The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-03-31
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MIR. Douglas Speech on LEGO

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MIR. Douglas Speech On Lecompton
WASHINGTON, March 23.-SENATE.- :
EVENING SESSION. The Senate re-assem-
bed at I o'clock. Mr.. Douglas, on enter
inc the chamber was received with ap-
plause. which he deprecated by shaking
his head, and making gestures to the
multitude to stop Not Il foot of vacant
room was left in the galleries, and the
reporters. were overrun by the invading
border rnflians All the seats on the floor
were also occupied, and the windows near
the raef were filed.
/ After .alluding to the repeal Of the
Missouri Compromise, Mr.. Douglas said:
Congress eventually decided that new ter
ritorics should choose their domestic poll
Fey FOR themselves. He was one of those
who, for want Of power to carry out his
own measure, agreed with this new line of
policy, with viewof healing the sectional
strife, and restoring peace to the country.
The object was to locaize, not national
| ize slavery
The people Of Illinois approved of his
course, and the Legislature passed reso-
Ilntions to that effect, he felt it his duty to
lappyto Kansas ard Nebraska the prin-
ciple which had been substituted for a
geographical line. Now, said Mr.. Doug
las, the question arises, is the Lecomptou
"Constitntion in accordance with the prin.
+ciples Of the Compromise Of 1850, and in
Accordance with the organic act? Have
The people been left to manage their own
affairs in their own way, subject only to
the Constitution of the United States?
Docs TIE Lecompton Constitution en-
body, the viii Of the people of Kansas?
IF it does, you have the right TO admit her
'ihto the Union under il, and waive any de-
'fects, that may have occurred in details.
TIE whole action Of this House turns on
This, whether or not the people had a fair
expression of their viii in that act. But
what evidence have we that it is SO? At a
subsequent election the vote against it was
10000. This was evidence to his mind
that The Lecompton. Constitution is not an
expression Of the viii of the people. Il
has been said that the election of Deecm-
ber DIST was legal and that Of January
4th was not legal.
The, Legislature possessed as much
power on January 4th rs en- December
2lst and February 20th. If yen can
judge this constitution by the technical
forms, of law, it was voted down Ion
are called on now 20 give 1t vitality; but
If you approach it in a spirit of states
manship, you end it was not the embodi
ment Of the will of the people. Hence
I deny your right to make it the organic
law, end if it becomes so, it will be by
tn, act Of Congress and not by the will of
the people. :. ~ -.
we are told that the constitution may
be changed, and that it is small matter.
!Theprinciple is the. same. when you set the
example OF violating the principle of free
government for day, as for year, and
give precedents to unscrupnlous men.
Further, It's said that the people may
change their constitution when they will;
that they had no right to tie their own
hands till 1864 He did not agree that
the people cannot tic their own hands.
He held it as a fair Interpretation, that
when enc mode OF charging it was pre-
scribed, every other mode was prescribed,
and it ,eou..d not be altered till 1854,
He did not object to it because it bound
them till 1864, if it is the will of the peo
pie, and if it is not, you have no right 70
bind them to it-not single hour. What
right has Congress to annul the provisions
prohibiting change until 1864? If Con
gress can change. one clause, it may annul
or alter another, and another, until the
whole instrument be subvcrted. You
have no right to annul it, to alter or con-
strue it, Lay not your sacrilegious hands
on it-be it the PEOPLES act and decd.
Farewell to State rights, to State soVer-
eighty, when Congress undertakes to con-
strue a State Constitution. The States
would become provinces, with no more
independence than their counties now
have.
The latter portion of the speech was
QeFOLeustO lne w dSulnS Loh OhiOp, oeIiio
nting its hostility to his declining to vote
for its publisher as public printer.
Mr.. Toombs went into severe attack
on Douglas course in relation 10 the Mis-.
souri, Compromise, and asked how many
Of his present confederates then voted with
him? He then retorted on the Douglas
party whereas they had said that no sla-
very Constitution could be imposed upon
the people against their will, they had no
objection to cram free Constitution down
the peoples throats.
Mr.. Toombs then followed Mr.. Doug
las at great length. and characterized the
gentlemen who now voted with Douglas
as hypocrites, and so forth.
Mr.. Stuart briefly demonstrated against
the impropriety of applying terms so i'll
advised to Senators who had only follow
ed what they believed to be the line of
their duty. In personalities, when argu-
ments failed, the Senator from Georgia
had certainly won the laurels. Adjourned.