Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-10-28
POLITICAL DODGING.

1t is impossible to regard Mr. Douglas in
any other light than as a mere politician of
expedients His doctrine of popular sove-
reignty does not rise to the dignity of prin-
ciple. II is mere expedient to evade pres
sure, for the time being on a certain point in
party politics Mr.. Douglas, while asserting
the impregnability of his position, and de-
claring his determination to die. if need be,
in defending it-(he had good deal to say
about this in the Senatorial debate on Le-
compton has yet carefully provided two
modes of retreat from that position, both of
which he has distinctly pointed out in his late
uttcrances in the North. Let us see what
they are. Mr.. Douglas says he advocates the
right of the people of the Territories to de-
termine for themselves whether they will have
slavery or not. This seems TO be clear enough.
But he Immediately turns to the South, and
says, "Now, don't complain of this. will
show you what you can do TO prevent the
people Of the Territories from acting against
slavery. All you have to do is to refuse TO
organize the new settlements till you are rea-
dy to trust them to legislate on the question.
Mr. Douglas is reported TO say, in so many
words, in his late Northern speeches In this
answer, he is like one defending fortress in
messenger TO inform the enemy that they can
find their way in by the back gate Here,
for example, arc people at Pixies Peak. Sup
pose they ask for a Territorial Government,
for the purpose, among others, of excluding
slavery. Mr.. Douglas teaches the South to
say. "You can't have it," You will be guilty
of "unfriendly legislation towards the patri-
archa institution. "Wait till We can get in
[as Mr.. Calhoun used to say with our ne
groes' Mr.. Douglas does not hesitate to
suggest this expedient to the South, as af-
fording them ample protection against any ac-
tion whatever against slavery in the new set
Elements. And he does it while arguing to
the North that the people of these new settle
ments arc fully competent to protect them-
selves against the blighting influence Of sla-
very. Is not this high style of political
dodging; This we call retreat No. /.
Now for the second. Mr.. Douglas reiter-
ates the soundness Of his position that the
people Of the Territories should be allowed
20 decide for themselves whether they will
have slavery or not lie declares they may
DO IL by "unfriendly legislation. subject only
20 the Constitution. The South complains
that the Territories must not be allowed TO
do uy ndirection what they should not do
AtiN'Nl y Ai'dE VII DNNNiAH It0FNNu -
MARK, gentlemen, what say. The Terrific
ries may legislate in an unfriendly way. But
that legislation must be according to the Con-
sutution. If the courts decide that the Ter
riiorial legislation on slavery is unconstitu-
tional. then that legislation cannot stand a
single sentence of the court brushes it all
away, and slavery stands untouched by it,"
This is the response which Mr. Douglas
makes to this objection of the South TO "un-
friendly legislation" 1t cannot stand because
the courts will decide it to be unconstitutional.
This is Mr. Douglass own intmation, if we
have seen him correctly reported. This is
retreat No. ,. And a broad, level highway
Of escape it is
Mr.. Douglas has then, we say, laid down
two methods Of retreat for himself and for his
party from his much-vaunted position Of pop
ular sovereignty, In the first place, the Ter
ritories must not be organized by Congress, if
that organization is going to be prejudcial to
slavery or offensive to Southern leaders.
Then, again, if the Territories are organized,
and the people legislate against slavery, the
courts are to brush that legislation away with
a single dash Of the pen, by declaring it un-
constitutional.
Ofwhat earthly avail, then, is all Mr.. Dou-
glass talk about the people Of the Territories
deciding the question of slavery for them
selves They are not to be allowed to act,
IL they arc supposed TO be hostile to it; and
il they get chance to act, their action is to
be pronounced invalid by the courts We
should like to ask If Mr.. Douglass own init
nations and suggestions here referred to do
not rob his scheme Of excluding slavery from
the Territories by popular hostility, of every
grain Of force and effect; We submit that
his own exposition Of popular sovereignty
leaves slavery in full and unquestioncd pos
session Of every inch Of territory now owned
OF hereafter acquired by the United States,
with no power in the people Of those Terri
tories to disodge it from single foot of
ground anywhere. And this is the view of
Senator Toombs, evidently, who conteuds that
there is no necessity of a slave code, for sla-
very is already amply protected in the Terri
tories. and cannot be touched therein, and
who backs Douglas on all occasions Wash
iagtoH Era.