The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-09-14
WOODSFIELD, MONROE COUNTY, OHIO SEPTEMBER H. 1852

and the admission of new States, he early
took the position that Congress should
not interfere on the one side or the other. |
but that the people of each Territory and
State should be allowed to form and reg
ulate their domestic Institutions to suit
themselves. In accordance with this
principle he opposed the "Wilmot Pro-
viso," when first passed in the House of
Representatives in 1S47 as an amendment
to the bill appropriating $3,0O0,OOO to
enable President Polk to make q treaty OF
peace with Mexico, and afterward in the
Senate, when offered as an amendment to
the bill for the organization of the Terri
tory of Oregon. In August, iS47, how
ever, he offered an amendment to the
Oregon Bill, extending the Missouri Com
promise line indefinitely westward to the
Pacific Ocean, in the same sense and with
the same understanding with which it
was originally adopted in 1920, and ex
tended through Texas in 1s45, prohibi
ting slavery in all the Territory north of
the parallel of So deg. 80 min. and by
implication recognizing its existence
southrof that liue. This amendment was
adopted in the Senate by a decided ma
jority, receiving the support of every
Southern Senator, but was defeated in the
House of Representatives, 10y nearly Sec
tional vote. @ .H.
The refusal of the Senate to adopt the
policy of Congressional prohibition Of
slavery in all of the territories,
and the rejection in the House
of Representatives of the proposition to
extend the Missouri Compromise to the
Pacific Ocean, gave rise to the sectional
agitation of lS49-'50, which was tempo
rariy quieted by the legislation known as
the Compromise measures of 1850. Mr.
| Douglas supported these measures with
zeal and vigor; and on his return to his
home in Chicago, finding them assailsd
with great violence, he defended the
whole series in speech to the people
October "a, lS50-which is regarded
by his friends as one of the ablest he has
ever made In this speech he defined
the principles on which the Compromise
acts of 1850 were founded, and upon
+ which he subsequently defended the Kan
sas- Nebraska bill in these words:-
f "These measures are predicated on the
great fundamental principle that every
people ought to possess the right of fran
ing aud regulating their Own interna
concerns and domestic institutions il
their own way. & = * x These
things are all confded by the Constitu
ton to each State to decide for itself
q and know of no reason why the same
E principle should not be extended to th
; Territories" MIR. Douglas was an un
: successful candidate before the Demo
cratic National Convention in Baltimor
j., in 1852, for the nomination for the Presi
y dency. On the ninetieth ballot he receiv
ed ninety-two votes. the highest numbe
given to any candidate for that ballo
: out of total of two hundred and eighty
. eight votes. At the Congressional ses
u sion Of 1884, he reported from tn
0 Committee on Territories the famous bi
!. to organize the Territories Of Kansas an
Nebraska, which effectually revolutionize
u political parties in the United States, an
y formed the issues upon which the Demo
cratic and Republican parties became al
"a rayed against each other. The passag
of this bill caused great excitement i
:. the free States of the Union, and Nj
/ Douglas, as its author, was widely an
le vehemently denounced, and, in many ,pls
III ces. was hanged and burned in effigy.-
The whole controversy turned on the pre-
70 vision repeating the Missouri Comprc
y, mise, which Mr.. Douglas maintained
u be inconsistent with the principles of MOI
~ Intervention by Congress with slavery
ie the States and Territories.
LII After repeating the Missouri restrictio
- the bill declared it to be the "true inter
y and meaning of the act not to legisla
I, slavery into any State or Territory, M
IL to exclude it therefrom, but to leave tt
+ people thereof perfectly free to form ar
u regulate their domestic institutions
u their own way, subject only to the CO.
)" stitution of the United S:ates." Wha
= ever diversity of opinion may exist in r
NC gard to-the correctness of this princip
:. e. and the propriety of its application
~ the Territories it must be admitted tn
. Mr.. Douglas has proved faithful to it III
Vi der all circumstances, and defended
Ell whenever assaied or violated. La lS5
es Mr.. Douglas was again candidate #
he the Presidential nomination before Il
he Democratic National Convention at CT
a. cinnati The highest vote he receiv,
o. was on the sixteenth ballot which stoo
As For Mr.. Buchanan. l8S; for Mr.. ,Dou
es las, l2l; for Mr.. Cass, 6. In the Co
on gressional session of 1878 he denou
ed ced and opposed, with energy and abili
Is the Lecompton Constitution, upon t
Mt distinct ground that it was not the a
ed and deed of the people of Kansas, oil
%, did not embody their will. e,.t .... .
of Before the adjournment of that sessi'
al of Congress he returned home to vino
e. cate his action before the people of Hi
!e, ois in one of the most exciting and we
ed contested political canvasses ever know
,r- in the United States. He had to encou
% tor tho determined hostilitv of the Fede