The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-06-23
KANSAS UTAH, AND tue DRIED SCOTT DECISION
Remarks OF Hon. stephen A. Douglas,


Delue,a ia De SAae Ioa5a al Springfield Hllos tho l2h
Jtae, 1857.
Ma President LADIES, GENTLEMEN appear before
YOU night the request OF the grand jury in attend
anoe upon the United States court for the purpose OF sub
hitting my views upon certain topics upon which they
have expressed desire 10 her my opinion II syas not
my purpose when arrived among YOU TO have engaged
in any public or political discussion but when called
upon by body Of gentlemen so intelligent ana respect
able coming from all parts OF the State and connected
with Che administration of public justice, do not reef at
liberty 10 withhold full and frank expression OF my
opinion upon the subjects to which they have referred
and which ongross large share OF the public at
tention NNH
The points which am requested to discuss are
LIST The present condition and prospects of Kansas
ID The principles affirmed by the Supreme Court Oh
the United States ia the bred Scott case.
3D. The condition of things in Utah. and the appro-
pirate remedies for existing evils.
OF the Kansas question but little need be said at the
present time You are familiar with the history of the
question and my connexon with it. Subsequent refec
ton has strengthened and confirmed my convictions in
the soundneas of the principles which acted and the
correctness of the have felt il my duty to pur
sue upon that subject Kansas is about to speak for her
self through her delegates assembled in convention 10
form constitution preparatory to her admission into the
Union equal footing with the original States
Peace and prosperity now prevail fhioughout her bof
,lers The law under which her delegates are about TO
he elected ia believed be just and fair in all its objects
and provisions There IL every to hope and be-
lieve that the viii be fairly interpreted and Impair
tally executed, as To ,Eslfe To every ooa nae hhami
ant The free and quiet exercise al the elective franchise
II any norton OF the inhabitants acting under the adj
vice of political leaders in distant States shall choose to
absent themselves from the polls, and withhold Their
votes with view OF laayng the ee State democrats IN
minority and thus securing pro-slayey constitution
in opposition to the wishes u maosity OF the people
living under it, let the responsibility rest OF those
who for partisan purposes VIII SACRIFICE tie silsi
Piles they profess to cherish and promote Upon them
and upon the political party for whose benefit and
under the direction of whose leaders they act, let
the blame be visited for fastening upon the people of
State institutions epugnant to their feelings and in
violation of their wishes The organic act to the
people of Kansas the sole and exclusive right of forming
and regulating their domestic institutions to suit them
selves subject to other limitation than that which the
constitution of the United States imposes The demo-
cratic party il determined to the great fundamental
principles Of the organic act carried out in good faith
The present election law in Kansas is acknowledged to he
fair and just the rights of the voters clearly defined
and the exercise of those rights will be efficiently and
scrupulosy projected Hence, if the majority of the
people of Kansas desire to have il free State and
told by the republican party that nine tcnths of the
people of that Territory free-State men there Is no
obstacle in the way of bringing Kansas into the Union as
free State by the votes and voice of her people, and
in conformity with the great principles of the Kansas
Nebraska act provided all the rceStae men will go to
the polls and vote their principles in accordance with
their professions Ifsuc is not the result let the
uefces be visited upon the heads OF those whose policy
it is to produce STRIFE anarchy and bloodshed in Kansas
that their party may ps5t by slavery agitation in the
northern States Of this Union That the democrats in
Kansas wiH perform te'r duty ielriessiy ana nopy, nc
cordng to the principles they cherish, nave no doubt
and that the result OF the struggle VIII be such as VIII
gladden. the heart and strengthen the hopes 81 every
friend OF the Union, have entire confidence
The Kansas question being settled peacefully and salts
factory, in accordance with the wishes OF her pco
pie, slavery agitation should be banshed from the halls
of Congress and to be an exciting element in
political struggles Give fair play to that principle of
sefgovemnent 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 aternal feeling which ami
mated the fathers Of the revolution and made every ct
of common brotherhood
That we are steadily and rapidly approaching that re-
sult cannot doubt for the slavery issue has already
dwindlad down into the narrow limits covered by the
decision of tho Supreme Court of the United States
in the bred Scott case The moment that decision
was pronounced and before the opinions of the court
could be published and read by the people the neWs,a
der press in tc interest of powerful political party in
this country began to pour forth torrents OF abuse and
Recommendations not only upon the decision but
upon the character and motives Of the venerable Chief
Justice and his lIustrous associates on the bench The
character of Chief Justice aney and associate Judges who
concurred with him REQUIRE no cuogy-no yndicqtop
from me- They are endcared to the people of the United
States by their eminent public services ycncated for
their great learning wisdom md cxIerienee--and be-
loved for the spotcss purity Of their characters and their
exemplary lives The poisonous shafts of partisan malice
will fall harmless at their feet while their judicial decs-
ions will stand in all frc time proud monument to
their greatness the admiration Of the good and wsc and
rebukc to the partsans q fiction and awcss violence