The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-03-30
.NQs597.
WAsH1Norox, March 90.

- WAsHrNoToN, March %.
Mr. Douglas spoke three hours this even.
ing to an immense audience. There was
no vacant place in the galleries, and the
reporters were oyerrnn by invading Dor.
der ruffians. The floor Of the Senate was
crowded with ladies. -. " -,in;,.l
Mr.. Douglas referred to his course on
the slavery question from the time OF the
admission Of Texas Congress, be said,
eventually decided that new Territories
should choose their domestic policy for
want of power their new line Of policy;
with a view Of healing section:s.! strife and
restoring peace to the country. His object
was to localizc, not sectionalizo slavery.
The people Of Illinois, on sober refiectisuy
approved his course. and the! Legislature
with great unanimity, passed resolutions
to that effect. Subsequently, as Senator
Of the State and member ofthe Democrat
ic party, he felt it his duty to apply to
the Kansas Nebraska act the principle
which had been substituted for the ge-
ographical line. Both parties were pledg.
cd to it. The exact words Of that princi-
pie are, that it is not intended to 'iegi..
late slavery into any Territory, but lesSe
the people to regulate their own affairs,
Now, said Mr.. D., the question arises
is the Lecompton Constitution in accord
ance with the principles Of the Compro-
mise Of 1850, and in accordance with the
organic act. Have the people Of Kansas
been left to manage their own affairs in
their own way, subject only to the Con-
sttution of the U. ST. 80
Does the Lecompton Constitution em.
body the will ofthe people Of Kansasf
II it does, you have the right to admit
her into the Union and to waive any ir-
regularities that may have occurred in mi
nor details. The whole action of this
House turned on this, whether or not
they give free expression Of their will in
that act? But what evidence have we
that it is soi He would refrain from 60
ing into repor of how many votes
were fraudulent, but supposing them all
legal, how can we accept it as the will Of
the people, when they could only vote for,
and not against iti And at the subse.
quent elections against it, there were ten
thousand. This was evidence to his mind
that Lecompton is not the expression ofthe
will of the people. 1t has been said that
the election Of December 2lst was legal
and tina. of January 4th was not legal.
Where do you find. the law that legal
izss the election Of December 2lst, onlyi
Under the Lecompton Constitution, which
If it possessed as much as it received from
the Legislature, and if 80 the Legislature
possessed as muce power on January 4th a.
on December 2lst or February Goth.
Mr.. Douglas referred to Calhoun's let
ter recently published, saving thai, he
thinks Delaware Crossing, gi es the Leg
islature to the FREQ State men. II was Of
no Importance what Mr.. Calhoun thought,
but the facts are important, as on them
depend the integrity of the vote. As Mr..
Calhoun is absent, is it satisfactory for thu
deposed' President. to address letter 70
the editor of the Star, stating bis private
opinion. He would like to know whether
the President protein, has not already is'
sued certificate to proslavery officen,
while Mr.. Calhoun's opinion is that the
free Stae party have it. Where is thi,
Presiden. pro tenn! Is h, too, a fugi-
tive from justice9 And if he is, what
conclusion have the majority committee Of
seven arrived at? Can we not get tho
President pro tenn, also to write a letter
to the committee of seveni
M, Douglas denounced the Washing.
ton Union for assailing him, and said that
il was because he refused to vote for the
editor for printer i.,. .-ls
The last hour was devoted to q veho-
ment denunciation Of the President for st-i
to. drsgoon men into support,
Of Lecompton by the use of patronage,
and he declared that he should obey the
dictates of concienco in spite of the Presi-
dent and Cabinet. He should consult tho
v i'll of his constituents rather than, the
will Of the President All other Dems'
ocrats were allowed TO differ from tho
President on various points. On this alone
absolute Submission was required. He
'corncd the attempt at coercion, and
would uot yield TO it. If this was to drive
him to private life he was ready fol, the
sacrifice. He preferred his sclf-respact and
private life, to servele aba,ement in Office.