The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-25


Waas Douglas means Jy "Pspalar -sooaegHty.'' n
In another column We publish very excellent article
from the Washington Union headed Judge Douglas
pudiates the Dred Scott decision" 1t shows from his
present language the utter unsoundnes and ickey Of
the in regard to the southern policy and principles
OF the democratic party To the South he deceiser
ever and with other sposmen, northern and southern,
meant mischief while coling the honest southern sup
poters Of tho Kansas Nebraska bill 1t gotten up
under his especial auspices and intended to be pao-
teaiiy of Abolition beneficial to the North yet
capable of bearing southern aspect Ia abstract point
Of view Construed by southern concession TO
their rights, 1t gave Douglas strength and popularity at
the South. When however, his artul manoeuyring
not clearly understood at home and whep to ay north
suspicion he compelled to explain himself after
the passage Of the act he did not scrupe declare the
truth and what he conceived would DO the real effect of
the act"th best abolition measure ever passed In
the present excited in Illinois he has again been
pressed and explains how the great Kansas Nebraska act
Is the best abolition measure passed. and how the
Dred Scott decision for practical benefit TO the South
becomes through squater sovereignty the verest hum
bug in tho world Let the sympahizers of Douglas at
the South stomach the extract from his Feeport speech
below.
Wenever the advocates of the Kansas Nebraska BILL
nor do intend to be Its apoogsts but desire
justice To be done to those who in advocating and de-
Tending it, believed they acting IN accordance with
the wishes of the South. For this we desire TO
speak word two to contemporary, the Charleston
Mercury, which look upon ono Of the most inde
pendent fearless, and influential journals in the South
We wish it to bo distinctly understood that do not
endorse Senator Douglas in his present In Illinois
We regard his position injurious to himself and to
our present national administration but as before
Remarked desire justice done to all who adyo-
Gated the passage Of this Kansas Nebraska law and
cannot Sec him arraigned and abused for any ground
taken in his canvass which he holds in common with
southern supporters of this law 8
1t seems Judge Douglas has taken the position, in an
answer to Mr. Lincoln, his opponent that the people of
Territory by unfiendly legislation exclude slavery
a Is
socr and anuler by the democratic and southern press
generally and the Charleston Mercury in particular
Now, this is no ground If these political teachers
of the people had read the congressional debates as il
was their duty to do. they would have found out that
this doctrine insisted not only by Senator Doug
las IN 1865, 1856, and 1857 but by sound conservative
southern statesmen the floor of Congress- In proof of
this refer to the following extracts the one taken
from revised speech in the Congressional Globe Dcce
ber III, 1885, of the Hon. James L. Orr of South Caro-
lina Speaker of the House of Representatives and
the other from the Chicago Times of August 49, 1853
Enraa from Speech Of Iio James H. Orr Of Soh Ctrolina
IN TIE House Of Representatives. December L 1885, ON the
question qf referring Tie President message 10 e Cbnnt Of
he W hole on The stats Of The Union.
But the gentleman from Tennessee MIR SMITH the
other day struck the true point in this controversy and
takes all the wind out Of the sails Of my friend from
Kentucky, Mr., Marshall and leaves him high and dry
upon land and invite his attention to the statements
and arguments in reference to it,
say although deny that squatter sovereignty exists
ia Ul haflSaS ana NeDraska by virtue
this BILL it is matter, practically of little consequence
whether it does not; and think shall be able to
satisfy the gentleman of that The gentleman knows that
in every slavchoding community of this Union we have
local legislation and local police regulations appertaning
to that institution without which the institution would
not only be vauecss, but curse to the community
Without them the STAKEHOLDER could not enforce his
rights when invaded by Others and If you had local
legislation for the purpose Of giving protection the ns
tuition would be of no value / can appeal to every gen
tlenan upon this floor who represents slaveholdng CON
stueny TO attest the truth Of what have stated upon
that point.
Now the legislative authority of Territory is invest
cd with q discretion to vote for against laws We
think they ought to pass laws in every Territory when
the Territory open to settlement and shareholders 90
there to protect slave property But if they decline to
pass such laws what Is the remedy None, sir If the
ory of the people opposed to the institution and
If they do not desire 1t ingafted upon their Territory
all they have to do is simply to decline to pass laws in
the territorial legislature for its protection and then IL is
well excluded if the power was invested in the ter
rtoral legislature, and exercised by the prohibit
it, H 1a#
Extract from Seeeh Of Jdye Douglas Eeport Illinois Au-
gue n, 1858, in ansmer 10 Mr. Lincoln. ,.
/" The next question propounded to by Mr.. Lincoln
Is can the people Of Territory in any lawful way,
against the wishes of any citizen of the United States
exclude slavery from their limits prior to the formation
of State consututioni / answer emphatically as Mr.
Lincoln has heard me answer hundred times from every
sumpin illinois, that in my opinion the people of Ter
rory cam by lawful means, exclude slavery from their
limits prior TO the formation Of State constitution En-
thusiastc applause Mr. Lincoln knew had answered
that question over and over again He heard ar |
que the Nebraska bill that principle all over the
State In 1854, Ia 1855, and in 1856, and he has no
excuse for pretending to be in doubt to my posi-
ton on that question Ii matters not what way
the Supreme Court may hereafter decide as to the
abstract question whether slavery may or may not |
go IN Territory under the constitution the people have
tho lawful means 20 introduce IL exclude il they
please for the that slavery cannot exist day or
hour anywhere unless Il supported by local police
regulations. Right, right Those police regulations
can only be established by the local legislature and If |
tho people opposed % slavery they will elect repre-
scntatiyos 10 that body who w by unfendly legisla
ton oectuAy prevent the introduction OF il into their
nlst n the contrary, they for IT, their lcgisia
ton win favor is extension. Hence matter what the
decision Of the supreme Court may be that abstract
question: still The right of the people TO make a slave
iwrioy ffce Territory Il perfect aud complete
Der the Nebraska bill. hope SIR. Lincoln deems my
,nswer satisfactory ON that point"
The Trmarks 81 Hon. sam A. Smith, Of Tennessee,
rticFrcti b. above by MF. Orr arr follows
- have hela tta, IN tcrtoal capacity they had not
he Tigit q exclude slavery yet the majority Of the
noago n tho Territory will decide ts question after all
Ia Tuuitay lausi have laws, not 10 establish, but
p gn tbv instituiion q slavery and II majority OF
l,c ps1llu 4 q isntgJy opposed 70 the institution
hey viii ftfuse ~ pass laws for lts protection" "We
the right take slaves into the Territory without
ny Law establishing che institution But southern
Dc satisfied that there win be- laws Cor their protec
Bon before thny wi take their property. whether
oas of horN with them iato any state Territory Of
hc unitel States o. Giaay DE. sh, 1856. ~.
Il The Mercury pcfargd 10 dcnounce Speaker Orr and
ne Hon. a Sniih. supporters OF the present
frco-s1ieFs and nuiiersf II not by