Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-07-28
MR., DOUGLAS.


MR. DOUGLAS.
The speech of Senator Douglas at Chicago in de-
fence of himself for having deserted the Democratic
partv at the late session of Congress- and endeavor-
ed to prevent the settlement of the Kansas question,
has been placed before readers 1t is character
istc of the man. Willis: it is skilful and adroit, it
is not the speech of statesman. Indeed Mr.. Doug
las could never lay claim to any higher character
than that of a ready and effective debater we
shall have occasion hereafter to examine several OF
the hereses of this speech in detail. For the pres.
ent, we shall confne ourselves to that one which is
the most dangerous.
The Senator says: cit is true that the mode of
reference and the form of submission [under the
English bill were not such could sanction with
my vote, for the reason that it Disseminated be-
tween slave States and free States, providing that
they in with the Lecompton constitution, they
could be received with So 600; but if they chose to
demand another constitution, more consistent with
their sentiments and feelings, they should not be
ceived into the Union until they had 3d. 42O inhab-
itants"
We shall not characterize this perversion of the
provisions of the English bill it deserves, but shall
proceed at once to denounce the attempt, on the
part of the Illinois Senator revive the troubles in
Kansas by thus urging the people of that Territory.
in case they should reject the Lecompton constitu-
ton, to frame fourth constitution before they have
sufficient population to send one representative to
Congress. And this attempt comes from a prOeSSeQ
Democrat and friend of the Union
Let US glance at the condition of the country when
the English bill presented to Congress. The
exasperated feeling between the North and the
South had reached dangerous point. The steam
had risen so high as to threaten an immediate
ploson. The exciting-indeed, we might say, the
furious debates which had continued for more than
three months, had reused the passions of men both
North and South, and had prepared them for wild
measures. Two States of the Union, Georgia and
Alabama had passed laws requiring their respective
governors to call conventions, with view to con-
slider the question of secession from the Union in
case the Kansas question should not be settled
The Senate bill, which we preferred and still deem
the best BILL had failed in the House through the
intrigues and influence of the friends of Mr. Douglas
from Illinois in that body, acting in concert and
harmony with the black-repubcans. The Union
was in peril. At this crisis the English bill proposed
to refer the land question to the people of Kansas
come into the Union as State by voting in the
affirmative of this question, that then they should
remain in territorial condition until they had a
sufficient population to elect one member to
Congress The alternative fairly offered. On
the one hand, there presented this fair and
equitable bill, calculated to remove all danger from
the Union, and to restore peace and harmony among
the different members of the confederacy and this
was supported by more than nineteen .twentiehs of
the Democratic party in Congress. On the other
hand, it was known that refusal to pass it would
be the signal for renewed anarchy and confusion in
Kansas, and would still further exasperate the con-
test raging between the North and the South, and
expose the Union to imminent danger. Mr.. Douglas
chose the latter branch Of the alternative with ali its
direful consequences. How radically wrong he was
is demonstrated by the comparative peace and har-
mony which now pervade the whole country on
the slavery question. The love of the Union now
predominates everywhere.
In charity we were, at the time, disposed to at
tribute the opposition of Mr.. Douglas to the English
bill to the modification of defeat and we were as
sured from dferet sources that he had determined
to express his acquiesence in this bill in his speech
before the people of Chicago, and thus throw him.
self back into the Democratic party. We were
prepared to give him cordial welcome He has
now, however, adopted contrary course-has de-
nounced the English bill, and has united with the
black Republicans in attempting to galvanize the
abolition spirit into life by getting up another con-
sttuon in Kansas, in violation of this wise and sa.
utary law. &c endeavors to persuade the people of
this Territory that they have been sadly wronged
by the English bill, in requiring that the Territory
should contain a sufficient population to send one
representative to Congress before their admission
as State into the Union. He has thus played into
the hand of Jim Lane and his confederate band of
rebels, who thus encouraged, will doubtless attempt
to get up another revolutionary convention, and
frame another Topeka or Leavenworth constitution,
in violation Of the act of Congress. But this at
tempt will prove to be failure. The people of
Kansas at length convinced that peace and quiet
are necessary to their prosperity, and that the tur
bulenr scenes through which they have passed have
arrested the tide of emigration to their beautiful
and fertile territory, and have delivered it to other
regions Should the Lecompton constitution be
rejected they will remain peacefully as Territory
until they have sufficient population to become
State under the English bill The efforts of Senator
Douglas cannot prevent this consummation. The
Kansas question is dead in spite of all he do to
revive it. His detection may, and doubtless will for
the moment, injure the Democratic party to some
extent; but his spasmodic efforts will end those
of all others, who have offended in like manner,
have ended The great and glorious old party will
survive a thusand such shocks. Like majestic
river, it will flow on in spite Of all the obstacles
which disappointed politicians may nterpose to ar
rest its current Washington Union.
| NATIONAL FoUNDRT.-We understand that the
Secretary of the Navy has appointed Captain Wilkes
| Chief Engineers Hunt and Martin and Constructor
Pack on the commission to examine Deep River
| valley, under the last resolution Of the Senate.
| They are to rendezvous in Washington, and will
probably get out to North Carolina in about week
from this date. We need hardly say that those OF
our citizens, here and elsewhere, who feel inter-
est in this matter, ought to be on hand and prepar
| ed to show to the Commissioners the claims which
the Deep River valley really possess.
Unless we are much deceived these claims are
equal, not superior, TO tnOse OF any otner location
in the Union, and, if we know the gentlemen of the
commission, as we think We do, they will receive
full justice at their hands. We know Capt Wilkes
personally, having boarded at the same hotel with
him for some months in Charlotte in 1s4s, in the
neighborhood of which place he then had certain
mining interests. We know him to be gentleman
Of fine sense, and certainly not inimical to North.
| Carolina, but the reverse.
We feel satisfied that the commission il an able
one, and, SO far as we can judge, its members are
favourably inclined towards State-that is they
have no prejudice against us and fully prepared
to do US justice which is all we want or expect
| VII Journal
PRoaorzD:-We are pleased to learn that our