The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-12-25
VOLUME xln-NUMBER %


Cation Or rsj.ctivn. Mr.. Douglass presents
incidentally review Of some features Of
the Lecompton constitution not connected
with slavery. which the people have no right
BY the schedule to ezprss their opinions
on. Tho general scope Of the Senator's
argument, and tho character Of bis re-
Ply, may be gathered from tho e,tracn We
append. ~ g. L5.d4..s. aea r,'n.
Alter opening the subject By . proper
preface, Mr.. Douglass aid:-
Sir, what would this boastsd principle Of
popular sovereignty b worth, II Il applied
only to the negro, aud did not extend 70 the
white man ? DO you think we could have
aroused the sympathies and the patriotism
OF this broad Republic, and have carried the
Presidential election last year In tho face Of
o tremendous opposition, on tho principle Of
extending the right Of self governments 10
the negro question but denying Il TO oil tho
relations affecting white men. No sir
and carried the election In defence Of that
great principle, which allowed all white men
to form and regulate their d,mcstic institu-
tions TO suit Observation-Disclosures appli.
cable to white men as well as black men
institutions applicable to freemen as wcll as
TO slaves institutions concerning all the re-
lations Of lie, ard not the mere paltry ex.
ception Of the slavery question. Sir, have
spent too much str ngth and breath. and
money, too, to establish this great principle
IN the popular hcart, now ~ see II frittoi cd
away by bringing IL down to an exception
that applies to the negro and docs not extend
to the benefit of the white man As I said
before, can well imagine how the distin-
guished und eminent patriot and statesman,
now ut the head Of the government, Tell into
an error-ior error II Is radical. fundamen.
tal-and, II perscyered in, subyersiye OF that
platform upon which ho was elevated TO tho
presidency of the United States
Then, if the President be right in saying
that, by the Ncbnska bill, the slavery ques-
ton must he submitted to the people, il fol-
lows inevitably that every other clause Of
the Constitution must also bc submitted to
the pcorle. The Nebraska bill said that tho
pc, pie should bc lett "periectly free to form
and regulate their domestic Institution in
their own way'-not the slavery question,
not the Maine liquor.law question, not tho
banking question, not the school question,
not the niilroad question, but "their domes-
tic Institutions, meaning each and all the
questions which are local, not national,
State or federal. Iarrive at the conclusion
that the principles enunciated 50 boldly and
enforced with 50 much ability by the Prosi-
dent OF the United States. require US. out
Of respect to him and the la,forui on which
he was elected, 10 rend this whole question
back TO the people Of Kansas, and enable
them To say whether or not the Consti ution
which has been framed, each and every
clause of i meets their appreciation. Tho
President In his inersgg, las made an un-
answenble argument In favor of the princi.
pies which require this question 10 be scnt
bach IL Is stated in the message, with
more clearness and force than amy language
which can comlnand but can draw your
attention to 1t, and refer you to the argu.
ment in The message. hoping that you will
take 1t as u part Of my speech-as express.
ing my idea more forcibly than anl able
to express 1t The President says that
qn.-iion of great interest, Ike tho .l.vsry
question. cannot be fairly decided by con-
yention Of delegates. Tor the reason that the
delegates are elected in districts. and In some
districts delegate Is elected by small ma
jorlty; ~ that It often happens th.t ma
jority OF the delegates are one why, whils
majority of the people are the other way;
and therefore It would b. unfair. and incon.
sistent with the great principle Of popular
sovereignty, To allow 4 body OF delegates,
'n,,.s .y. .ep,.ssns as; mu p'pu'"t 'v.ee, 70"
osn , aT'.ry IT, inT'u',o,s wv 'or .ne mass OF
"u P.oPiu, . .ms ,a, '"e .i.''Ien' a'su.
ueht T" 'nom ."a' you cannot nave lr
anu honest decision without submitting u u
the popular vote. Ihe same argument Is
conclusive WIN regard 10 every other 4us-
'ion as wen ~ WIN regari 10 slavery.
but' MT PRESIDENT u is ihtilnated IN the
message .na., although u was nn un'ortu.
ua'' Gneuul.'a".e'' W "e Tgre''eu' 'nst
tue Iecolnp.on .oh'sh'ioh d'd NOT SUBMIT
,ne .ons'''u'oh 20 tue people, ys perhaps
may U uen'e' ~ ,eguhr, oecause the
o"'o"''V" va ,,eu y ",,''or'a' pegs
,a'u,c' Hn'ch naa ccsh rrPraoriy rccognhN
1y tne Sopg'tSs VI tue .n''ol ssa'es S U
'esal oody. es SENATORS not 70 iaii ino
y" error Us 70 tue rresiueh's meaning on
'h's point. lie does NOT Sy, nc docs not
mean, that TINS convention had ever bcin
recognilei oy tue congress Oi the Cnith
States us legal or valid. In tl, contmry,
he knows. rs we here know, that during the
las. Congress rePorted q o''l iro'n tho eo'a-
u,tvec OH territories 10 au'norii' the Peol"
OF hahss 10 assemble ana form cohstitr'
',on 'Sr themselves. Sa' 'eluehuy tue SSn.
a'or run pcoisn' en' "oln,S) Drought
,o.sau SUBSTITUTE nr D'!' whleh' aitcr
having oceh mod'ned ny MN and myself, IN
consultation, was passed by the Senate. u
known IN the country Us IA. the lomls
onI; IL authori.sd the peopie OF hanss
territory 70 assemble IN convention and form
sion II into .ho Iypiop as \ STATE ~ "s Tb.s % Mi
Il is will known, was not defeated In tho
Hns. nf D.n~,..us.st,... IL ....ss.-. ,.t