The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-08-03
MR DOUGLAS.


| The speech of Senator Douglas at Chicago in
defence of himself for having deserted the Demo-
cratic party the late session of Congress- and
deavoring to prevent the settlement of the Kansas
question, has been placed before readers. It
is characteristic of the man. Whilst it is skilful
and adroit it is not the speech Of statesman. In
deed, Mr. Douglas could never lay claim TO any
higher character than that of ready and effective
/ debatcr We shall have occasion hereafter to ex-
anime several of the heresies of this speech in de-
tail. For the present, shall conhne ourselves
to that one which is the most dangerous
! The Senator says: Otis true that the mode of
reference and the form of submission under the
English bill not such as [ could sanction
with my vote for the reason that it Disseminated
between slave States and free States, providing
that, if they came in with the Lccompton consti-
tuition, they should be received with 50 900; but if
they chose to demand another constitution, more
consistent with their feelings, they should not be
received into the Union until they had s., 420 in
habtants."
We shall not characterize this perversion of the
provisions of the English bill it deserves, but
shall proceed at to dcnOunce the attempt, on
the part of the Illinois Senator, to revive the trou
bles in Kansas by thus urging the people in that
Territory, in case they should reject the Lecomp-
ton constitution, to frame fourth constitution be-
fore they have a sufficient population to send one
1
comes from profcSscd Democrat and friend Of
the Union
Let us glance at the condition of the country
when the English bill was presented to Congress.
The exaspcrated feeling between the North and
the South had reached dangerous point. The
steam had risen SO high to threaten imme-
diate explosion. The exciting indeed, We hi ght
say the furious debates which had continued for
more then three months, had reused the passions
! Of 10th nd bod cd
them for wild measures. Two States of the Union,
Georgia and Alabama, had passed laws requiring
their respective Governors to call conventions, with
a view to consider the question of secession from
the Union in case the Kansas question could not
be settled. The Senate bill, which we preferred
and still deem the best BILL had failed in the House
through the ntrigues and influence of the friends
of Mr. Douglas from Illinois in that body acting in
concert and harmony with the black republicans.
The Union was in peril. At this crisis the Eng
fish bill proposed to refer the land question to the
people of Kansas for their decison and if they did
not choose to come into the Union as a State by
voting i'll the affirmative of this question, that then
they should remain in territorial condition until
they had sufficient population to elect one MEM
Der to Congress. The alternative fairly offer
ed On the hand, there presented this
fair and equitable BILL calculated to remove all
danger from the CniOn and to restore peace and
acy, and this was supported by moro than nine
tcen-twentieths Of the Democratic party in Con-
gress On the other hand, it was known that a re-
fusal to pass it would be the signal for renewed
anarchy and confusion in Kansas, and would still
further eXasperate the contest raging between the
North and the South, and expose the Union to
imminent danger. Mr. Douglas chose the latter
branch Of the alternative with all its direfil
sequences. How radically wrong he was is de-
! mo cd nv no nd
which now peryade the Whole country on the slave
ry question. The love of the Union now predom-
mates everywhere.
In charity we WERE at the time, disposed to at
tribute the opposition of Mr. Douglas to the Eng
lish bill to the modification of defeat and we were
assured from different sources that he had deter
mined to express his acGuiescence in this bill in
his speech before the people Of Chicago, and thus
throw himself back into the Democratic party
We were prepared to give him cordial welcome
He has now, however, adopted contrary course
has denounced the English BILL and united with
the black republicans in attempting to galvanizc
the abolition spirit into life by getting up another
constitution III kansas, in violation of this wise
and salutary law. He endcavors to persuade the
people of this territory that they have been sadly
wrongcd by the English bill, in requiring that the
territory shall contain sufficient population to
send one representative to Congress before their
admission as a State into the Unon. He has thus
played into the hand of jim Lane and his confed-
crate band of rebels, who thus encouraged Will
doubtless attempt to get up another revolutionary
convention, and frame another Topeka or Leaven-
worth constitution, in violation OF the act of Con-
gross. But this attempt will prove to be failure.
The people of Kansas at length convinced that
peace and quiet are necessary to their prosperity
and that the turbulent scenes through which they
have passed have arrested the tide of emie grafton to
their beautiful and fertile territory and have de-
livcred it to other regions. Should the Lecomp-
ton constitution be rejected, they will remain
peacefully a territory until they have sufi
cient population to become State under the Eng
fish bill The efforts of Senator Douglas cannot
prevent this consummaton. The Kansas question
is dead in spite Of all he do to revive it. His
detection may, and doubtless will for the moment
njure the Democratic party to some extent; but
his spasmodic efforts Will end as those of all Others
who have offended in like manner, have ended
The great and glorious old party will survive
thousand such shocks. Like majestic river, it
will flow on in spite of all the obstacles which dis
appointed politicians may interpose to arrest its
current Washington Jnion.
THE PARAGUAY EXPEDITIoN.-A Washing
ton correspondent says Secretary Toucey is dill
gently engaged in preparing the Paraguay expe-
dition. There has been much difficulty in getting