The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-10-05
alt is said that our Revolution grew out of
reamble and hope We have something of the

alt is said that our Revolution grew out of
preamble, and hope We have something Of the
same character of the hardy men of the Revo-
luton who first commenced the war with the
mother country something of the spirit of
that bold Yankee who said he had right to
60 to Concord, and that 60 he would; and who,
in the maintenance of that right met his death
at the hands of a British sentinel. Now, Sir,
if our right to carry slaves into these Terrific.
ries be constitutional right, it is our first
duty to maintain it, ~ 5Ay. 7'22a "s. D.
Pending the discussion which ensued
Mr.. Davis, at the suggestion of friends,
modified his amendment from time to time.
until it assumed the following shape:
"Nor to introduce or exclude African
slavery. Provided that nothing herein
contained shall be construed so as to pre-.
vent said Territorial Legislature from
passing such laws as may be necessary
for the protection of the rights of property
of every kind which may have been, or
may be hereafter, conformably to the Con-
stitution of the United States, held in or
introduced into said Territory" 81 $40
To which, on the same day, Mr.. Chase,
of Ohio, offered the following amendment:
provided further. That nothing here
in contained shall be construed as au-
thorizing or permitting the introduction
of slavery or the holding of persons as
property within said Territory."3 OH
Upon these amendments-theo one afir.
ming the pro- slavery and the other the
anti-slavery position in opposition to the
right of the people of the Territories to
decide the slavery question for themselves
Mr.. Douglas said: .s1oH haaus5 %
"The position that have ever taken
has been, that this, and all other questions
relating to the domestic affairs and do
mestic policy of the Territories, ought to
be left to the decision of the people them
selves; and that we ought to be content
with whatever way they may decide the
question, because they have much deep.
er interest in these matters than we have,
and know much better what institutions
suit them than we, who have never been
there, can decide for them. would
therefore have much preferred that that
portion of the bill should have remained
as it was reported from the committee on
Territories, with no provision on the sub.
lject of slavery, the one way OF the other.
And do hope yet that that clause will
be stricken out. ! am satisfied, Sir, tho,
it gives TO strength to the bill. am
satisfied, even if it did give strength to it,
that it ought not to be there, because Il
is violation efprinciple-a violation o.
that principle upon which we have all res
ted our defense of the course we have
taken on this question. i do not see how
those of rs who have taken the position
We have. taken-that of non.snteruention
and have argued ip favor of the righ
of the people to legislate for themselves or
this question. can: support such q provi
sion without abandoning all the arguments
which we used in the Presidential cam
paign in the year 84S, and the principles
set fourth by the honorable Senator f-on
Michigan Mr.. Cass) in that letter which
! is known as the Nicholson Letter. W.
are required to abandon that platform;
we are required to abandon those princi
| pies, aud to stulify ourselves, and to adop
the opposite doctrine-and for what? II
order to say, that the people Of the Terri
tories shall not haze such institutions al
), they shall deem adapted to their condition
/ and their aoamts. do not see, Sir, hov
such provision can be acceptable eithe
to the people of the North or the South.
, Upon the question, how many inhabi
tants Territory should contain before /
should be formed into a political commu
nifty with the rights of selfgovernment
Mr.. Douglas said aoisipab & o5ai ails
) 4'"The Senator from Mississippi put
: the question to me as to what number o
lpeople there must be in Territory befor
this right to govern themselves accrues
Without determining the precise number
. / will assume that the right ought to &C
crue to the people at the moment the
have enough to constitute government
j and, Sir, the bill assumes that there ar
l people enough there to require q govern
8 ment, and enough to authorize the peopl
: to govern themselves. .s.qs.t. !. Your bill
concedes that a representative govern
: ment is necessary--a government founde'
o upon the principles of popular sovereignt
: and the right Of a people, to enact thei
}. own laws; and for this reason you Civ
g them a. Legislature composed of otw
9 branches, like the Legislatures of the diff
ferent States and Territories of the Union
= You confer upon them the right to 1egis
/. late on 'all righAful subjects of Legislation
! except negroes, Why except negroes
q Why except African slavery? Ifthe in
habitants are competent to govern them
. selves upon all other subjects. and in rel
J, erence to all other descriptions Of propert
If they are competent to make laws an
determine the relations between husban
J. and wife, and parent and child, and muni
9 cipal laws affecting the rights and proper
: ty of citizens generally, they are competeu
. also to make laws to govern themselve
; ; in relation to slavery and negroes"5 Il,
? With reference to the protection ofprop
: erty in slaves, Mr.. Douglas said:s J9alsa
!; II have word to say to the honorabl
Senator from eMississippi (Mr. Davisf. -