The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-03-29

to DO such when l first saw it, and hence l
refused to vote for the editor Of the Union"
Dir. Douglas then road from the Cincinnati
Platform various propositions upon slavery,
to each OF which he gavo HIS assent, saying
that he stood upon them last year, and stood
upon them still. They related chiefly, as did
his differences from them, to the proposition
that each State must decide for itself upon the
status or condition of its negro population,
without interference from Congress. The
right of each State t. regulate its own insti-
tutions he dwelt upon with much earnestncss,
as the cardinal principle Of our Government.
The proposition that property In slaves was
above all law, was n monstroas proposition,
against which he protested, in his own name
and the name OF his constituents. Cr 4
may mark, by the way, that this part
of Mr.. Douglass speech was evidently IN
tended to lay the ground work for q future
radical position on the slavery question.
Mr.. Douglas next spoke in reference to his
relation to the Democratic party. Was the
Lecoynpton measure u party measured He
did not find it in tue party platform. o bat,
he was told, it WIS an Administration meas
ures All, yes! but that did not make it a
party measure. John Tyler introduced Ad-
niinistration measures into Congress, but
that did not make them party measures
Was the modification of the neutrality law a
party measure! Was the Army bill party
meas ure. Why, then, were not the "recrc
ants, and renegades" on those measures read
out of the party rs well as himself! "Mr.
President, do not recognize the right OF
any President or any Cabinet officer 10 tell
me or TO prescribe to me my dutics as Sen
ator in this chamber. They have no right &c
! prescribe tests to Inc or oyou. The attempt
| to do so is an impcrtinence. Am i to nc told
| that l must obey the Executive and betray
my principles and betray my State, or be
branded US traitor and renegadel If so
should like to know what is the use of ,
! Congress-what is the use OF a Senate and ;
House OF Representatives If they must only
register the edcts of the Executivel In En-
gland-in monarchical Ergland-the Min
istry must go out of power the moment the,
the people. Apply that rule here, and the
present Cabinet would have gone out of oftic
when the Army bill was voted down.
Suppose the Executive should tell the Sen
ator from California Or. Gwinn) to vot
against the Pacific Railroad bill, or tn
Senator from Virginia Mr.. Mason to vot
for it. Suppose he should tell the Senate
from Georgia Mr.. Toombs) to vote for th
Army bill. i think there would be rebel
about there would be renegades and traitor
as well myself. Then, why am alon
DreScrlOcu! UcTc SctnlS 10 NC u Stlspcusd
ton for everything but Lecompton.
''We are traitors, are we. Well, do yo
expect Us to be with you next year in Penn
sylvania, in New York, in Ohio, in Illinois
And if You do not, or if VIC do not vote. no
large, think We, will be the Democratic part
in these Stateslm
He was guided by sense Of justice and {
constitutional duty, and did not care wit
! whom he acted. If, Tor standing by his prir
, ciples, he should be driven into private lit
/ that was fate which had no terror for HIN
lie preferred private life to base compl
E ance with the dictates of Executive power.