Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-04-08

not TO cOn>trtc II so as To govern the
people of a State.
Mr.. Douglas next entered into an
examination of Pugh's amendment
He was at a loss to know what object
was tc be accomplished by this amend
ment. He could conceive but one mo-
tive, and that was to lead the people
to suppose that they had got secured
to them a right which they had not
really got. 1t was intended merely to
obviate an objection without removing
that objection. He held that Con-
gross had no right to make any such
proviso as that contemplated by Pugh's
amendment. He warned those who
were induced to support that amend
ment in hopes of catching little
popular favor for the perpetration of
the enormous fraud of the Lecompton
Constitution, to beware of the prece
dent they were setting.
Mr.. Douglas next inquired whether
the people of kanzas mad been perfect
" free to frame their own Constitution.
He begged the Senators from the
South to reflect what would have been
their feelings and their action if the
case had been reversed. If three
fourths of the people were Slavehold-
ers, and, by fraud and violence, Con-
vcntion. composed three-fourths Of
Free Soilers. had got together and
framed an Anti-Slavery Constitution,
and had sent it to Congress. and had
attempted to force it upon Kanzas,
what would you have said? Would
you have thought it fair and honest to
force such Constitution upon Kan
zas?
Mr.. Hammond, of South Carolina,
rose and said, as the Senator from ILL.,.
had looked at him he would like TO
reply. If the Slaveholing majority
had had an opportunity to form a Pro-
Slavery Constitution and had neglect
ed it, but had left the formation of the
Constitution to the Free Soilcrs, he
would not have complained, but would
have voted to admit the State.
That's good" cried Mr.. Toombs,
that's good answer"
MIR. Douglas promptly showed that
it was not a good answer, because it
assumed fact vital to the question at
issue, which fact he utterly denied
The majority of people in kanzas had
not an opportunity TO frame a Consti-
tuition, or to vote upon 1T for ratifica-
tion or rejection. When they were
allowed to vote, they were defrauded
out of their majority by forged and
false returns. In the first place nine
teen counties were disfranchised
That amt true" cried Mr. Toombs.
1T is true" responded MIR. Douglas;
lit has been proved conclusively."
MIR. Hammond here again inter-
posed. and said that Slaveholding
majority would have submitted, even
under those circumstances.
They would have submitted. did
you say" inquired Douglas, in tone
of astonlshment.
"les," replied Hammond.
Then all can say" reioincd Dou-
glas that they are the most submis-
sive of men,"
The audience laughed at this, and
the galleries applaudcd the manner in
which it was uttered. Mr.. Mason, oI
Virginia, arose in great wrath, and
said if the offence was repeated, ths
galleries should lie cleared. TO which
MIR. Brown. Of Mississippi, indignant
ly added, The Senate is not The
ater."
Mr.. Hammond again presently in
terposed with his insane notion about
submission, but Mr.. Douglas tolc
him, with some impaticnce, that h
was too i'll to waste strength and yoic,
in reply to questions that had just beer
answered twice already.
Mr.. Douglas next launched fortl
into most searching and scatbing ex
position Of John Calhoun and his re
turns, and especially his late letter t.
the editor of THE Washington Star
declaring that he should issue the cir
tificatcs to the Free State candidates
This part of his speech was a terrible
specimen of invective and sarcasm
and completely carried the audience
with it, so that the Chamber resound
cd with laughter in spite of the frowl
and mcnacing glances of Mr.. Mason
Dropping John Calhoun after sha
king him sufficiently, Mr.. Douglas re
sorted to the purely Slavery aspect o
the question. If it were not for Sla
very, would there be any attempt t
force this Constitution upon Kanzas
If it were not for Slavery. would ther
be in either House a single objection
to sending this Constitution to tn
people of Kanzas for fair vote?
Turning his attention next to Tn
Washington Union, he said that pa
per for some months past had bee
every other day reading him out Of tn
Democratic Party, calling him reno
gade. q deserter, a traitor. The cours
of The Union was determined by pei
sonal hatred. lie had refused to vot
for the confirmation of the Editor {
The Union as Public Printer, an
hence his animosity.
, At the request of Mr.. Douglas, NJ
/ Stewart. of Michigan. who sat next
, him, read a silly and abusive artiel
: from The Union of September las
containing, among other nonsense, a
, assertion that the abolition OF SLAYER
4 in New York. Pennsylvania and oth'
t States, was UDcnBstitutiopal. Upo
/ these and other monstr0us propos
r tions of the GoverGment Organ. NJ
5 Douglas commented with great seye
ity.
1l The article. he said. was printed
. the Union on the 18th of Septembe
= On rho 18th was the article giving