The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-06-24

A<Ss Wv AL 6Avo INC aoCsc sac r6no oe" A"A
partial examination, and we are confident that
they will arrive at similar conviction 70 ours
1he springfield Speech Of senator Douglas
His Card for 1850.
The curtain Of 1860 is partially lifted. and we
have peep behind the scenes. We published.
the other cay, (from the Chicago DAILY 7imes)
his home organ. an abstract of the late speech Of
Senator Douglas at Springfield. Illinois, upon
Ksnsas, Drsd Scott and the Mormona We have
eince received a full report of this important
pronumciamiento, and shall give il to our readers
on the first opportunity, inasuuch as it is
evidently the official opening bid OF the dissin-
euisbod Senator for the next Presidency.
For the press mt, "a the keys 70 clear interpre-
tstiop of this speech we refer our readers to an
editorial and communication from the RIGA
mono South, elsewhere in these columns. We
have here the open sesame Of Mr.. Douglas to the
White Honse, ana its immense treasures of one
hundred millions of public plumber per annum.
And what Is this open sesamer is the cJearly fore
shadored position Of Mr.. Douglas as a favorne of
he Southern uhras, and his extraordinary movement
for the Southern inside trade for The succession. in d.
rect hostility 10 the Just and conciliaory policy Of Mr.
Bucianans administration.
What we have already said of the views of
Mr. Douglas upon the bred Scott decision and the
Urah difficulty, in view of the paramount issue
before Us, will suffice on thus occasion. He
who upon the bred Scott Gaze stands especially
al a democrat, by the Supreme Court of the
United States, stands upon the only ground q
leading democrat can occupy. As for Utah, the
plan of Mr. Douglas for extirpating the excres-
cence of Mormonism may be excellent, and it
may be corstitutionally impracticable. In any
event. the Mormon nuisance as Presidential
question, is side Issue Of very little consequence,
even as a make-weight in the North. The vital
ard nbsorhing issue in which the supreme interest
and the whole drift of this Springfield speech may
be detected, is the particular issue of Southern
slavery involved in the Kansas controversy.
Talleyrand has said that, in the science of diplo-
macy, Words are used to conceal our ideas;"
and this maxim is thoroughly understood by the
disciplined politician For example, the unsus-
pectipg reader of this high-hown eulogium upon
Mr.. Douglas, from the Richmond South, would be
a little puzzled at fst to account for this happy
enthusiasm Of our Virginia fire eater. But, on
turning to the Chicago Times report, which the
South gives of the speech in question, two lines
which it has elevated to italics, solve the whole
mystery These two lines relate to the incest,
precisest, most delicate, and yet the largest and
most momentous issue embraced in this Kansas
dispute. They give us the exact position of Mr..
Douglas as published in the first general report
of his speech by bis own organ, to witt
He spoke Of the fairness and justice OF the law giving
the people opportunity Of expressing their honest
vc'ons On the subject Of slavery, In constitutional man
ner mans a constitutional r,est 10
decide that and oil other imporrn matters connected with
the future of the State Of Kansas The people of that
beautiful Territory would soon speak. We would soon
have he had no doubt free and quiet expression OF
opinion, by means of the elective franchise from that
silent but most certain weapon OF free peope-the ballot
box should the enemies of that mode Of settling The
much vesed question Of slavery in that Territory bindly
by the laws OF Congress upon their heads and theirs
alone, will rest the responsibility For his part, he was
satisfied Ge party 10 Congress nsd coae tner
cratic party in the Territory OF Kansas would do theirs in
gratifying to the heart Of every friend OF the
constitution and the Union.
That word decide" covers the whole case
II is little word, but in the connection in which
it is given and accepted by our Virginia cotem-
porsry, IL is as large az the universe. The pro-
slavery party of Kansas have elected a State
Convention, the free State party refusing to take
any part in the said election. The convention
thus elected will doubtless adopt State const-
tuition, recognizing the institution of slavery.
To satisfy the people Of Kansas, however, Cover
nor Walker has said, over and over again, that
unless the said State constitution shall first be
submitted for ratification to the people of
Kansas, fairly and honestly he will do
what he can to have the said constitution
rejected by Congress, and he believes IL will be,
because II ought to be so rejected. For taking
this fair and just position, Governor Walker has
been sssailed without stint, and beyond the limits
Of decoium and decency, by the Richmond South
and other democratic ultras Of the secession
school.
Here, then, is the solution to those two lines in
italics, and the tremendous Importance of that
little word decide" IL means that Mr.. Douglas,
as member OF the United States Senate. is in
favor Of adopting the constitution Of the kausas
p1oslavery convention, without refeniog it back
to the Kansas people for their ratidcation-t
means that this is the position OF Mr. Douglas As a
Presidential candidate for the support Of the ultra
Southern faction against Governor Walker aud
the administration. and their honest, maguani-
nous and conservative policy.
In the full published report of this Springfield
speech lying before US, doubtless revised by tae
band of Mr. Douglas himself, the substance of the
foregoing extract concerning Kansas from the
first report of his organ, is thus rendered.
The law under which her delegates about e. be
elected believed 10 be just aud fair in ali w objects and
provisions. There IL every 10 hope AMI believe
tha, The viii be fairly interpreted and mpar,slly
cuted 10 insure ~ every bona dc iahaDsnt the
free and quiet exercise or the elective franchise. IL any
portion Of Inhabitants, acting under the advice of po
llcal leaders in distant States, shall choggc 10 absent
themselves from the polls, and withhold their votes with
view of leaving the free State democrats in minority,
and hg securing Tro s1uTy constitution in opp1si ion n
ne pi,s majority q e eoris iirno under u. la ts