Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-07-27

distracted country. Those compromise regulations
eventually parsed, and became recorded not only rs
q settlement Of the then existing difficulties, but as d
rule Of action to prevent the recurrence OF like evils.
These compromise measures rested-as l aald IN my
spsech on my return home 10 Chicago that year-on
the principle that every people ought TO have the
right to form and regulate their own domestic instl-
tutions in their ewn way, subject only to the COnsti-
tuition. They were founded on the prlnoiple that
every State possessed this right, and that the Terri
tories should enjoy the same. When the Illinois
Legislature ssembled q few months after The adop
ton of these measures, the first thing they did was to
review their action upon the slavery question, and
10 correct the errors OF previous Legislation. 1ou
remember they repealed the resolutions sustaining
the Wilmot Provisc, and recorded another resolu'
ton brought forward by Mr. Edwards, and adopted
In the House of Representatives by Il vote OF SIXTY
one in the affirmative aud four in the negative
That resolution declsred-I can quote lt-that the
great principle Of eelf government, the blrihrlght OF
freemen, the gift of heaven, was achieved by the
blood OF our revolutionary fathers. and must be car
ried out in the organlz alton Of all new States. That
principle became the Illinois platform by the unani
nous voice OF the Democratic party aud Wing party
In 1851. All the old Wings in the Legislature-al the
old Dsmoorats-uni;e in confirming that resolution.
There were four votes in the negstive-all Abolition,
OF course. Laughter and applause.l That resolu-
non stands upon the journal OF your Legislature to
TINS Gay, and uurepealed, as q standing. perpetual IN
s%truction to the Senators of Illinois, in ali time to
come. when. In 1854, it became my duty to bring
forward d Dill Tor the organization OF Kansas and
Nebraska, L Incorporated that principle In the Ne
braeka bill, aud Congress passed the bill, thus carry
ing it Into practical effect. | will not recur to the
scenes that trsnspired oil over this country. l could
then travel from Boston to Chicsgo in the light OF my
own efigy. lApplause.l leave it to you To cay
how l met that storm, and whether | didn'. fac.
The music, "a voice-"So you did, old boy" fol-
lowed bv cheers bow | stood Up and pledged my
lite in support OF that pr%incills, lAppiause.l a
friend reminds me that, when making speeches e,
that time, j~ustifying the Nebraska bill and the
great principle Of self g%overnn mt, predicted tha,
10 less than FIVE years you " I'D have to get out a
search warrant to find an anti y ebraska man. Jap
plause.l Well, l did make tts. prediction, for L be
ileved that among an l~nte!ligea: Deople FIVE years was
long enough for them to come (" learn that this princl-
PIE OF sell government lie correct, not only in the
States but the Territories. l rejoice to see my pre-.
oicilon fulfilled by the unanimous vote Of both Houses
Of Congress. @App!anse.] You will remember that
pending thls Lecompton controversy the worthy
successor OF Clay II refer to the Hon. John j. Crit.
teoden) brought forward a bill now known as the
Crittenden Montgomery bill, in which il was proposed
that the Lscompton Constitution should be referred
back to the people of Kansas, to be decided for or