New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-06
SPEECH or SENATOR -TRuMButi,
or ILLINOIS,
m. THE POLITICS OF THE DAY {:
In Reply to that Of Senator Douglas


.sns Of The citizens OF Springfield, to addres' ~"
SAe nolitica) oues,ions Of the day, 1t VIII De NY
10 place before you, as clearly az 'a"' ~. -,
,ssue between pafties, and the views eNo 80,
.aeh 80 far az they can be gathered ,'"n' 'ne"
I'd .vouals Both the great pohhcai paiue' VI sne
A. a.. Republican and the self-styiea Democ,auc,
.-.,.n within their ranks some persons rom al inc
.n,;cal parties which have heretofore eNs'ea" tue
pohuea Tbi. il . consequence resulting from the dis
,,n,cn Of parties in 1864, occanoneo ny the cnange
'SfroScy which was then naugrsted in regard to the
mower Of Congress over the Territories, ana Pa'''cu'
harry in relation TO Slavery therein.
Prior 10 that time, the power of Congress to govern
,ha Territories was unquestoned. All the depart
rspts of the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, executive ana
;ud;eial-bad acknowledged and acted upon IT from
The foundation of the Government, period oil more
Man sixty years. Every President, from ana lheiuu
ing Washington, down TO Pierce, had IN some IC.l'
recognized the power of Congress to !errito
rial governments, and acted upon the suoJeG. OF
SayeTy-Copgress in all instances where the lerri-
Nory was free when acquired, continuing IL So IN soe
instances providing for making tee territory WHICH
when acquired was within slavehohhng Jufisdicuon
and in other in, tances Slavery was permitted 10 cor
finue in Territories where II existed al tue thhe vi
their aeauisiton IL is not strange therefore, tnat SO
;mnortant a departure from the uniform and weil-set-
sS rraetce under the Constitution, denial OF the
oover Of the Federal Government over lts own ierr.
tories ard particularly in regard TO slavery should
have given rise to new parties. AS the Democratic
party was in power when this innovation was made,
he party opposed 10 the change in constituting the
Constitution and in favor OF maintaining 1t as II had
always before been interpreted, took the name ke-
publican while the advocates OF the new version ad-
hered TO the name Democrat thinking no DOUBT, that
because the name once embraced party distn-
finished for its devotion to equal rights and the Con-
stitution, it could be used 10 advantage by those
who were now about to Gecry the one and undermine
and fubvert the other -,
Prior to the last Preside initial election, the Rep1b-
can party had convention which proclaimed Its
creed Ii svowed itself in favor OF restoring the ac-
fon az the Federal Government to the principles OF
Washington and jefferson, from which the seli-styed
Democracy had departed; declared that the mainte-
nance of the principles promulgated in the
Of independence aud embodied in the Federal Const'
fuop were essential to the preservation OF our Re
publican institutions that the Federal Constit alton,
the rights of Il States and the Union of the States
shoud be preserved that the Constitution conferred
upon Congress sovereign power over the !erritoIiee
for their government and that in the exercise OF that
power il was both the right and the imperative DUTY
Of Congress to prohibit in the Territories those twin
relics OF barba,ism-Polygamy and Slavery; and that
they were opposed 10 all legislation mparing liberty
of conscience or equality of rights among citizens.
These, in brief are the principles avowed by the Ke
publican party.
The principles of Jefferson Endorsed by them and to
wh Oh they would bring back the Federal Government,
as announced by himself, are:
Equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever
State or persuasion, religious or political; peace,
ana nOL6st IlehusDlp Wlll I'LL HdtlOuS,
tanclpg alliances with none the support of the State
v.rnnents in all their Iights, as the most compe-
tent administrators for our domestic concerns, ana
the surest bulwaIks against antl-repubhcan tenden-
cjes the preservation of the General Government Its
whole constitutional yigor as the sheetanchor of our
peace at home aid safety abroad; aJealous care OF
the right of election by the people, mild and sale
correct of abuses which are Topped by the sword
of rev olution where peaceabe remedies are unpro-
yided; absolute acquiescence in the decisions OF the
majority the vital principle Of republics from which
IL no appeal but foTcethe vital principle and immc-
diate parent Of despotism well-dsciplined militia
Our hest reliance in peace and for the first movements
in war till regulars may relieve them; the supremacy
Of the civil over the military authority; economy IN
the public expense, that labor may be lightly bur,
<ened; the honest payment of our debts, aud sound
preservation of the public faith; encouragement OF
agriculture, and of commerce as ITS handmaid the
diffusion OF nta'o ana an Srasd OF e III
religion, freedom of the press, and freedom On person
under the protection Of the habeas corpus and trial by
lures impartially selected"
Those were the principles forming the bright con
dellaton which ut before our Revolutionary ances
tors and guided their steps through an age OF reyolu
lion and reformation and To the attainment OF which
the wisdom Of our ssges and the bloodOf our heroes
we're devoted. They were the creed of the Republic
can party in the days Of Jefferson they are the creed
of the Republican party to-day, aud what frend OF
Humanity Of Freedom and of Constitutional Liberty
can or will gaipsay OF assail them The enemies OF
repubcanism it is true, assail that portion OF our
creed which asserts the power OF Congress 10 govern
the Territories ard prohibit Slavery hereini bu jet
fersop it will be remembered was tile author OF tins
prohibtion. lie il who first proposed excluding
Slavery from the NORTHWESTERN Territory, ana after
ward as President, approved the bid establishing tue
Territory of Illinois which adopted the provision OF
the Ordinance Of l7o7, excluding Slavery =.
have already stated that Congress, under all adj
minstratiOns and with the consent of all patles fon
The foundation Of the Government down to Pierce,
exercised the power of governing the Territories, ana
excluding Slavery frsR them. Acts OF congress no"
exist excluding Slavery from Minnesota and oregon.
The constitution Of the United States declares that
NCoLeress shall have power TO dispose OF and make
sail needful rules aud regulations respecting tne yer,
"ritOry or other property belonging to the United
Estates. This clause presupposes that mere was OF
might be territory belonging 10 the linked states ana
expressly cOnfers upon Congress the right to make al
needful rules and regulations respecting it, Congress
acting under the Constitution must determine what
rules and regulations needful aud best adapted or
the government of Territory long as the Ierrito-
rial condition continues. Ii Slayeryis evil and be-
feved by Congress 10 be pre- judicial to the best inter.
ests cf Territory it is its duty exclude il. Repubi
cans believe and many Democrats, called profess to
believe Slavery wrong and prompt to declare that
IN Territory they would oppose its Introduction.
To be COZ s.tent they should be ready when per.
forming then Constitutional duty of presenting form
of government for Territory 10 provide against the
introduction Of admitted evil among those who are
To 90 there they would ugain.t its admission into
their own local community. who would
euaTd bis own locality against Slavery as A
pest IL society and who refuses when in his
power TO guard an infant community committed
Temporarily TO bis charge against tue same pest,
shows that he is governed wholly by sei,h motives.
This il precisely The condition Of ali these self-styled
Democrats who, lille advocating the powers oil Con
press over the Territories and protesting TO abhoI
Slavery will do nOthingto prevent It's expansion Inc
GENIAL Of the power Is of very recent origin ~ u
not only expressly gwen as has been shown, ny the
Constitution but II has been always acted upon aud Is
sanctioned TO the fullest extent by tAe former decisions