The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-18

cordance with the rights of the States, and o
the Constitution and laws of the Union Here
then, may be found Vmginia's declaration witt
regard to Slavery in the Territories. To thu
she is constitutionally entitled. She asks M
more she loiH take no less"
/ The Enqainer has all along defended Mr.
Douglas against the assaults of the Admins
tration, and We doubt not has been sincerely
anxious for his reelection to the Senate; but
is certain that the above imperative demand
of Congressional protection to Slavery in thu
Territories, as the only effectual bar to the ex
ercise of popular sovereignty,f has anything
but an aspect Of friendship to the Illinois Sen
ator. One of two things is clearly deduciblt
from the article, viz: that the Enquirer, as the
organ of Governor Wise, is determined tc
place Mr.. Douglas hors du combat, by requiring
of him, prior to his becoming the standard
bearer of the party, what would be thought an
impossible condition, or else the Enquirer, as
the real friend Of that gentleman, has reason to
think or to know that he will not scruple to ac
cept it.
1t is needless for us to say that Mr.. Douglas
could not take the ground Of the Enquirer, and
we may add, of the entire Southern Democ-
racy,' without a total and shameless abandon
ment of his solemn and repeated declarations
to the people of Illinois during the recent can
vass. In his Freeport speech he asserted the
right of the Territorial Legislatures to exclude
Slavery " TO be perfect and complete under the
Kansas-N ebraska bill" He stated that he
had "argued the Nebraska bill on that princi-
pie Mr.. Lincoln asked him categorically if he
would favor the interference by Congress for the
protection of Slavery in the Territories, and he
resented the interrogatory as an imputation
upon his honor Like Hazael of old, he was
ready to exclaim, " Is thy servant dog, that
he should do this thing?
The Enquirer quietly assumes that the object
of Mr.. Douglas in abiding to the existence of a
power in the people ofthe Territories to exclude
Slavery, was merely to draw attention to the ne
cessity of further legislation on the part of Con-
gress. This is fragrant imputation upon the
honor of the Illinois Senator, which he and his
friends should resent. We are unwilling to believe
it Just but we think that, considering the friendly
relations which have subsisted between the En-
guirer and Mr. Douglas, the friends of the latter
are called upon to remove all misapprehension
by an authoritative statement of his true posi-
ton.
Supposing it possible for the Southern wing
of the Slave Democracy to forgive the revolt
of Mr. Douglas, we think we yet see inextrica-
BILE difficulties in his path, growing out of this
question. 1t will be equally perilous to take
either horn of the dilemma. If he stand by
his popular sovereignty proclaimed from every
stump in Illinois, he at once abandons all hope
of support at the South. If he accept the
terms of the propagandists, pledge himself to
stand upon their platform, and to sanction Con
gressional Interference for the protection OF
Slavery, he is a doomed man in all the free
Stases.
But is it possible to dodge the issue? Will
the South be content with private pledges
made to the leaders, that Mr.. Douglas, after
the election, will give the weight of his Admin
istration in favor of laws for the protection OF
Slavery in the Territories? There are passages
in the record of Mr.. d. which would warrant
interference on the part of Congress with Sla
very in the Territories those passages occur in
speeches which he made years ago, when nc
one thought of interference except to prohibit
Slavery. But they would equally warrant
its protection. 1t is true that these speeches
have been OVERLAND by mountain of noninter-
vention rubbish heaped up during the discus
sions on the Kansas Nebraska bill but that may
be removed as no longer available for practical
W bis dodge may be attempted but we see
rocks and breakers still in the way The South
ern leaders of the Black Democracy may be
satisfied with private assurances, but will the
Southern people? The Southern opposition
will have candidate of their own, and they
will be apt to ring the changes" upon Mr..
Douglass popular sovereignty speeches in and
out Of Congress, his known cooperation and
sympathy with the Republicans during the last
session of Congress and the fact will be indis-
putable, that his Herculean efforts joined to
those of the Republicans, prevented the admis-
sion of Kansas into the Union with a Pro-Sla-
very Constitution. These are fearful issues to
make with Southern constituency. Thus, on
all sides, we see what seem to be insurmOunta-
bic obstacles in the way of Judge Douglas and
we cannot avoid the conclusion that the high
hopes of his friends are destined to an early
blight.