The Shasta courier., 1858-08-21
Last Speech of stephen A. Douglas.


The great Douglas has had a magnificent
reception at the hands of his constituents. On
9th July a committee of four hundred citizens
from Chicago and the surrounding counties,
Little Giant and escorted him. to Chicago,
where, in the presence of some twenty thousand
citizens, he delivered one of his characteristics,
speeches.
From this speech we cannot but draw the in
ference that Douglas, if he were in California,
would not endorse the position which many of
the anti-Lec ompton Democrats of the. State are
now occupying. While still holding that the
mode of submission of the Lecompton Consiitu-
ton, under the English Bill, was not fair, he
argues that now that that bill has become law,
it should be, not endorsed, but acquiesced in. lie
says
-" but while l was not satisfied with the
mode of submission, while resisted that made
to the last, demanding fair, a just, a free mode
of submission; STILL when the law passed it has
placed it within the power of the people Of Kan
sas. at that election, 10 reject the Lecompton
Constitution, and then make out another in har-
mony with their opinions and principles in
stead"
Thus, if we understand his position, he does
not engage in warfare against the English
/ Bill he simply repeats the opinion that it was
an unfair mode of submission, but inasmuch as
' the principle which recognizes the right of the
people to decide for themselves for or against
their fundamental law, was contained in the
said bill, he was willing to acquiesce therein
We quote from hi Chicago speech:
- Hence, my friends, regard that Lecompton
battle rs having been fought and the victory
won, because the arrogant demand for the ad-
mission under the Lecompton Constitution un-
conditionally, whether the people wanted it or
not, was abandoned, and the principle which
recognizes the right of the people to decide for
themselves was substituted in its place.
Indeed, no one can fail to perceive that not
withstandng he considers the English Bill an
unfair mode of submitting the Lccompton Con-
stitution to vote of the people, yet he looks
upon that bill as a victory for Popular Sover-
eighty.
al regard says he, "that Lecompton battle
as having been fought and the victory won"
How was victory won? Why, of course, by
the passage of the English Bill
Again be says.
"We forced them to refer that Constitution
back to the people of Kansas to be accepted or
rejected they should decide at an election
which is fixed for the first Monday in August"
Hew were they forced to refer the Constitu-
tien back to the people of Kansas i? Clearly by
the passage of the English Bill Again
raoarJ +ba,ofo,o al. 1900. r
Popular Sovereignty as having been vindicated
and made triumphant in this land as a perma-
nent rule of the public policy in the organiza-
ton OF Territories and, the admission of new
States"
How has the great principle of Popular Sow
ereignty been vindicated in the past fight BY
the passage of the English Bill
Thus we find that Mr.. Douglas does acquiesce
in the English Bill, and glories over it as a
" victory won" for tbs " great principle of Pop
ular Sovereignty
We regret TO perceive from this speech that
certain ecompton-Administratio men, led on
mostly by Federal ofiee-holders, are virtually
doing all they can towards the election of a
Black Republican to the U. S. Senate in the
place of Mr. Douglas. This opposition com
menced some months since, by certain Office
holders boiling from the regular Democratic
State Convention, in which the fri, nds of Mr.
Douglas had a majority of ten to one. About
that time Mr.. D. made a speech in the Senate,
and in reply to a question from Mr.. Broderick,
remarked:
81 said did not believe the Administration
had given Lieb, or his confederates, any author
ity to speak or act for them in matters of ap-
pointment removal of officers | do not be-
lieve, and cannot believe that Lieb, Cook or
their confederates, have any authority from the
President, or any member ofhs Cabinet, TO threaten
honest Democrats with removal from Office"
Notwithstanding this, how yer, if the Admin
istration is aware of the fact that its appontees
to place in Illinois are pursuing course calcu-
lated to defeat Mr.. Douglas and elect Black
Republican in his place, and does not remove
them, then it becomes particeps criminals in their
crime.
PoLITIcs IN TRINITY Saturday evening
last, writes Weaverville gentleman, the Anti
Lecomptonites had " the largest and most en-