, 1859-11-25
From the Washington Constitution.
"POpular Sovereignty"

RESERVATIONS ON SENATOR DOUGLAS VIEWS
As EXPRESSED IN HARPER's MAGAZINE FOR
sEPrEMBER, 1859.
Every one knows that Mr. Douglas, the
senator from Illinois, has written and
printed an elaborate essay, comprising
hirtyeight columns Of HarpeY's AIagazins,
IN which he has undertaken to point out
The dividing line between federal and To-
cal authority" Very many persons have
glanced over its paragraphs to catch the
leading ideas without loss Of time, and
some few have probably read it with care.
Those Whe dissent from the doctrines Of
ibis paper owe to its author, il not to his
Arguments, a most respectful answer Mr..
Douglas is not the man to be treated with
disdainful silence. His ability is a fact
hnquestiOned; his public career, in the face
Of many disadvantages, has been uncom
monly successful aud he has been for
many years a working, struggling candi-
date for the Presidency. He is, moreover,
the COrypheus Of his political sect--the
founder Of q new school-and bis disciples
naturally believe in the infallible verify Of
bis words as q part Of their faith.
The style Of the article is, in some re-
spects, highly commendable. Il is entirely
free from the vulgar clap-trap Of the stump;
has no vain adornment OF classical scholar
ship; 1t shows no sign Of the eloquent Sen
atOr; It is even without the logic Of the
great debater Many portions Of it are
very obscure. 1t seems TO be on unsuc-
eessful effort at legal precision like the
writing Of judge, who is trying 10 vain to
give good reasons for a wrong decision on
. question Of law which he has not quite
mastered.
With the help of Messrs. Seward and
Lincoln, be has defined accurately enough
the platform Of the so-called Republican
party; and be does not attempt to conceal
bis conviction that their doctrines are, in
the last degree, dangerous. They are,
most assuredly, full Of evil and saturated
With mischief The irrepressible conflict {"
which they speak Of with so much pleasure
between the Opposing and enduring
forces" Of the Northern and Southern
States, will be fatal, not merely to the
peace Of the country, but 70 the existence
Of the Government ITSELF Mr.. Douglas
knows this, and be knows, also, that tho
Democratic party is the only power which
Is, or eau be, organized TO resist the Re
publican forces or oppose their hostile
march upon the capital. He who divides
and weakens the friends Of the country at
such q crisis in her fortunes, assumes a very
grave responsibility.
DR.. Douglas separates the Democratic
party into three classes, and describes them
as follows
FUH. Those who believe that the
Constitution Of the United States neither
establishes nor prohibits slavery in the
States or Territories, beyond the power Of
the people legally TO control Il, but leaves
the people thereof perfectly free to form
and regulate their domestic institutions in
in their own way, subject only to the Con
stitution Of the United States -. 81
Second. Those who believe that the
Constitution establishes slavery in the Ter
ritories, and Withholds from Congress and
the Territorial Legislature the power to
control it, and who insist that, 10 the event
the Territorial Legislature fails to enact
the requisite laws for its protection, it be-
comes the imperative duty Of Congress to
interpose its authority and furnish such
protection.
1hird. Those who, while protesting
to believe that the Constitution establishes
slavery in the Territories beyond the power
Of Congress or the Territorial Legislature
to control It, at the same time protest
against the duty Of Congress to interfere
for its protection but insist that IL is the
duty Of the judiciary to protect and main
tain slavery 10 the Territories without any
law upon the subject"
We give Mr.. Douglas the full benefit Of
bis own statement This is bis mode Of
expressing those differences, which, he says,
disturb the harmony, and threaten the in
tegrity Of the American Democracy. These
passages should, therefore, be most care
fully considered.
The first class is the one to which he
himself belongs, and to both Of the others
he is equally opposed he has no right to
come between the second and third class.
II the difference which he speaks Of does
exist among his opponents, It is their bust
ness, not his, 10 settle it or fight it out
We shall, therefore, eon6ne ourselves to
TIE dispute between Mr.. Douglas and his
followers on the one hand, and the rest Of
the Democratic party on the other, pre-
suming that be will be willing to observe
the principle Of non-intervention in all mat
ters With which be has no concern.
We will invert the order in which be has
discussed the subject, and endea'Or to
show
l. That be has not correctly stated the
doctrine held BY his opponents and,
4 That his own opinions, as given by
himself, are altogether unsouud.
L He says that certain portion Of
the Democratic party believe, or profess to
believe, that The Constitution ESTABLISHES sLa-
very in the Territories, and insist that it is
The duty Of the Judiciary to maintain it
there t0lhOut any lao on the subject We
DO not charge him with any intention to be