The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-01-07
The Kansas Ousstiou

REPLY OF MR.. DOUGLAS TO Mr.. FITCH or IND.
IN TIE SENATE. TUESDAY, DIG %.
Mr.. Douglas-Mr. President. | ask par
don OF the Senator from Michigan for occu.
plying few moments Of the time properly
belonging 70 him. | regret that, rs the
Senator from Indiana spoke by the courtesy
Of the Senator from Michigan. he should
have deemed il necessary TO say anything
that demanded reply from me at the ex-
pense Of the Senator who is entitled TO the
floor. understand the Senators argument
TO rest npon the proposition, which he ar.
CUES at some length that the object, the
only object. Of that portion Of the X Kansas
Nebraska bill which repealed the Missouri
restriction, was TO place the slavery question
on the same footing with each and every
other local and dom, site question, as had
been done from the beginning OF the Gov.
eminent. do not misun1erstand him on
that point.
Mr. Fitcb--No, Sir
Mr. Douglas--I am glad 10 find ,ha, on
the very basis o! bis argument he and
agree. II was the object Of repeating the
Missouri Compromise. 10 put the slavery
question on the same footing with each and
every other domestic question in the Terri
torres ana new States that is, 10 leave the
people perfectly free to form and regulate
all their domestic institutions, slavery incu.
died. 10 suit themselves. On.this point, how
ever, be- differ with the President Of the
United States. Tor the President tells VA that
the obloc, was 10 make slavery an e1cep.
ton sud submit that by it-elf, but not sub
nit the other questions ] was sorry 20 500
the Senator take issue with the President
Of the United States upon question Of that
kind and, al the zane time arragning me
for having done the came thing. The whole
head and front Of my oiiendlug consists In
the fact, that dsseu;ed from ,ha, part Of
the Presidents Message which declared that
the slavery question was an exception, and
argued to prove that the object ot the X an.
sas Nebraska bill was 10 exclude tha, e1ocr-
ton, and put the slavery question on the
same footing with every other question which
was local and not national, State and not
Federal.
The Senator from Indiana nov agrees
with me that the President was wronv in
tina, par, Of his message. and that was
right There ia no avoiding this conclusion.
He np,aied the proposition dorm times
IN the course of his speech. ain glad 20
find that he and J agree thus far. hop
he will not consider that b. Is outsid. The
pale u a healthy organization that h. Is
abandoning the President, and engaging in
an ambition. scheme 10 break down the Ad.
ministration, becaase he differ with the
President on the same pOin, ths, Do. lie
says have come ont IN favor Of general
rule novel in the history Of The Government,
that, beTeaiter. every constitution formed 10y
new State coming into the Union must h.
submitted 10 the people before Il Is seut
here. The Senator argues against he gen.
eral rule as bfing novel and yOlutlpnsry
principle, which ough, not % IT, fastened
% The country a, this day. Has he read
tbs Presidents M .ssge on ,ha, point IN
the meSage. the President u the United
States tells u, that the example u MiDte-
sofa bill, IN requiring the COnstitaiion 70 h.
Submitted 10 the people, 10 a noble example,
asd should be followed 10 all caves hereafter
10 ara. The Senator 10 arraigning the
general rule o. the Prs,dent 10 regard 10
the ssbmlssioo Of eonstita,ions 10 the people
fm ratification. stand with the President
10 teisalf o. tia, general rule am little
at a loss 20 se upon what ground il il tina,
the Senator st;ers Tagge inn1eLdOes about