Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1857-07-01
Yre. D. Ne. Yort Hsr.,a.

I Krc0 The Nsv York Herald
The sss.,:ss.s..s: sIsssss =. :. ass ss..'.
The eartsin Of 1860 10 partially lifted, and .
have peep behiad the srenes- We published
the other day, iron the Chicago Daily Times
his home organ, al abstract Of the late speec
Of senator Douglas At Springfield, Illinois, upo
Kansas, bred Scott and the Aormons w
have since received full report Of this impor
tant pronnnciamieato, and shall give it TO on
readers On the first opportunity, Inasmuch as
q evidently the official opening bid OF the dis
Apguished Senator for the next Presidency.
L FOr the present, as the keys to clear intel
probation of this speech, ue refer our readers I
an editorial and communication from the Rich
mond South, elsewhere in these columns. w
have here the open sesame OF Mr.. Douglass 4
the White House. and it's immense treasures o
one hundred millions of public plum er per an
| nam. And what is this open sesaneS his IL
clearly Joreshodored position Of Mr.. Douglas a
"A fasorise efthe Southern ultraa, aud A;x extra
ordinary Increment for tie Southern inside frac
| for the satccession.
| The vital and absorbing issue in which til
supreme interest and the whole draft of thi
Springfield speech may be detected, is the par
ticular issue Of Southern slavery involved in tn
Kansas controversy.
Talleyrand has said that, in the science of li
plomacy, "Words are used to conceal our ideas;
and this maxim is thoroughly understood BY
the disciplined politician. For example, thu
! unsuspecting reader Of this high-fown euIogiun
upon Mr.. Douglas, from the Richmond South
would be a little puzzled at frst to account fol
this unhappy 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 IL has elevated to
italics, so,ve the whole mystery. These two lines
relate to the incest, precisest, most delicate and
yet the largest and most momentous issue en-
braced in this Kansas dispute. They give us
the exact position of Mr.. Douglas Is published
in the first general report Of bis speech BY his
own organ, to wit:
He spoke of the fairness and Justice of the law,
giving the people an opportunity of expressing
their honest convictions on the subject of sla-
very, in a constitutional manner, by means of a
Constitutional Convention soon to meet, to de-
eide that and all other important matters con-
nected with the future Of the new State of Kan
sas. 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
ballotbox. Should the enerlies of
that mode of settling the much vexed question
of slavery in that Territory blindly and obst-
nately refuse to exercise the rights assured them
by the laws of Congress, upon their heads, and
theirs alone, will rest the responsibility. For
his part, he was satisfied the Democratic party
in Congress had done their duty, and he was
equally well satisfied that the Democratic party
in the Territory of Kansas would do theirs in
manner gratifying to the heart of every friend
Of the Constitution and the Union.
That word "decide" covers the whole case
Il is little word, Blu. in the connection in which
it is given and accepted by our Virginia cotem.
porary, it is as large as the universe. The pro-
slavery party of Kansas have elected State
Convention, the free State party refusing to take
my part in the said election. The convention
hus elected will doubtless adopt State consti
luton, recognizing the institution of slavery
70 satisfy the people Of Kansas, however, Gov
Walker has said, over and over again, that I'M
ess the said State Constitution shall first be SUBJ
nitted for ratification 10 the people of Kansas,
airly and honestly, he will do what he can TO
nave the said Constitution rejected by Congress,
md he believes it will be, because it ought to
De so rejected For taking this fair and just
position, Gov. Walker has been assailed without
tint, AID beyond the limits of decorum and
lecency, by the Richmond South and other
Democratic ultras of the secession school.
Here, then, is the solution to those two lines
n italics, and the tremendous Importance of
hat little word decide" 1t means that Mr.. !
Douglas, as member of the United States
senate, is in favor of adopting the constitution
# the Kansas pro.slavery convention, without
eterring 1t back to the Kansas people for their |
means that this is the position Of |
dr. Douglas as Presidential can d;aaIr Tor the
upport of the ultra southern faction against
,nvernor Walker and the administration, and
heir honest, magnanimous and conservative
olcy.
In the full published report of this Springfield
peech lying before us, doubtless revised by |
he hand Of Mr.. Douglas himself, the substance
f the foregoing extract concerning Kansas,
rom the first report of his organ, is thus rem
cred:
The law under which her delegates are about
0 be elected is BeIeved to be just and fair in
II its objects and provisions. There is every
eason to hope and believe that the law will be
airly interpreted and impartially executed, so
8 to insure to every bona tide inhahitant the
rec and quiet exercise of the elective franchise
any portion of the inhabitants, acting under
he advices of political leaders in distant States,
hall choose to absent themselves from the polls
nd withhold their votes with a view Of leaving
ne free State democrats in minority, and thus
ecuring pro sta,erv constitution IN opposition
, the cishss Of a majority Of the people lipimg
nder it, let the responsibility rest on those uho
or partisan purposes, ,ciH sacrifice the pri,ci-
les they protess to cherish and promote. Upon
lem and apo" the political party tos ,et'ose ben
ct let the blame be risited Of fastening upon
lie people of nep State, Institutions repuq-
mt to their feelings and IN violatio,. Of their
isheS.
The word 'sdecide" does not here occur, but
is fully comprehended in the closing senten
IS of this extract. The act of this Kansas
convention is discussed as final and
,cisive; for not the slightest allusion is made
Governor Walkers policy of referring the
ate constitution to a vote of the people
he plan of Mr. Douglas is to make Kansas a
ave State, by the only possible process through
hich it can be made slave State, namely
e process Of adopting in Congress this forth
'ming proslavery constitution, without refer
ng it to vote Of the Kansas people.
And this is the Southern bid of Mr.. Douglas
r the next Presidency. Such speech and
ch purpose are not the results of accident
ley are the first developments Of the game Of
e Southern ultras for the succession. AS a
emocratic Presidential asprant, Mr. Douglas
now without rival in the great Northwest
/
aim the next Democratic nomination. In Sc
ring Mr.. Douglas, therefore, the Southern ul-
as, it would seem, have secured good foot
I'D for undermining the administration and
r controlling the whole Democratic party. In
is view, we fully believe that this Springfield
eech of Mr.. Douglas is but the suggestive
'erture to the exciting opera on Kansas, sla-
,ry, sections, factions and parties which will
,itate the next Congress, and rivet the atten-
IN of the whole country. The Southern Sc
ssion faction are openly making war against
e Kansas policy Of Mr.. Buchanan; Mr. Doug
S is with them, and is doubtless fully inform
Of the good viii of Mr.. Senator Hunter, Mr.. n
.ferson Davis and their colleagues The
esent attitude of Mr.. Douglas, then, is at best
attitude Of quasi hostility to the administra-
On, and the first month of the coming Con-
'ess will remove all doubts upon the subject,
We are not among the prophets.
Experience has taught Mr.. Douglas the policy
taking an early attitude in the field. and
Ted position. In the conduct of the great
'mpromise measures Of 1880 throughout the
mate, he was somewhat at sea until he quietly
opped into the broad and smooth wake of
at greatest statesman in the hour of peril,
e gallant Harry Clay. Upon she Kansas.Ne-
'aska bill, MIR. Douglas adhered to the Missouri
till pnrsnadad nv Son,harp Capa. |