The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-08-18
DOUGLASS BASIS OF RECONCILIATION
WITu TuE pRESIDENT

A correspondent of the st. Louis Republican, who
seems to have access to Senator Douglass papers,
gives the following extract from the Senator's late
speech at Pittsfeld:
''When, in 1854, the Nebraska bill was passed
sad he) stood before you in this same courthouse
yard and vindicated that measure | told you if
Kansas wanted slavery she should have it. and if
she did not want it she should not have it, and that
we would give her fair chance, at fair, honest
and impartial election. Last winter in my opinion
there movement made calculated to strike
down that great principle of free government.
aude to the effort to force the Territory of Kansas
into the Union under the Lecompton constitution
| objected to the LecOmpton constitution, not be-
cause of its slavery provisions did not care what
those provisions were, so far it would affect nv
action. L would not stop to inquire whether she
was free or Slave state. My objection was that
the Lecompton constitution was not the act and
deed of the people of Kansas that it was not made
by themselves, that it did not embody their will.
Believing such to be the fact, | resisted it until
the death-not my death-but the death of Lecomp-
ton. (Applause.) Here is another man who did
the same thing, Mr. Morris.) / am not going to
talk for him, for he can talk for himself. Illinois
stood unit on that question. We resisted the at
tempt until he drove them from it, and forced them
to refer the question back to the people of Kansas
thus giving them chance to vote upon its accep-
tance or rejection. A voice-They have rejected
it. never could consider that the terms of that
proposition and the mode of submission were fair
but was willing to abide by the expression of the
people upon that election. That election was held
last Monday, and the general result is known, the
returns being mostly in, and it has been rejected by
more than ten to one. Loud cheering.)
ga great many friends come to me and ask me ::
EAre you willing to acquiesce in that English bill?'
| always told them would acquiesce in the decision
of the people under it. They have rejected it, and
now want to know if they will acquiesce in its
death; am certain that will.
"By the death of Lecompton there is termina-
tion forever of the Iecompton controversy 1t is at
an end, and there will be for that cOntro
versy to arise again, unless it is brought up in an
improper and mischevous manner, for mischieyous
and improper purposes.
81 say the controversy can never arise again, for
this reason: The President of the United States in
his Annual Message declared that he eepretted that
the Lecompton constitution had not been submitted
to the people of Kansas. | joined him in that re
gret. Thus far we agreed. He then declared that
it was sound policy to require the submission of
every constitution to the people; | agreed with
him on that. He then declared in his opinion,
that hereafter the example set in the Minnesota
case, where Congress requred~such submission
should be forever followed as rule of action.
agreed with him on shat. Then what did we differ
about? He added, that while it was sound prin-
ciple that constitution should be submitted to the
people, and that he hoped hereafter Congress would
always require that to be done yet there were such
circumstances with regard to Kansas that rendered
it expedent to admit her at once ! differed with
him as to that. That point is now decided The
people of Kansas have decided it forever |
trust that he is satisfied with that decision as well
as L.
1sThat being the case, why should not he and 90
together in the future, each standing firmly by his
Minnesota recommendation, that hereafter consti-
tuition shall be required by Congress to be submit
ted to the people in all cases? If only do that
stand by that principle in the future-then the
Lecompton controversy never again arise, the
friends OF selfgovernment will all be united Let
us then rally upon common plank and platform
upon which all national men may stand, and upon