The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-09-02
Lincoln and Douglas.

Several weeks siuce, Mr.. Lincoln addressed a
note to Senator Douglas, proposing that they
should hold their meetings together and discuss
the important political issues of the day face to
face. Douglas declined the proposition, but
consented to meet Lincoln on the stump at
sevens li(ferent points in the State. The first
meeting took place at Ottowa, on saturday,
Abouttwelve thousand people were present. and
great enthusiasm was manifested by the friends
of either of the Senatorial candidates. We
have read the report of the speeches, and hest
tate not to state that the Little Giant has found
his master. Lincoln is too much for him. We
have only room for this extract from Lincoln 5
speech on
THE CONSPIRACY TO NATtoNALtzE SLAVERY.
want to ask yonr attention to portion of
the Nebraska Bill it b'iHg the true intent
and meaning of this act, hot to legislatc slavery
into any Territory or State, nor to exclude it
therefrom, but to leave the people thereof per-
ectly free to form and regulate their domestic
institutions in their own way, subject only to
the Constitution OF the United States" There.
upon Judge Douglas and Others began TO argue
in favor of Popular Sovereignty the right
OF the people TO have slaves it they wanted
them aud to exclude slavery if they did not
want them. But said, in substance, Sena-
tor from OHIO, (Mr. Chas', believe,) 1--WE more
than suspect that YOU do not mean to allow the
people to exclude slavery if they wish to, and
il you DO mean it, accept an amendment which
pro oSe rXpras,l ,ly authorizing the people to eX
Cude slavery.
believe have the amendment here before
me, which was oGarel, and under which the
people of the Territory through their proper
repres ntativeS, mil if they saw i prohibit the
existence of slavery therein. And now state it
fact to be taken back il there is any mis-
take about it, that Judge Douglas aud those act
ing with him, uoted that amendment dolcn. Tire
mendous applause. | now think that those men
who voted it-dOwn, had real reason for doing
So They know what the reason was. |; looks
10 US, since we have seen the Dred Scott decision
pronounced, holding that "unIer the Consttu-
ton" the people cannot exclude savery-I say
1t looks to outsiders, poor, simple, "amiable,
inte! ligent gentlemen" great laughter as
though the niche was left as place TO put that
Dred Scott decision in laughter and cheers =
a niche thdt would have been spoiled by adopt
ing the amendment, And now, say again it
this was not the reason, it will avail the Judge
much more to calmly and good humoredly point
out to these people what that other reason was
for voting the amendment down, Than, swelling
himself up, to vocierate that he may be pro-
vohed so call somebody liar. Tremendous APP
plause.
Again: there is in that same quotation from
the Nebraska bill this CLAUSE 1t being the
true intent and meaning of this bill not TO leg
isldte slavery into any Territory or State
have always been puzzled to know what business
the word State " had in that connection
Judge Douglas knows He put 1t there. He
knows what lie pat it there for. The law they
Were pssing was not about States, and was not
making provisions for States. What was it placed
there for? After seeing the Dred Scott decis-
ion, which holds that the people cannot exclude
slavery from Territory, if another Dred Scott
decision shall come, holding that they cannot
exclude it from a State, we shall discover that
when the word was originally put there, it was
in view fsomething which was to come in due
time, we shall see that it was the other half Of
something. lApplause.l | now say again, if
there is any different reason for putting it there,
Judge Douglas, in good, ,humOred way, with
out calling anybody liar, can tell lukat the
reason l0aS. Renewed cheers.