Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1858-08-07
TEE BATTLE IN ILLINOB

AHS 0otU4A AkOupe D3lly AutoSaaS u tuS JUL
ult, says: BY far the most important topic which
now engages the attention Of those who take an
intelligent interest in the political movements OF
the country is the triangular contest now going
on in Illinois, between Douglas and his followers,
that part of the Democracy known as the nation
al wing, and the Black Republicans. Upon the
result of this fight depends the political fortunes
of Douglas, and he has pitched in with a cour-
age which would excite the admiration Of the
world were it not aware Of the desperate motives
which prompts it. Our readers know that we
have uniformly condemned and denounced the
labyrinthine course of the little giant" in re-
gard to the Kansas imbroglio, from first to last
up to the time of the final disposition OF the vex-
atious question by the passage of the English
bill. This opposition to the Senator's course, Ii
it possesses no other merit, may at least clam the
one of consistency. Since the settlement of that
question he has given us no cause to repent OF
the severity of any ~invective directed against
him, nor has it induced us to coincide with many
of our able, influential. and we must say, mag
unanimous contemporaries in different sections OF
the Union in applications for his return to the
Democratic fold, accompanied with the promise,
in case of compliance, that past political sins
and short comings should be forgotten and for
| given, and that he and his followers should re-
tain the same footing with the party occupied by
them previous to their recreancy. We have not
Joined in any such solicitations for the very good
reason that any peace proposals should come
from him, inasmnch as be made the offensive de-
monstrations which led to the rupture.
A few days ago, in publishing a synopsis Of
Douglass Chicago speech, e characterized it as
ringing with the tones of defiance, recrlmlna-
| ton and vindictiveness,' and we find we are
agreed with in thus characterizing it by not only
those Democratic journals who have heretofore
maintained silence on the subject Of his detection,
but by those papers which have been the most
indulgent md respectful in their language in
regard to him, in view, perhaps, Of their fears OF
a permanent rupture of the Democratic organi-
cation. Not only SO, but these latter now discov-
er that he not only stands in an attitude of def
ance, but that he is but carrying out the plan Of a
most aggressive and offensive war, and that that
plan is not of recent connecting. And indeed it
appears to us to require no great amount of in
genuity to discover that such is the fact, when
we find him giving utteranee to such Infamous
sentiments as are to be found in the extract be-
low, taken from a verbatim report Of his Chicago
speech:
when / found an effort being made during
the recent session of Congress to force a ~constitu-
ton upon the people Of Kansas against their will
and to force the State into the Uniou with a con
s~titution which the people had rejected by 1000
majority, / felt bound, as a man of honor, as a
representative Of Illinois, bound by every eonsid
Grafton Of duty, OF fidelity, and Of patriotism to
resist, to the utmost Of my power, the consumma-
ton of that fraud"
Now, if we had found this language isolated.
and were asked our Judgment as to its paternity.
WI should not hesitate to ascribe it to John P.
Hale, Joshua Giddings, or some other rampant
Black Republican. He found an effort being
made to g force " a constitution on the people Of
Kansas, and to force Kansas into the Union,
and he felt bound to resist the contamination OF
that g Fraud And who was it that was attempt
lug the consummation Of That fraud Why, for
sooth, the Democratic party, from the President
down to the humblest member. Further along
we find another choice moceaa which we cannon
resist serving up to our readers.
1.-THE credit Of this great moral victory is 70
be divided among d large number OF various ana
different political castles. tCheers3 = ItJoieeu
when / found in this great contest the Repupli-
can party coming up manfully and sustaining the
nrincinle that the people Of each territory. when
coming into the Union, had a right to decide FOL
themselves whether slavery should or should not
exist within their limits.
II had seen the time when that principle was
controverted. / had seen the time when all par
ties did not recognize the right OF the people 70
have slavery or freedom-to tolerate or prohibit
slavery as they chose-but this power was claim
ed by the Congress Of the United States to the
exclusion Of the decision of the people Of the
Territory; and when / found, upon the Critten-
den-Montgomery bill, the Republicans and Amer
leans of the North joining with, and ! may say
too, some glorious American and old line wings
from the South (applause) like Crittenden and
Bell, (applause)-WAen / saw these gentlemen
uniting with a portion Of the Democracy TO carry
ont and yindicate the right Of the people to de-
eide whether slavery should or should not exist
within their limits, / was rejoiced within my se-
cret aolI, for I saw On indication that the Amer
lean people, when they came to understand the
principle, would give II their cordial support
Here we would think It i plain that be is but
carrying out his long entertained deaignof = war
on the Democratic party. y be n1arshals biz
notely recrits BY encouragingly conaplimenting
them upon the achievement OF & great moral
victorya-the prevention Of the preparation Of
the aforementioned fraud. He we'll knows that
Know Nothings, Old Line Wings, Black Republi-
cans, and the remnants Of every other faction