The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-12-26
Great Speech Of Senator Douglas.

alton OF the notion To PRINT the PRESIDENT
message and accompanying the documents
with fifteen thousand extra copies
Mr.. DOUGLAS, Of Illinois, said: Mr.
President. when, yesterday, the Pres dent
message was read at the Clerk desk,
heard it but imperfectly, and | was of the
impression that the President Of the United
States had approved and endorsed the actio
of the Lccompton Convention in Kansas
Under that impression, felt it my duty to
Stale that, while concurred in the general
views OF tae message, yet so far as il appro-
we'd or endorsed the action OF that Conyen-
ton, | entirely dissented from it, and would
avail NY self OF an carly opportunity to state
nv reasons for my dissent. Upon more
careful and critical examination of the mes
sage, am rejoiced to fad that the President
OF the United States has not recommended
that Congress shall pass a law to receive
Kansas into the Union under the constltu-
ton formed at Lecompton. Ii is trne that
the tone Of tae message indicates willing
ness on the part of the President to sign any
'Hllthat coasfess h1oy rsss, II re1sit.It sec
proper TO pass one, receiving Kansas into
the Union under that Constitution. But,
sir, it is a fact Of great significance, and
worthy Of consideration, that the President
has retrained tron any endorsement Of the
Convention and from any Recommendation
as TO the course Congress should pursue
with regard 10 the CONSTITUTION there formed.
The message Of the President has made
an arrument--an Unsnswerabe argument.
Ia my opinicn--against that constitution,
which shows clearly, whether intended %
arrive al that result OF not, tlat, G. ns.sient-
~ with his views and his principles, he can
not acccrt that constitution. He has eX-
mes s6d hiS deep modification and pisap-
pOhtmeut that lae constitution itseli ASS iJt
been submitted 10 the ppHC.e OF kansas Tor
tic acceptance or rejection. II informs Us
that be has VI uvua'cii'h'y expressed his o.
pitiions on that subject IN his instructions
10 GoyerH2r'E a.ker, assuming, as q matter
OG course, that the constitution Nas TO ne s-J-
litted To the peofs before il could have
any vitality or validity. He goes Further,
and tells uS that,tbe example set by Con-
--ress ia the Minnesota case, by Inserting a
clause IA tue eHAO..aS act rs4lras las con
stitl.iou 10 be Submitted 10 tAy people ought
10 becJ.le uniform rg'c, not 10 be depart
"a from hereatted in any case. UI these
various propositions, agree entirely with
the President vi the United States, a4d am
r.-cuargI now to sustain that uniform rule
which he asks as 10 pursue. in al. other ca
Sc<. by taking the Minnesota proTisIcn "a
our example.
rejoice. on a careful perusal Of the mes
sa-y. to iiul 50 much less = dissent IRON
than was under tn. impression there was
from the haSty reading and the imperi-ct
hearir = of the mes s-agc-In the first ~ stance.
Ia effect, Le Iese.s tnat docunent to tac
CONGRESS Of Tie United States-as tle Con
"a - -. g q f#.F
u, 10 decide upon it under oar respsnsibili
ty 1t Is proper thai Il should h:Fc inua
referIed II TO us a. L matter OF COnQiesS.oa-
al action, aal 40. - al AIm.n.,t.,. ion or
Executive measure, for the reason hat tAc
United States saws that g Congress tay ai-
Iait new States .ntOthe UnIoa.' li;-nce we
End the Kansas quesiion 6oiore Us lsoS', not
a. an Administration acasure, not as an Ia
eeu:.ve measure, but as measure coming
before Us for OR free action, without any
recommendation or Interference, directly or
indirectly, Is the Administration now in
possession OF the Federal G;OYernment. Sr,
/ propose 70 eXami. this & esti0a CALMLY
asG f.ir'v. and see whether or not we can
rro9erIy receive Kansas into the Union
with the constitution formed ut L.ccomPton.
The President. after expressing his regret
and mobilization and disappointment thai
the constitution had not been submitted to
the pc5Yle in pursuance 20 his Instructions
To Governor Walker, aud in pursuance OF
GOV. Walkers assurances 10 the people,
SAYS. however, thai by the Kansas y AebrasAa
act the slavery question only was required
10 be referred to the people, and the rviGa!n-
ar fthe constitution was not thus requir-
"a ia be 81 omitted He acknowledges that,
a general rule on general principles, the
xhole constitution should be submitted
I,,t according to !is understanding of the
ore;,nic act oi Kansas there was an impera-
tive obligation 10 submit the sladery quest
ION for their approval or oiSapproval, but no
oliioatior. To submit the entire constitution.
In -, her words lie regards che organic act.
the Nebraska bill, as having made an ex-l
c,,It IN OF the slavery clause, and providde
Tor ile disposition OF that question in a mode
i terent f. ON that in which other domestic
sor focal. as contradistinguished from FEEDER
al. enestions should be decided.- Sir, per-
mt mo to saw, with profound respect for the
President OF the L .iitel States, that / con-
ceiye that on this point he has committed
a fundamental error. an error which lies at
the f,undntiOn of his whole argument on
this matter ! can we'll understand how
that dis tiIyuished statesman came To iail in
-to ;hiS x!por lie was not IN tae bountry at
tbe ,i,sc the Nebraska bill was passed he
was not party 10 the controversy, and the
d scussiou that, took place during its pas
sage. He was then representing the honor
amp the dignity Of the country vita great
wisdom aud ,.,Stinc ton at a foreign Court.
Thus deeply cngrossld, his whole energies
were absorbed IN conducting great diplomat
ic questions that diverted lIs at cation from
!ue ''.t'o ON ~ ,be Sanats and the
i2ps tHe'. Sc - and her,re III
3. iee,e1 v Hsf 49, c;rcnn, Star y,,as
eeP'e 4. ;l,ts !, go r,di.
nc may ,,,artai ~ :, ;s n rc',,rd 10
caa az ~ 49, r..