The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-04-06
W0ODSFIELD MONROE COUNTY OHIO APRIL g. 1850 so

property, the family relations of the peo
pie of the colonies without their consent
The Parliament of Great Britain said
that they had the power. We said to
them, "You may have the power, but
you have not the moral right; it is VIOLA
tive of the great principles of civil liberty;
violative of the rights of on Englishnnan
not to be affected in his property without
his consent, as given through his repre-
sentatives." Because Great Britain in
sisted on exercising that identical power
over these colonies our fathers few to.
arms, asserted the doctrine that every
colony, every dependency, every territory
hal right, In its own domestic legisis-
ture, to pass just such laws as its people
chose touching their local and domestic
concerns; recognizing the right Of the i'm
perial Parliament to regulate the i'm
perial affairs. as I do the right Of Con-
gress to regulate the national and fed.
eral concerns Of the people Of o terri
tory. .4a9'l l~soa I
Sir, am asserting, on behalf of the
people of the territories, just those rights
which our fathers demanded for them
selves against the claim of Great Britain.
Because those rights were not granted to
our fathers, they went through bloody
war Of seven years. Am I now to be
called upon to enforce that same odious
doctriue on the people of q territory
against their consent? say, no. Or
ganize territorial government for them;
give them Legislature, to be elected by
their own people; give them all the pow
ers of Legislation on all questions Of . To-
cal and domestic character, subject only
to the constitution; and if they make good
laws, let them enjoy their blessings; and
if they make bad laws, let them suffer I'M
der them until they repeal them. Ifthe
laws are UNCONSTITUTIONAL let those ag-
grieved appeal to the court-the tribunal
created by the cohstitution-tol ascertain
that fact. That is the principle on
which we stood in 1854. II was on that
principle and that understanding We
fought the great national battle aud
and gained the great victory Of 1856
How many votes do you think Mr.. Buch.
anan would have obtained In Pennsylva,
MIA if he had then said that the constitu.
ton of the United States plants slavery
in all the territories, and makes 1t the
duty of the federal government to keep Il
there, and maintain it there at the poin
of the bayonet and by federal laws, il
opposition, to the will of the peop!e?-
How many votes would be have received
in Ohio, or any other free State, on sucl
a platform! Mr.. buchanan did not the,
understand the doctrines Of popular sove
reignty and self government in tha
way sou4sr v-7.g gsvsfy
Mr.. Bigler Mr.. President ,,,oIFG
Mr.. Douglas. u will hear the Sena
tor. 7aid1 .oc4D sazsT .YbaoE5
Mr.. Bigler. T. shall not attempt t
answer the honorable Senator's question
but he will pardon me for asking another
which / think quite as significant an,
: quite as appropriate, and II is this: Sup
t pose that in the campaign Of 1886, in
4 stead of saying, as that honorable Sens
tor said, and as those who acted with bin
said, and as i said everywhere, to III
: people Of the States, who were about :
emigrate to the territories, "when 20
: go there you carry with yoa all the right
8 you enjoy in sovereign State" sayin
: as he said and;as I said, sit ss.but th
: extension of the great principle of sell
e government to the territories, y suppos
: we had said to those proud people, "whe
there, and in the matter ofchangfng you
q government from territory to STATE
y you shall have the high privilege Of exc.
). cising the right to petition Congress 70
Q q redress of grievances?" they woul
e have asked that Senator and me when ]
s was and where it wos. that the America
i citizen had not o right to petition for !
t. redress of grievances, whether white :
black. -
IS Mr.. Douglas. Mr.. President. shs
+ not answer that part of the Senator's il
quiry as to whether American citizen
s white or black, have not the right to pc
r tition for redress Of grievances. becau.
O Edo not recognise any black > America
$ citizens. i have no colored brethren ,
y that description, Laughter and aI
I plause in the galleries. know of y
q American citizens in this republic exceT
e the white people, and trust in God
: shall never know any othernkind.s CAE
= plause in the galleries.. - = avs.
!. Mr.. p Bigler. I know that as well q
n the Senator; and ought to have said il
, habitants. -. ~
|. The presiding officer. (Mr. Iverson
/. the chair,) Ifthereris any more inte'
o ruption in the galleries, the chair will o.
J? der the galleries to be cleared Y
). Mr.. Mason. If there is any more di
e turbance in the galleries, shall certain
It move and insist thatth galleries be clea
D. ed. g51slf 4osw
= The presiding officer. The chair VI
f. order the galleries to be cleared at ont
1t if there is any further Interruption.
g Mr.. Douglas. assert that in IS
le during the whole of that campaign,
rel took the same position I do now, oil
,e none other; and Iwill show that N