Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-06-26

We regret that We have no. room for the whole OF
the mastery speech of Senator Douglas at Spring.
field, Illinois, written out by himself The follow
ing extract contains his views on the Kansas question,
and his Introductory remarks in vndicaton of the
recent momentous decision of the Supreme Court
Of the Kansas question but little need be said at
ths present time. You familiar With the history
of the question and my connection with it. Subse.
quent reflection has strengthened and confirmed my
convictions in the soundness OF the principles on
which | acted, and the correctness Of the course
have felt it my duty 10 pursue upon that subject.
Kansas is about to speak tor herself through her del.
egates assembled in convention TO form constitution
preparatory to he. adI.esOn into the Union OH an
equal footing with the original States. Peace and
prosperity now prevail throughout her borders. The
law under which her delegates about to be elected
s believed to be just and fair iu all it's objects and
prov 7ions. There ia every reason to hope and be.
Iieve that the law will be fairly interpreted and inn
partially executed 30 as to sure to every bona fde
lnhaoifant the free and quiet rxar"'7' ~ = i've
franchise. II any portion of The lnnsotants, acting
uhder the advice of political .aders in distant Sta'"-
snail choose to absent themse from the polls, and
Withhold their votes, with : view Of leaving the
Tree state democrats in minority aud thu. securing
pro'slaVery constitution in opposition to the wishes
OF majority Of the people living under it, let the
responsibility rest on those who, for partisan pur-
poses, will sacrifice the principles they profess
cherish and promote. Upon them and upon the po.
ton OF whose leaders they act. le: the blame be vi
sited for fastening upon the people of State in
stitutons repugnant to their feelings and in violation
Of their wishes. The organic act secures to the peo
pie Of Kansas the sole aud exclusive right Of forming
and regulating their domestic institutions to suit
themselves, subject to other limitation than that
which the constitution Of the United States imposes
The Democratic party is determined TO the great
fundamental principles OF the organic !ew carried out
in good faith The present election law in Kansas is
10 IN ho fo,r o,d, ,,of ruhf pff rho
voters are clearly Defined and the exercise Of those
righa will be efficiently and scrupulously protected.
Hence, 1t the majority of the people OF Kansas de-.
sire to have it free State, land We are told by the
Republican party that nne.tenhs of the people OF
that territory free State men, there s obsta-
Gle in the way of bringing Kansas into the Union as
free State by the votes and voice of her own peo-
pie, and in conformity with the great principles OF the
act provided all the free State men
will go to the polIs and vote their principles iu
cordance with their professions. If such is not the
result, let the consequences be visited upon the heads
of those whose policy it s to produce strife, anarchy,
and boodshed in Kansas, that their party may profit
by slavery agitaon iu the Northern States of this
Union. That the Democrats in ksnsas will perform
their duty earlessy aud noby according to the prln
ciples they cherish, have doubt and that the re-
suit of the struggle will be such will gladden. the
henrt and strengthen the hopes of every friend OF the
Union, have entire confidence.
The Kansas question being settled peacefully and
satisfactorily, in accordance with the wishes of her
own people, slavery agitation should be banished
from the halls Of Congress and cease to be an exciting
element in political struggles. Give fair play to
that principle of self government which recognises
the right of the people Of each State and Territory
TO form and regulate their domestic institutions,
and sectional strife will be forced to give place to that
fraterna feeling which animated the fathers of the
revolution, and made every citizen of every State OF
this gloriona confederacy member OF common
brotherhood
That WA are steadily and rapidly approaching that
result, cannot doubt for the slavery issue has al
ready dwindled down into the narrow limits covered
by the decision Of the Supreme Court of the United
States in the Dred Scott Gaze. The moment that de-
csion was pronounced, aud before the opinions o
tha court could be published and reGd by the people
the newspaper press in the interest oe powerful po'
itics party in this country began 10 pour forth ter
rents of abuse and Misrepresentation, not only upon
the decision, but upon the character and motives OF
the venerable Chief Justice and his ustrious asso
cates on the bench. The character of Chief Justice
TaIey and associate judges who concurred with him
| require no eulogy-no vndication tron me. They
endeared to the people of the United States by
their eminent public servlces-venerated IOr their
great learning, WISDOM and experience beloved
for the spotess purity Of her characters and their
exemplary lives. The poisonous shafts OF partisan
malice will fall harmless at teir feet while their i'll
dicial decisions will stand in all future time
| proud monument to their greatness, the admi
| ration Of the good and wise, and rebnke to the
partisans of faction and lswless violence. II, un-
fortunately any considerable portion of the people
! of the United States shall 30 far forget their
obligations to society to allow the partisan lead
era to array them in violent resistance to the final
decision of the highest judicial tribunal on earth, il
will become the duty OF all the friends Of order and
constitutional government, without reference to past
political differences, to organize themselves and mar.
! shal their forces under the glorious banner OF the
Union, in vndcation Of the constitution and the su
premacy Of the laws over the advocates Of faction
aud :sa champions of violence. To preserve the
constitution inviolate, and vindcate the supremacy
o: the laws, is the first and highest duty Of every
citizen of tree republic. The peculiar mer. Of our
form OF government over all others consists in the
fact that the law, instead Of the arbitrary will of q
hereditary prince prescrbes, defines, and protects all
our rights In this country the Law is the will of the
people, imbodied and expressed according to the
forms of the constitution. The courts are the .rihn
nails prescribed by the constitutions and created by
the authority of the people to determine, e1pound
and enforce the law. Hence, whoever reris,o the
final decision of the highest judicial tribunal aims
deadly blow at our whole republican system of gov.
ernment--a blow, which, il successful, would place
all our rights and liberties at the mercy of passion
anarchy and violence. l repeat, therefore, that if
resistance to the decisions of the Supreme Court Of
the United States in matter like the points decided
in the Dred Scott case, clearly within their jursdic
ton as defined by the constitution, shall be forced
upon the country political issue, 1t will become
a distinct and naked issue between the friends and
the enemies Of the oonstituton-the friends and the
enemies Of the supremacy of the laws.