Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-03-25

4
,s Z. Free SOiler, AbOlitiomist and fanatic, who
does not subscribe to the articles OF faith that
tbo citizens of Slave States have rights IN Free
States and that the citizens OF those Free States
have nOt-thata citizen OF Virginia or Kentucky I
NAV come into Illinois with one hundred slaves. /
If this be the creed OF the DemocTaue party Tii.'
he totally dissented from it. The State of ILL
nois has equal sovereignty with the State OF
Virginia to regulate her own domestic IN
stit1tions. He recognized the right of the
Slave States to regulate their own doneS-
tic affairs, and was prepared to perform all ms
duties toward them, subject to the Constitution
of the United ateS. But when you go higher
than the Constitution and above the COnstItu-
ton he could not agree. In that article IN the
Tojon he saw blow struck at States rights
and at the principles on which the Democratic
marty stands, and on which he hoped It VIII
stand On seeing these doctrines promulgated
ha declined to vote for the editor of the Union
for Public Printer, and had been read out of the
Democratic party every other day since. Who,
Sir. has abandoned the Democratic platform p
He who stands by States rights, or ne VINO
would subvert the Republic and consolidate the
government into empire? Mr.. Douglas then
rrcauitulated the principles of the Democratic
nIotform ON which no and his friends fought the
Presidential campaign of 1852. and re asserted
his adherence thereto. Our government, he
said, was not founded on n principle OF unllOr-
nity, but in diversity. Our fathers saw that
the institutions which would suit the granite
hills of New Hampshire would not suit the
rice fields Of Georgia, and what would do for
the hills and wales of Virginia wOnld not be APP
propriate for Massachusetts. Hence they made
a diversity of State Sovereignty, giving to each
the management of its own institutions. There
was no such quality in Slavery as the higher
law oyerrides the Constitution. When that
higher law was first introduced 1t caused
great outcry, and now he (Douglas) is read out
of the party three times n week for denying 1t
In conclusion ne would ask who made this
question of Kansas with the Lecomptnn Constr
tuition party question, test question. Is 1t
the right of the Administration to decide what
are party measures. and what are not? When
John Tyler attempted to lay down what Is
party measure he was defeated. Is the Pacific
railroad party measure? We will see it The
guilotine is to be applied to each one who does
not yield implicit support to it. The loan bill,
the army bill and others have more night to be
called party measures than this bill. BY what
right does the Administration Interfere with this
Constitution? 1t was sent direct to Congress,
and the President only got hold OF it through
Surveyor General Calhoun. 1t was addressed
to Congress direct, and yet because Senators
and Representatives do not yield obedience to
the dictation of the Administration in matter
in which the Administration is not called on to
act, they are subjected to prescription. The
President has his duties to perform Cndcr the
Constitution, and is responsible to his cOnStitu-
eTIS. OendlOTS nave LUelT uulleS 10 tile SONeT-
eign States they represent and Representatives
have their dnties to perform, and the President
has no more right to prescribe test to Senators
or Representatives than we have to apply TO
him test of faith. Were to do would
he not rebuke impeTtinence2 When the
time comes that the President can change ale
glance from the sovereign States to himself
what becomes of State sovereignty? And be-
cause he (DOuglas) does not pay any allegiance
to the Executive which he does not owe, was he
to be called traitor to his party, and be read
out of it by all the newspapers that share in the
Government papy Is the question to be asked
every petty and all great Office holders, "are you
Douglass enemy?" If not, off goes his head. In
England, the peoples representatives throw the
Administration from power i'll an hour. Yet
here they who refuse to obey are rebels. Sup
pose the President was to say to the Senator
from California, "vote against the Pacific Rail
road" rebel-Or to the Senator from Virginia,
"vote for it, - another rebel-Or to the Senator
from Georgia, Support the Army bill" traitors
--or to the Senator from Mississippi Support the
neutrality laws" more traitors. Oh, but dis
penSatiOn is to be granted on all subjects but
one-On Lecompton there is no dispensatiOn.-
If it is intended to read out every man
bel III Americt who will not vote Lecompton,
how many will your Democratic party number
in Pennsylvania? How many in New York;
How many in Ohio. How many in any other
Northern State? Would it not be better to tell
every man to vote as his own judgment dicta-
ted, responsible to his conscience and his God?
Come what will, he himself would adhere to his
principles, and not withhold his respect from
those who vote as duty leads them, irrespective
ofparty. He here referred to the recent course
of the Senators from Virginia and Georgia who
voted with the Republican party. He himself
stood immovably on those twice hOnored princi-
pies of the Democratic party illustrated by JEFF
fcrson and by jackson, those principles of
States right and States sovereignty. He would
also stand by the Constitution of the United
States with all its compromises and obligations,
will stand for the Union, if he be thereby driven
into private life It is fate that has no terrors
for me. He preferred private life. preserving
his independence and manhood, before servile !
office, and subsection to the Executive will; and
when he cannot fulfil his obligations as Sena- (
tor from n sovereign State, he will retire.
He closed with an apology for the desultory /
manner of his remarks, as his physical strength |
was weak, and with difficulty could speak. III
he had said anything disrespectful or unkind, |
he regretted it.
The last few sentences were quite inaudble. |
He sat down amid much applause.
Mr.. TOOMBs rose aud said that the Senator had
arraigncd unjuStly the section of country he |
represented. He asked the Senator to name one |
section of the South in which such urinciDleS I