Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-05-24
Speech of Senator Douglas.

terly speech delivered by Senator Doug
las on the Kansas question. To say that
it is worthy OF the fame OF the distinguish
ed Senator is to pronounce its highest
praise. We regret that we have room at
present only for the concluding portion of
it, in which he bad passage with the
grea! leader OF the Black Republicans"
1t will be found to express boldness OF
defiance and denuhciatlon of that party
which will be sought for IN vain from
politicians Of any other oganlzation than
The Democracy. Why cannot Southern
mtn Of the opposite party do justice to
sucn men, when they find them hazard.
, ing the prizes OF ambition and the pros
poets Of political promotion by gallant
and true hearted defense of our constitu-
tlonal rights? ETF
| Mr. Douglas said:
The Black Republican" party was or
ganlzed and founded on the fundamental
principle OF perfect and entire equality Of
rights AMI privileges between the negro
and the white man--an equality secured
and guaranteed by law higher than the
Constitution Of the United States. In your
creed, as proclaimed to the world, you
stand pledged against "the admission Of
any more Slave States;
70 repeal the Fugitive Slave Law;
To abolish the slave trade between the
States;
To prolnbi. slavery in the District of
Columbia
To restore the prohibition on Kansas and
Nebraska and
70 acquire no more territory unless
slavery shall be first prohibited.
This is your cteed, aulhoiitatiyely pro.
claimed. | tlust there is no evading or
lodging the issues-no lowering of the
flag. Let each party stand by its princi-
plies, and the issues as you have presented
then and we have accepted them. Let
us have fair, bold fight before the people.
and then lie. the verdict be pronounced.
Mr.. Seward. You will have it.
Mr.. Douglas. rejoice in this assu-
rance. trust the Senator will be abr TO
bring his troops up to the line, and to hold
them there. trust there is to be no low.
erng OF the nag-no abandonment or
change OF the issues. There are rumors
afioat that you are about TO strike your
colors; that gu propose to surrender each
one OF these issues, not because you do no,
profess to be right, but because YOU can.
not succeed in the right that you propose
to throw overheard all the men who dis.
tinguished themselves in your service in
fighting the Anti-Nebraska fight, and to
take a new man, who, in consequence Of
not being committed to either side, will
be enabled to cheat somebody by getting
votes from both sides! Rumor saws that
all your veteran generals n no have re.
ceived scars and wounds in the Anti
Nebraska campaign, are now considered
unit to command, and are to be laid aside
in order to take up some new man who
has not antagonized with the great priu.
cipls Of self-goyerhment and State equality.
Rumor says that, in pursuance OF this line
OF policy, you dare not allow your com.
mittees in the House of Representatives,
To bring in bills to redeem your pledges and
carry out your principles; that there is to
be no bill passed in your fusion House to
repeal the Kansas Nebraska act--none to
abolish the slave trade between the States
hone to abolish slavery in the District
of Columbia-none to redeem any one of
your pledges, or carry out any one Of
your principles upon which you secured
majority in the House by fusion with
Northern Know Nolhinglsm. Rumor saws
that yoar committees were arranged with
the view of keeping all these questions in
the back ground until after the Presidential
election, in order that the agitation may be
reopened with better prospects of success
when power shall have been obtained un.
der the auspices Of new man, who has
not been crippled in the great battle
Would it not be curious spectacle to see
this great Anti Nebraska or Black "Re-
publican" party-whi b, less than eighteen
months ago proclaimed war of extermi-
nation IN which no quarter was to be grant
ed or received, and no prisoners 10 be ,a-
ken-skirmishes to avoid pitched battle,
and get an opportunity to retreat from the
face OF those whom they determined to
hang and burn and torture with all the re-.
finements of cruelty which their vengeance
could devise Ale the offices and patron.
age Of Government SO much more impor-
tant to you than your principles that you
feel it yonr duty to sacrifice your creed,
and the men identified with it, in order to
get Powerf Are you prepared to ignore
the material points IN issue for fear that
they will CONFRONT: you in the Presden.
tial election?
Mr.. Wade-We will whip you, then.
MIR. Douglas that remains to be seen.-
We are prepared to give you fair fight
on the issue you have rendered and We nc.
cept. Let the Presidential contest be one
of principle alone let the principles in-
volved be distinctly stated and boldly met,
without any attempts at concealment or
equ,vocation let the re1uli be- verdict OF
approval or disapproval SO emphatic thar il,
cannot be misunderstood. One year ago
you promised US fair fight IN an open
field upon the principles Of the Kansas
| Nebraska act You then unfurled your
amer, and bore il alolt in the hands of
YOUR own tayerite and tried leaders, with
your principles emblazoned upon it! Are
you now prepared to lower Jour flag; to
throw overheard sIl your tried men who
b.ya ropdarsd corvs.a in your cauoa .ud