Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-09-25
Extract from the Speech delivered by
Judge Douglas, at Joliet, Ill, Aug.
IL. 1858.

his first appearance in public life, Mr..
Douglas proceeded to read some extracts
from the Lincoln platform, and to gave some
Of Lincoln's equivocal answers to certain
questions that he (Douglas) had propounded
to him, in regard to tie extension Of slave
territory, &C.:
wish to call your attention to the
equivocal and eyasive character of Mr.
Lincoln's answer to my question, and I will
submit it to you whether it is such an an
swer as fair minded representative ought
to give to a candid and honest constituency.
After saying that he would be sorry to be
placed in position where he would have to
vote for the admission of a slave state and
after saying that he would be glad to know
that there would be no more slave states
admitted he then continues:
"But must add, that if slavery Shall be kept
out OF the territories during the territorial exis
tence of any given territory, and then the
people shall, having fair chance and a clear field
when they come to adopt the constitution, do such
an extraordinary thing as to adopt slave const-
tuition, uninhuenced by the actual presence of the
institution among them, | see no alternative if we
Union.'
Suppose slavery should not be kept out
Of territory during it's territorial exist
ence, then what would he do? He does
not answer. He only declares that he will
vote to admit state in the event that Con-
gress has kept slavery out of it during its
territorial existence. His answer is drawn
equivocally, drawn as man would draw
special plea, with the intention Of making
false issue in order to enter a motion for
arrest Of judgment.
A voice from the outskirts of the crowd,
I'VE cannot hear out here.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. II will try to make you
hear, and | wish my Republican friends
would get as near the stand as they can for
[ want to make them hear more than they
want to. I say that Mr. Lincoln makes a
pledge in such equiyocal terms as to avoid
nearly the whole answer He would vote
to admit another slave state provided sla-
very was kept out Of it by act Of Congress
during the time it was territory. There
is no act Of Congress Keeping slavery out
Of Arizona and New Mexico Will he
vote for their admission as slave states if
the people desire it? He does not answer
The inference is that he would not or he
would not have made his answer so euuivo-
cal. or put in tie limitation providing that
slavery should be kept out during the ter
ritorial existence Of a state. There is no
act Of Congress prohibiting slavery in Kan
sas VIII he vote to admit Kansas, with
such a constitution as her people at fair
election may adopt? He does not answer.
None Of these cases comes within his an
Iswer, for the reason that it is limited to
such territories as Congress shall prohibit
slavery in during their existence as terrific
ries. How many such territories are there ?
Mr.. Lincoln knew as well as do the num-
Der. Oregon is the only enc in America
where slavery has been prohibited by act of
Congress, and Oregon has already framed a
constitution and asked admission, an act
for which has passed the Senate and is now
pending in the House. 10 my general
question, he gives an answer which is con-
fined in its operation to one territory and
one alone. He thus lodges the question,
leaving it to be inferred that his answer
covers the whole Of it. If you will exam
inc his answer, you will see that it was
framed and intended to try the foundation
for crack in the door to escape through
that small orifce. He say that he "must
add that if slavery shall be kept out of the
territory during the existence Of any one
giuen territory" What is the enc given
territory? Oregon is the only one. Did
he mean to confne his answer to Oregon !?
Why did he not answer as to Kansas, Ne
braska, Washington, Decotah and Arizo-
ma territories ? No, he confines himself
to one given territory, where slavery is al
ready excluded Oregon can be considered
now as n the Union. ! want his answer
full and explicit Texas was annexed to this
Union under pledge that at any future
time it may be divided into four additional
States. VIII Mr.. Lincoln vote for or
against the admission Of new State form
cd out Of Texas? There is no prohibition
OF slavery there now, and it does not there
fore come within his answer Would he
vote for against the admission of such a
State? Why did be not answer frankly that
he would vote for just as many slave states
as the people wanted, or would not vote
for any even if the people wanted? Why
SO many words limiting it to one given ter
ritory, where slavery is already prohibited,
unless he intended to conceal and deceive
by his special pleading conveying one idea
to you, and leaving him means of retreat
from it, like the Republican members Of
the Legislature Of 1854, when they violat-
ed their pledges? Now my friends, all |
want of Mr.. Lincoln is that he shall show
his hand. I do not wish to conceal my SEN
timents or my principles from you. When
l am asked a question l answer it in Ian
guage so clear that no man has an excuse
for misunderstanding me. | do not wish
to be your Senator unless [ am faithful
representative of your sentiments and prin-
ciples in the main [ do not hesitate to an
swer you whether will or will not vote for
the admission of another slave state. [ tell
you that will vote for the admission of any
state when it has Che requisite population
under republican constitution with or
without slavery as the people Of each may
determine. e. That's honest and great
cheering.) If the people of Kansas want
slave state let them have tiff they want
a free state they shall have it. (Cries of
good" and applause.) Fl the people Of
New Mexico desire to have a slave state let
them make it 50, il they would prefer a
free state it is for them to make the choice