The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-04-16
NUMBER S.

n KS =
- --e--..77==-fzsE zsE==-~
to be in hot haste to rush into the discus
sion? What is his excnsei
..But, having been prepared without O
opportunity toexaniine the majority rspoEs
it was impossible that it could meet as6
expose all unfounded assumptions"
My colleague is unwilling to let thsm
go together because, although the miaos-
ity report refutes that of the majority sas
the great point at issue. he Is not satisfied
to leave the country to decide upon ths
great point at issue He. prefers With
drawing the attention Of the people ffon
the great auestions.a at issue to the Miaos
points-to change the issue, and make mp
new one on the minor points which ars
not met by the minority report. / can.
not accommodate my colleague BY eon-
senting to that change Of the issue.
am not willing that he shall now pass ftom
the great point to the minor oneA md
make personal issues with myself for ths
purpose of diyerting public attention from
the great questions involved in this con-
test between the Democracy and the allied
forces of northern Know Nothingism and
Abolitiouism.
What are these minor points-thsas
unfounded assumptions ito which ~
colleague deemed it so necessary to reply
at once ! Nearly every point upon Which
he assailed the majority report, is alluded
to by the minority report. 1t is true, =
large portion Of his speech consisted =
criticisms On my political course in csn-
ncclion with the slavery question prior -
the passage Of the Kansas Nebfasks ~.
| do not propose to reply TO that portisa
Of his speech on this occasion. The pse-
pie of Illinois have heard it from shs
stump in nearly every county in the Sts1s.
together with my reply toit, II his pEss7
ent speech is intended for that meridiah. I :
am willing that the people Of Illinois
should decide between US upon the CO
as there presented. II, onthe sthcr hand.
it was intended to enlighten the Ssnats, I
will pass it by in silence, and leave the'
judgment of the Senate to stand a. il xee
formed when the same points were naae
by Mr.. Chase and other Abolition Ssas-
tors, and replied to by me ct the nighs
session when the Nebraska bin passed.
Nor, sir, shall take time to yindicats
myself against the innuendoes containsd
in the garbled extracts given By my ccl-
league from some speeches which he4
made in lS49 and 1850. The Senater
has chosen to quote from one Of my speeek-
es phrase to the effect, that I knew ef
no man in America who was in favor of
the extention of slavery into territegy
now free. If he had shown the connse-
tion in which that remark was mads
should have no comment to make; / wns
speaking ofthe proposition to extend sla-
very by act Of Congress, and in. reply 70
those who wished to prohibit slayery by
act of Congress. In that conneetion +
may have said, and ought to hare aid.
that / knew of no man in America Who
was in favor of the extention Of slavery
If my colleague had stated that the ne
mark which he attributes to me was ased
with reference to the extention of slavery
by an act Of Congress, or the action ofthe
Federal Government, instead ofleaying
the people of each State and Territory
free to decide the question for Themselves
comment or explanation from moswculd
have been unnecessary. Other extracts
were introduced, intending to make falss
ISSUE or true one, as the case may be,
on me, in order to draw public attent1on
from the great issue which, according -
this statement, are utterly refused by ths
minority report. / shall not spend time
on these minor questions
Gne, however, ] may sMsde to. Hs
referred to that portion Of the repsSs sf
! the committee which declares that The
Kansas Nebraska bill was intended to con-
form TO. the great principle of State equal
ity aad self-government, in ebedience 10
the Constitution. The language Of the
report is: a
| 'tThe act of Congress for the organisa-
ton Of the Territories Of Kansas and Ne
braska was asldesignsd to conform to The
spirit and letter Of the Federal Constitl--
| tion, by preserving and maintaining the
fundamental principle of equality among
all She States Of the Union, notwithstand-
ing the restriction contained in the eighth
section of the act of March 6, 1920, (pre-
paratery to- the admission of Missouri into
the Union, schieA assumed to deny ts.tks
people .forerer the right to settle the ques-
ton of slavery for. themselves, provide they
should make their homes snd organise
States north Of $50 81, north latituden
My colleague replied to- 3hat-how!
He denied thai the Missoury restriction a.
suined to do any such thing He denied
that it assumed to prohibit SLAVERY in the
Territory, except while it psnsaiaard . Ter.
ritory. This is one Of the aumfounded
assumptions to which he dkemcd it his.
duty to. be in haste to reply This is the
languages whish he cmploFsdk
.Did the eighth section of the act pre-
paratory to, the admission of Missouri is.
to the Union assume what is here chargedr
The provisiosa ia my Judgment. has beeA
very much misunderstood 1t lisa pro-