Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-10-22


J W1A avuy IN s1sspsioae ths satire psaitcal
- 4 ~ Sod, Il both pArslsss rs expressed
) synpaAAy wisA DsasAs ii HE present contest
~ Linsoaa h Illisois. This preference Is soun-
- = ~ M tAaa DOaslas. bad - he lie. Is bss
sr1saa MI 6ppsnsas. and more disposed 10 do
juss;os 70 whaa The South conceives 10 be her just
ssa spassitsssnai rights.
WGrsunfd MS y altogether . mistaken as
sanptiea. We regard Sssphsn A. Douglas ~,
today, tho mcss dangerous man to the South with
in ~ bod limits Of the Union. Not only this,
sAus ~ coasilsr him the most thoroughly unprin-
sipssa md ossssps politician who ever attempted
70 impose upon the confidence Of the American
people.
Eutsrtsising this opinion, We have said-we
say Il agaia. land we say It emphatically, that
we inAnitsly prefer the election If Lincoln To the
United States Senate from the State Of Illinois,
Nos only hscauss We regard Lincoln far moro
honest, fas NOE straightforward and far more
reliable bat becAuse il the records If the two
mon Be- examined, he appears to better advan-
tass % ar - the interests Of the South are con-
essusd, than the trickster and demagogue who
opposes him.
A great many persons, without examining into
the matter have been disposed to consider Mr.
Douelaa . man Who 10 inclined 10 deal justly and
fairly b. the South. A grave error this il. So
far from being, 10 any respect, . champion Of
Southern interests the Illinois Senator has never
omitted an opportunity to strike those interests
the heaviss blown that his Congressional votes
could infict.
rot tn pf N
nero assertion, We will give some Of the facts
which have led us to the formation of this opinion.
In 1850. proposition was made in the Senate,
denying the power Of tho Territorial Legislatures
Of Utah and New Mexico to expel slavery from
their lmits-in other words, denying the principle
Of Squatter Sovereignty. Mr. Douglas voted
osaina this proposition-thus, construc'ively up
holding Squatter Sovereignty in all its length and
breadth. He voted against this proposition, in
company with Chase and Seward. and the other
Frsesoilers Of the Senate.
He also sustained Squatter Sovereignty by an
other vote, equally As significant. proposition
introduced by Mr.. Berren, Of Georgia, to prevent
the people II the Territories while in Territorial
condition, from passing laws excluding Southern
citizens with their slave property was opposed by
the vote Of Douglas in company with Benton.
Chase, Seward. Davis Of Massachusetts, and tho
other Freesoilers; while 1t was sustained by Clay,
Webster, Davis Of Mississippi. and the Southern
Senators generally. This was Mr.. Douglas second
endorsement Of Squatter Sovereignty.
At the same session an amendment was offered
BY Senator Walker, Of Wisconsin, abolishing peon
slayery in the Territory. acquired from Mexico
Douglas voted for this proposition, in company
with Chase Hale and others-thus not only man
esting his hostility to slavery Of every sort, but
sustaining de doctrine Of Congressional interven-
ton, which he now affects 70 regard with much
horror ' Sin.
Not from HIS vote alone, however. do We convict
Douglas Of the worst heresies Of Abolitionsm.
His words betray the same spirit. In the course
Of IN argument. at the same session. maintaining
the right and power Of Congress to exclude slave
~ from the Territories, he employed the following
language:
"But, sir, I do NOT hold the doctrine that to ex-
clude any species of property by law from any
Territory is violation Of any right of property.
Do you not exclude banks from the Territories? Do
you not exclude whskey from being introduced
into large portion Of the Territories of the United
States! Do you not exclude gambling tables,
which are property recognized as such in the
States in which they are tolerated? y
am not therefore. prepared to say that under the
Constitution we have not the power to pass laws
ercludiRg negro slares from the Territories. 1t
involves tho same principle"
Thus. not only by his votes but by his deliberate
declarations in the Senate does Mr.. Douglas stand
pledged to the odious doctrine of Squatter Sove.
reignty--a doctrine not particle better than that
involved in the Wlmot proviso if indeed it be not
worse.
That he has not recapted this doctrine. is prov
cd by more recent declaration in his Freeport
speech, in which he announced, in the most posi-.
tive, emphatic. and aneqaivocal terms, his opinion
that the people 81 Territory had tho power to
exclude slavery whils they were in Territorial
condition. Thus is Mr.. Douglas, by repeated acts,
speeches and votes, from 1850 to the present time
fully committed to the doctrine Of Squatter Sove.
reisnty.
And yet certain journals in the South wish him
suocesA because. they say, he sustains the bred
Scott decision! Why, he presends to sustain tho
bred Scott decision; but he denies the very es-
ssnce Of that decision touching the status Of slave
~ In the Territories. That decision settled tho
question that slavery was carried proprio rigore,
into every Territory Of the Union, and could not
Be excluded except BY the authority Of Sovereign
State. Does Mr.. Douglas agree to this, On the
contrary, he holds precisely the opposite doctrine
Could Mr.. Lncoln's views on the question posi-
bly, b moss oaensive than are those of Mr.. Doug
hs?
If Mr.. Douglas Be thus Objectionable to South
ern sentiment on the subject of slavery, in what
other rsspsct 10 his political creed in consonance
with that Of the SOUTH Is he not VIGOROUSLY in
Axoe Of equanderiAH the public monies In the i'm.