The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-23

legethe birthrght of ocmen, the gift Of Heaven,
cured to by the blood OF ancestors 10 be cx
tended 10 future generations and insat,m osy to
applied 70 ais porv hs organization " any qsnracry N Ne
Uted &at Of either territorial government State consi-
tton Propidod The government established shall be
republican, and In conformity with the constitution.
In this same memorable speech, in which he so
often alluded 1.-THE right of the people of the Ter
tories to legslatc for themselves and to form for
themselves their own institutions aud government
he defined his own understanding of the manner in
which they shall do all this. He nowhere commended
that they are to obtain authority from Congress- TO do
what they may desire or that the form of ratifying
vote at the polls is essential to the validity Of their
action but ignored Congress in every line and word
and declared that the decision by people of their
local questions is TO be made ''by their appropriate
representatives, TO be chosen by them for that pur
pose" Quoting from his report made in the early
part Of the session of 1853 ga, on introducing the
Nebraska bill, he said
After making brief argument In defence of this
principle, that report proceeds as follows
" From these provisions, it IL apparent that the com
promise Of 1850 affirm and rest upon the fol-
lowing propositions
" First That all questions pertaining to slavery in
tho Territories aud In the States to be formed there
from to be left TO the dcion of the people residing
therein By their appropriate representatives, 70 Be chosen BY them
for that purpose.
We think in these brief extracts we have made
from probably the greatest speech of Judge Doug
lass life, he has completely overthrow himself in
the remarkable position he has recently assumed,
and answered every word he has uttered in his
speech Of the 9th instant
Not only was he thus committed in advance to a
sanction of the whole class of measures which have
resulted in producing the Lecompton constitution,
but down to late date the middle of last June
he is recorded as supporter of this movement. We
quote from the Chicago Times Of the 10th of that
month an extract from his well-remembered speech
at Springfield +: III tf&Ee daEtEJ
upon the Kansas question he had little to say. His
opinions that question well known and he had
nothing to add except that subsequent experience and
reflection had confirmed him in the correctness of the
Judgment he had often advanced in the Senate and be-
fore the people
.sHe spoke Of The ane.. and he justice Of the aac giving
the people opportunity Of expressing their honest
viotons the subject of slavery in constitutional
ner by means of oonso,a convention soon 10 meet de-
eide that and all other important matters connected with the
future of the State Of Kansas The people Of that
beautiful Territory would speak, lin the election Of
delegates to the convention. We would have,
he had no doubt free and quiet expression Of opinion
by of the elective franchise from that silent but
most certain weapon Of free people the ballotbox,
Should he enemies Of that mode Of sailing he muh-red qes-
ton Of slavery that Territory uiadly and obaindy rsse 70
reycise the rights assured them By the ars Of Congre,, upon
their heads, and theirs alone wW ret ne responsibility For
his part he satisfied the democratic party in Con-
gres had done their duty and he equally well salts
fled that tho democratic party In the Territory Of Kansas
would do theirs in gratifying to tho heart of
every friend of the constitution and the Union
Under ordinary circumstances it would not be le-
Ultimate to quote against Judge Douglas the evidence
Of blackrepublican witnesses; yet at present their
testimony may bo presumed less obnoxious to him.
Accordingly we copy from the Chicago Democrat tho
following allegation, and do not suppose it could
have been made unless founded in fact Says the
Democrat of the 9Th instant
.It will be recollected that time and time again in
his speeches. and in editorials in his organ in this city,
Judge Douglas has asserted that the constitution of Kan
ought to be- and would be- accepted by democratic
Congress- though it legazed slavery in the State
and had not been submitted to the people y
But we shall not detan the reader longer from the
perusal of the mastery effort of Senator Green.