The Nevada journal., 1858-10-08
THE JOURNAL.
FRIDAY MORNING, OCT. sth. 1858
SteDlIen A. Douglas.

nounced him an intellectual giant. If
we were to enquire how this reputation
has been achieved, recollection would,
with the exception of his advocacy of
the so-called great principles of Squat
ter Sovereignty, fasten upon only a
speech in favor fpaying fine to Gen.
jackson, which had been paid years
before.
Without doubt the fame of Stephen
A. Douglas, whatever it is, has been
acquired by the prominent association
of his name with the repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise by the Kansas-Nc-
bIaska bill, and the efforts Of the man
in the last Congress to carry a point
against the federal administrations
We propose to examine, briefly as may
be, how we'll the popular reputation of
Stephen A. Douglas is merited
Previous to taking an antagonistic
position to the President at the opening
Of the last session of Congress, the fame
of Douglas was cherished by that pOr
ton of his countrymen within tie limits
of the Democratic party. Outside Of
that organization his name was men
toned accompanied with more exc era
tion than praise. His course in the SEN
ate last winter caused change in the
popular current He became denounced
by some of his old friends and lauded by
some of his old enemies.
There was something in the position
of the man, almost alone in his party bat
Ting against the full strength of federal
power, which challenged admiration, We
must admit. But it is proper to enquire
how far the late superlative praises of
Stephen A. Douglas from old enemies
are well bestowed. The course of the
man should be we'll understood, before
the friends of good order and govern
ment commit themselves too far i'll his
favor. We app-ehend the change i'll
public sentiment in favor Of the indi-
ridual has arisen from ignorance Of his
real course, and a misunderstanding of
the actual principles on which his fame
is based. We shall proceed to show
our apprehensions in these particulars
are we'll founded.
Mr. Douglas, Unpopular acknowledg-
ment now stands as the champion of the
peoples rights against the usurpations
Of the Administration, and the tyran-
ny ofa pampered minority. lie now ap-
pears as the advocate par excellence of
submission of constitutions to the rati-
fcation of the people, and boastingly
says he stands where he has stood all
along. Let us see.
In June, 1856, Senator Toombs Of
Georgia, introduced a Bill for the pa
cifcation of Kansas, the 18th section of
which reads as follows:
That the following propositions be-
and the same are hereby. offered to the
said Convention of the people of Kan
.sas, when formed, for their free accept
ancc or rejection, which, if accepted by
the Convention, and ratified By the pe0-
pie at the election for the adoption Of tie
Constitution, shall be obligatory on the
United States and upon the said State
of Kansas
This bill was submitted to the Com
mittee on Territories, of which Stephen
A. Douglas was Chairman. Five days
after the bill came into the hands of the
Committee, the Chairman, Mr.. Douglas,
reported it in modified form. The
above section Of Toombs' bill reap
peared in the bill reported by Senator
Douglas in the following shape:
Sec. 1871 Of DOuglas' BW.-"That
the following propositions be, and the
same are hereby offered TO the said con-
vention Of the people Of Kansas, for
their free acceptance or rejection, arAicA
ifaccepted By tie Coarenti0a, shall be
obligatory on the United States and
upon the said State Of Kansas"
The very language of Toombs is
used by Douglas, but wonderful to be-
hold. the great principle about which
the little giant attempts TO make so
much capital for himselfis stricken out
Judge Douglas forgot the people of
Kansas on this occasion at least.
Senator Bigler, in the grand sparring
match between himself and Douglas
last winter charged this expurgation
upon Douglas. The latter denied being
in the room when the expunging process
was going on. Whether this be true
or not, the following extract from a
speech of Douglas in reference to this
point, taken in connection with other
facts, ought to be satisfactory. Judge