judge Douglas as the opposing candidate 10
cannot be forgotten that upon the south the dsmS-
Gratis must depend they expect to elect Prssident
next November Suppose Scott Is not nominated 70
| coax the North, anu Fillmore 10 put up Tor the
\ South. You SEQ how things would work In the
| south with Douglas gs he democratic candidate. |
leave the subject the reflection Of the qud aanss
and so take my leave. MACON