Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-07-23

ed in establishing the boundaries Of the State.
maintained the Same opinions in relation TO
the compromise laws passed by Congress- and
among them the one admitting California OK a
State into the Union. These views were again
reiterated in my vote on the Kansas Nebraska
Act in 1854 When the Lccompt0n Constitu-
ton was adopted in Kansas, had great doubts
MS TO the course which it might be proper for
Congress to pursue in relation to It. The
views, however, Of the President in his opcn-
ing message to Congress, in December, 1867,
and his subsequent special message in Febru-
aly, 1868, presented considerations of the most
important character In favor Of the admission
Of Kansas az State under that constitution.
His recommendations were made under the
grave responsibility Of the great office which
he holds, aud large majority of the Demo.
cratic party, in and out Of Congress- sustained
the policy which he Ind adopted. As have
said Il invoivedno less question than that OF
peace or civil war. The acts Of traitOrous men
in Kansas, and the entire tendency of the am
bitious projects Of band of prOiligatc polti-
clans in the North, who had determined to rule
or ruin this government, pointed to the latter
dreadful result. Under these circumstances
sustained the recommendation Of the prcSi-
dent, and adopted that policy which believed
Country. did not participate in the -tliseH5-
sion Of the Kansas question in the Senate. but
was careful observer Of its progress, and
voted for the admission Of Kansas MS n State,
believing at the time that the final result Of
That vote would he TO bring back peace and
security TO the country. My object was not
to force State Constitution upon that Terri.
tory, for Congress did not possess the power
to pass such Law.
The question really presented to Congress
was the issue between those who voted for
the Lccompton Constitution, and those who
refused to vote 0t all. The conduct of the Int.
ter was 0narchical md subvcrSivc nf all GOV.
eminent; tho former was the f:ithlul discharge
Of political duty. If the rccusant majority
who failed to perform their duty on that occa.
sion had acfeS differently, and voted as they
dld IT. August last, anil the Lecompton Con
Stitution had afterwards been brought before
the Senate, ! should not have sustained It. In
fact under such circumstances it could never
have reached the President officially. in the
lorm in which it was presented to Congress-
When the future historian shall record the
events OF the struggle in Kansas, he will pro-
nOunCe the conduct Of those who refused to
exercise the elective franchise in that Territory
as rebellious and revolutionary. To make the
selection OF sustaining such acts and such men
on the one side, and to stand by those who
had discharged their constitutional duties 10
establishing and maintaining government in
Kansas presented no difficulty to mo and /
do not stand alone in the course which 0doD.
ted, but am sustained by the whole Democratic
party Of the Union in and out Of Congress.
with the exception Of the few who deGSultcd
and followed the lead of Senator Douglas
The opinion OF such party is high author.
ity. To that timc honored party we owe some
Of our greatest triumphs in principle, and our
most signal successes in arms TO it We arc
indebted for the acquisition Of CaliTornia-that
proud trophy Of tho Mexican WARRIOR whose
prosperity the heart Of every citizen of this
State is filled with the most ardent hope. To
it we arc indebted for all the acquisitions of
territory which VIC have made since the adop.
tiOn Of the Constitution. Louisiana, Florida,
Texas, New Mexico, California and all the
great States and Territories that have been
shaped out Of them. 1t is a grave act 10
strike n deadly blow at such party, and to
join its enemies. OF those who forsook the
party during the last Congress, some have
never returned, and never will nay, they
never can. They arc now tho associates Of
Black Republicans. Like Ephram, they arc
Joined to their idols. and we will let them
alone, but we will take care that thcv shall
never again come ihto our household. They
deserted to the enemy in the hour Of battle,
and consequently their treason is unparlona-
bic. SO far rs ] am concerned, stand in the
proud position Of having been sustained in the
course which pursued on this question by
large majority Of tho people Of this Statc-
The Legislature instructed the Senators from
NnIsf 10
President. gave effect to these instructions
by my vote in the Senate. The Democratic
party represented in State Convention. cn-
dorSed these resolutions Of the Legislature,
and the people ut the ballot box approved en-.
phatically the acts Of their REPRESENTATIVES.
both in the Legislature and in the State Con-
ventiOn; and stand by that solemn verdict
Of the people.
Near the close Of the last session of Con.
gross, debate was sprung upon the Senate
upon the question Of Territorial sovereignty.
We had long expected such discussion. be.
cause 1t was the duty of Mr.. Douglas to give
his reasons to tho Senate and to the country
for the line Of policy hO had considered it his
duty to adopt in the Senatorial canvass in H.
inois. Tho doctrines lac had avowcd in his
Frceport speech had been condemned in the
Senate by his removal from tho Craftsmanship
otthe Territorial Committee ofthat body, and
1t was expected that he would defend the no.
sition he had taken, and give ample time to
those who differed from him to give the rcaS.
ons that had influenced them in removing him
from the important position at tho head Of the
Territorial Committee, he had filled for so
many years in the Senate. But for reasons
satisfactory to himself he did not address the
Senate until near the close Of tho session.
when there was no timo to give the subject
that full consideration it deserved. He Ind
asserted in his Ereeport speech that Terri.
torlal Legislature could hIteI1lly by non &C,
ton or hostile legislation exclude slavery from
such Territory. Having always opposed this
doctrine, briefly announced nv previous
opinions, and declared that if such construc-
ton had been given to the Kansas Nebraska
act when It was under consideration in Con.
grcss in 1854, should have voted against il.
Such power was withheld from the Territor.
lal Legislature in that act, for the EXPRESS
purpose OF leaving the question of slavery in
tho Territories to be decided by the Supreme
Court Of the United States. For this reason.
the right Of appeal from the Territorial Courts
to the Supreme Court where the amount in
controversy was less than g. 600. was con.
terfed by that law. In March, 1867. the Su.
preme Court decided this question IN all It's
various relations. in the case Of Drcd Scott
That decision declares that neither Congress
nor q Territorial Legislature possess tho power
either to establish or exclude slavery itoMfiithC
Territory, and that It was q power Hhfch ex.
cluSivelyt belonged to tho States that The