Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1858-01-21
For tlia Dpmncrat


place the President and Senator Douglas
in atagonistic positions. A fair construc-
ton upon all the two men have done and
said, will give the lie to any such conclu-
sion. have said before, and say again,
there is no issue between them and never
has been; and I defy any man, by fair
quotation from their language. to show it.
Democrats, beware of false arguments to
mislead you, and make you talk and act,
as if two of the greatest men IN this gov
eminent, belonging to the democratic party,
were at issue on vital principle.
Let us review little. In 1852, at the
adopted, averring the right of the people of
the States and Territories TO regulate their
own matters in their own way, including
the subject of slavery. Pierce was elected
on that issue with others. In 1856, it was
re-assertcI at Cincinnati and Buchanan
was elected on that issue alone. In his
first message to Congress he recognizes
that as the true iple--regrcts it was
not expressly incorporated in the Kansas
Nebraska bill. and recommends that it De
incorporated in every future act as it was
in that of Minnesota This shows how he
stands in his personal views.
IL, e
not be made an administration measure"
Why? Because, the President and his cab
met can only execute the laws already made:
and no matter what their individual views
may be. it has nothing to do with the adj
mission of State. Congress alone can adj
NIT the State, when they pass the law for
its admission, then the President can see
that it is executed. and it becomes part Of
his administration, and not until then. So
il idle TO talk Of the admission or reiec-
ton of Kansas as an administration meas
ure. Douglas is not the Executive of the
laws, but one of the law makers. He
proposes to make new laws, if those exist
ing are not sufficient. Buchanan said in
his message that by submitting the slarery
clause to the people Of Kansas, they had a
fair chance to gain all they had ever fought
for. Why did he say this? Simply be-
cause it was the only question that had
been the ground of any difficulty there
ore--Congress had recognized the legis-
lature as legal; the free State men had re-
fused to vote when they could have settled
all their difficulties by recognizing the le
gislature, and voting. By voting, the
whole matter would have been settled in
Kansas where it should be settled. By re-
fusing. the difficulties had gone all over the
Union and kansas had already occupied
too much of the public attention" They
had the power to repeal their constitution
as soon as they became State, and make
new one, and the prohlbitory clause was a
nullity. Hence as matter of erpediency,
the President thought that Kansas had
best become State, and then al her mat
ters would be confined 10 her own borders
and she could settle them IN her own way
These were his fairly expressed views,
while at the same time he asserted, that to
prevent all further difficulties of similar
kind, the understood principles of submis-
80 to 81 L. oh h.
in all future bills Where is the proof?
In his instructions to Gov. Walker, to en-
deavor to have the constitution submitted.
In his instructions to Gen Denver, to pro-
tect the people in their elections--as well
that called by the Lecompton convention,
as in that called by the Legislature assem-
bled by Staunton--also In his redommen-
dations in his message-thus showing that
he meant TO execute all the expressed prin-
ciples of the laws already made; and in his
compton convention, he expressed his dis
appreciation Of it.
before news OF the election OF the Els
of December could reach Washington, on
reference of the message. Douglas, the ia.
Their Of the Kansas bill, took occasion to set
before Congress and the country, all the
facts. acts and consequences connected
with the Lecompton convention, by his
great speech, and recommends the imme-
diate passage ola law to remedy the evil
He no where assails the President but dis
agrees with him only on question of law.
raised by the expediency views ofthe Pres
ident. He asserts and shows that a repu-
diation Of the constitution by Kansas, as
she became State! providing for no al
teration before 1864-would be revolution.