Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-04-18
From the south-side Democrat


ed before Weir's grand picture of the Embarkation,
in the rotunda Of the Capitol, when clear and de-
cded voice behind me SAID, in an excited tone
81 believe in the right of every State, and of the
people thereof. to regulate their domestic af.
fairs"
looked around and saw two men, both rather low
of stature fair and SLENDER and the other stout
err black haired, and with large lion like head, of
which the face was partly turned from me. They
were engaged in animated conversation, lost the
first part of the fair mans reply, but caught the
words
Esprit Of the Federal compact" don't apply 10
Territories"
''Yes 10 Territories, Territories are but States
under age" said he, with the large head throwing
back his dark locks as lion losses back his name
when he stops TO gaze on his foe.
States under age? Exactly. and therefore to be
governed by their lawful guardian, Uncle SAM" said
the falrer man with low, pleasant laugh as the
short turn of their walk brought them in full face
Eut a guardian must not impair or trammel the
future rights OF his wards, and
lost the rest Of the lion heads & ords and most
of the reply of the other but as their walk brought
them back in ear shot, caught something about
"non-interVentIon."
There another defiant toss of the black locks,
and then this sentence, of which every word and
lone will live forever in my memory:
Non intervention is the only law of salvation for
the Union. 1t is the only platform which all the
States can stand together and keep the peace"
And this rule you would apply to all the terrific
ries present and future 2" asked his companion in
thoughtful tone.
''To all the Territories now and forever" was the
emphatic reply as he stopped short and abruptly
faced the other.
And 10 the District of Columbia also"
{" To the District of Columbia also"
They looked steadily at each other for a moment,
and then each with expressive movement of the
head that told beyond the power of words OF fixed
difference nj bouo odi
and disappeared in different directions.
Two ladies passed by them they we're leaving,
AID came toward the picture | was pretending to ex,
anime IN order to cover the interest which had in
voluntarily forced me into listening 10 this CONVEX
satiOn.
g Who are those gentlemen ?'' inquired one of the
ladies of the other
g think the one who bowed and made way for
US, is Senator Seward of New York." was the reply.
" Indeed! can that abominable Abotionist have
such an intellectual face and such air of refine
men and high breeding 2" exclaimed the questoner,
in tone of unqualified establishment.
" And Is the other a dsunion abotonist, loo z"
continued the dark eyed maid of the South.
d" He disunionist? No, indeed! that is Douglas
of Illinois,"
" Douglas, of Illinois, is it .! Well, he looks more
like to give and eat good dinners, than to
make that speech on the Monroe Doctrine that your
father and mine thought wonderfully wise and
lion, hearted"
The young ladys expression g lion hearted, Chin
ed in with my fancy that he had most lion-like
head, and it added to stereotype the incident my
memory.
| did not Washington Douglas again for
more than year My next visit to the Capitol was
in the midst of the debates on the Kansas Nebraska
bill. AS chairman of the Senate Committee on Ter
rories, Douglas had embodied the daring thought
which had been struggling for years in his breast,
but which, simple as it now begins to seem, few un-
destood then, and still fewer considered it possible
to establish the principle of non-intervention-or as
it is Defined of citizen sovre gnty-as measure
of national pacifcation.
The Kansas Nebraska bill had already passed the
Senate and the House was graphing with it in
storm of wild commotion. The chiefs of the cid
parties had resentful though vague intuition that
this new issue would bring dsmay and ruin upon all
their decrepid organizations and they closed in with
it in a struggle for life and death.
| one of those hurricane days | saw Douglas stand
ing on the floor of the House, by the side of his
auntless battle companion, Richardson of Illinois.
He was leaning lightly on one hand on the desk in
easy and unconstraned, but singularly defiant at
titude. His face steadily turned with firm unre
Taxing gaze the successive speakers they rose
on both sides. The gallery Was dense mass OF ca
ger faces, the floor surglng mass OF excited mem
bers. The Speakers hammer ratified down lis lnces
SAINT rebukes but Doug las looked impassivey on the
hurricane he had aroused, and finally, with one last
sweeping glance the ana he threw up his lion
head and with a strange expression of unblenchng
he slowly withdrew
Al last, when arguments and invectiveS were ex-
haused, the conflict became mere trial OF physical
endurance. The daily sithngs protracted in
deed into night, and continued on day after day. un-
til the vote was taken and the organization of Kan
5as and Nebraska, the avowed basis the princi
pie OF popular sovereignty became law OF the land
The border difficulties that have followed grew out
Of the abuse and violation of the principle of non
and the principle is answerable
for the ouages pepetated in its name than the pure
religion of the Prince of Peace is answerabe for the
prosecutions and butcheries with which bigots have
bathed the earth in the ame of Jesus of Nazareth.
There is place in Pennsylvania known as