The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-01-06
VooDsFIELD, MONROE COUNTY. OHIO. JANUARY g 1858.

JANUARY 6. 1858. s
The Position, Of Senator Douglas,
Popular sovereignty3rhs WIN Of the
Majority.
$50 ESsGE 81 SIS ts59g ssgsi 2
Great anxiety has been felt, all over
this country. to read Senator DoUeLAs'
Speech, delivered in the Senate .on the
9Th inst. We are unable to publish it
entire. The following extracts, however.
win give the ereadsra properunderstanding
Of his position on the Kansas question.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Mr.. President. when
yesterday the Presidents message was
read at the Clerks desk, I heard it but
imperfectIy, and was of the impression
that the President of the United States
had approved and endorsed the action of
the Lecompton Convention in Kansas.
Under that Impression, felt it my duty
TO state, that, while I concurred in the
general views Of the message, yet, so far
as it approved sor endorsed the action of
that convention, I entirely dissented from.
It, and would avail myself of an early
to state my reasons for my;
dissent. Upon more careful and critis
cal examination of the message, ! am re-
joiced to fad that the President of the
United States has not recommended that
Congress shall pnss aslaw to receive Kan.
sas into the Union under. the copstitu-s
ton formed at Lecompton. Il is true
that the tone. Of the message indicates .
willingness on the part Of the President
TO sign any bill that Congress May pass,
if we shall see proper to pass one receiy,s
ing Kansas into the Union under that,
But. sir, it is q. fact Of
great Significance, and worthy Of consid-
Grafton, that the President has refrained
from any endorsements Of the convention
and frsm any Recommendation rs to the
course Congress should pursue with re-.
gard to the constitution there formed.
The President Of the United States tells
as; ia his message, that he had nnequivo-'
caliy expressed his; opinion, in the. form
Of instrnctionst to Governor Walker as
suming that the constitution was to be
submitted to the people for ratification.
When we look at Governor Walkers let
ter of acceptance of the Office of Govern
Or, we End that he stated expressly that
be accepted it with the understanding that
the President and his whole Cabinet con-
CURED With him that the constitution, when
formed, was TO be submitted to the pso-
ple for ratification. Then look into in
structions given BY the President OF the
United States, through Gen. Cass. the
Secretary of State, to Gov. Walker, and
you there 6nd that the Governor is in
strncted to use the military power TO pro-
tect the polls when the constitution shall
be submitted TO the people Of Kansas for
their free acceptance or rejection. Trace
the, history q little further, and yon will
find that Gov. Walker went to Kansas
and proclaimed, in his Inaugural and his
speeches at Topeka and elsewhere, that
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wv Y. 8 = h;n.a,; n;nr the Pres;.
|ldent and his Cabinet that the constitu-
Ition was to be submitted to the peoplefor
their free acceptance or rejection, and
THAT he would use oil the power at his
command to defeat its acceptance by Con
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