The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-03-19
The NuD or II.

OTTAWA, MARCH ~, 1907.
The NuD or II.
Wearc Just receiving in the Congressional
Globe the official repor: Of the great ten
hours debate in the L. s. Senate on popular
sovereignty, in which those democratic Sem
ators who set themselves up as the special
defenders of the present Executive under
took to haul Judge Douglas oyer the Goals
for his celebrated Freeport speech hereses
The debate was no less remarkable for its
great length, than for the earnestness OF the
speakers. But although much heated Ian
guage was used on both sides, and Judge
Douglas bore the brunt of it comparatively
alone, no one can read that debate but must
admit that he came out of the contest very
decidedly the victor. The simple question
was, as to the true intent and meaning of
the Nebraska bill. Judge Douglas took the
ground that it meant total ncn intervention,
on the part OF Congress, with the subject Of
slavery in the territories, either to admit,
protect, or exclude It. That from that date
forth (the date of the passage Of the Ne
braska biil) ali controversies that might
arise on the subject Of slavery in the terri
tories should be left exclusively for the
courts to decide. and the people of the ter
Iitories themselves. If the people under
took 10 introduce slavery in the territories,
the court, could decide whether they had
the power to do so, it they excluded it, or
discouraged the Institution by 'uniriendly
legislation" the courts alone could uphold
or nuli,fy their statues. Congress, at least
stood pledged not to intervene. This was
the ground Judge Douglas took. The oppo-
Senators maintained that, in case the terri
tories should pass laws excluding slavery,
Congress, under the principles Of the Ne
braska bill, had the power and ought to ex-
cuse it. to intervene for its protection.
The prrci2le speakers in favor Of the lat
ter position were Davis, Toombs, Bisier,
ard Gwin; and without exception before
they got through with the discussion, they
were driven into denouncing The Nebraska |
bill itself, thus repudiating not oay the Gin |
cnnati platform, in which that bill is un-
equivocally endorsed, but President Buch-
anan's Inaugural, which also endorsed it in
the strongest language. On the other hand,
not only Judge Douglas, Pugh, and Stuart,
proved in the clearest manner, by quotations
from hundred speeches made by Southern
Senators on the Nebraska bill when it was
pending before Congress, that their reading
of i. was correct, but Mr.. Ciingman, of \.
c., and Mr.. Benjamin, Of La, also admitted
that such had been their understanding of
it, and that tia so understood it still.
The upshot of this whole debate then was,
that it was not Judge Douglas il his Free
port speech, ner the northern democracy
who endorse that speech, that were shown
to be guilty of departing from the tue
reading Of the Nebraska bill and the Cincin-
natl platform; but that it was President
Buchanan snt those southern Senators and
representatives generally who Joined with
him in regulating that speech, and in put
ting forth the new doctrine Of congressional
g protection" that were the here,cs. They
were the men who have brought defeat 5
upon the democracy everywhere by
departing frola the old landmarks of the .
party, and attempting to introduce new and
dangerous tests. Ii there is "reading OUT
to be done, therefore, they and not Judge
Douglas ard the northern democracy, should
FIRST be thrust beyond the pale of the demo
cratic party.
And such must be the case or those men
must back down from their position, else
the democracy stand no earthly chance Of
in the next Presidential contest.
Let this be the issue year hence. as fore
by the Presidents peculiar de-
tenders in this debate" ongrizsional inter
terence 20 protect slecery in tie territories
mt 40 legislation either an congress or bg tie
erri'0ries against surrey" and what nor
hern State Will vote for the candidate stand
ng upon such PLATFORM Upon such an I
ssue, the democracy would stand TO more ..
:hance Of succeeding than they have of car ,
y ,ng Vermont. 4
Nothing is more transparent, than that E
his whole at mpt to change anu pervert !
the plain mean;n: Of the Nebraska bill an =
Tie Cincinnati resolutions, was made to !
break down Judge Douglas before the Char a
eNton convention. But can the South
c'n the tue friends Of the Union anywhere,
ifo'a to os'rsclse any one mar whose power
with the masses is becoming dIsagrecably
dangerous for small politicians, at such i
cost rs the utter defeat and route of the de- !,
'ao"ra,ic party in 1860 invoIycss 1t NAV ,
DC very comfortable in Illinois or Massacbu- I
'eiiS 10 haze democratic party so conve-
nicn.iy small Tat every friend of the ad-
can have an Office; but with |
Hale CT a Seward in the Presidential. seat. t
viii be found that to belong to nice little I
democratic party OF that sort has also its {
.
The chicago Press states that Gates. War
ner II Co, of tina, city, have just completed
4 II horse power portable engine to propel
scow from Chicago to Auraria, at the mouth
OF Cherry Creek, in the Pixies Peak gold
region. The distance is me 1900 miles by
water. The scrow will pass down the canal
to the Illinois river, thence to the Missouri,
&c This enterprise will at least test the
navigahiiity Of the Plat river, abou, which
there is at Pre- sent considerable dispute
Rock ISLAND RoAD-THRoUGH TO PIKE's !
FEAK--By an arrangement with the West /
eFh Stake Company, the Chicago and Rock /
Island Road, in connection with &c Misss- !
sIPpi and Missouri Road, will now under |
t'ke 10 send passengers through. from Chi /
cage to Pixies Peak, for the sur, Of 300 /