The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-10-20
GOVERNOR CHASE IN REPLY TO
DOUGLAS.

Governor Chase, Of Ohio, recently made
speech at Wooster, in that State, from which
we take the following extract as reported for
the Cincinnati Gazette:
" He tells US in his bill that it * to leave the
people of the 7 errit0ry perfectly free % form
and regulate their own institutions in their
own way, subject only to the Construction of
the United States. These are good words.
They seem to be fair words, and if these words
were carried out in their legitimate conception,
i should not fear the consequences, whenever
the question came to be left to the people of
Territory, though / stand, as every Republican
stands, upon the doctrine of the Fathers that
It is not expedient to put this evil into Terri
tory, nor allow the people settling Territory
TO be put into connection with it, but if the peo-
pie were left perfectly free, do not think there
would be much doubt that they would keep it
out They would have trouble, but they would
succeed. But what did he mean by it Let
us see. To form and regulate their own insti-
tutions. What does that mean? One would
think that It meant to pass such laws as they
pleased. What did the South mean by it +?
They meant to form and regulate their institu-
tons when they came to make State COnsti-
tuition.
"This was not the first form in which the bill
was proposed. The first bill contained dis
tinct section, known as the 2lst, in which il
was stated distinctly that the people Of the Ter
ritory, during their Territorial condition, might
dispose of this question of Slavery as they dis
posed of any other question and Mr.. Douglas
found that the South would not vote for bill
with that in it; so he struck it out and put
this in as have quoted it, and the South in
terpreted it as / have stated.
"'Subiect to the Constitution That looks
very harmless indeed; but Mr.. Douglas knew.
and / knew, and every well-informed man
knew, that the South claimed everywhere that
they had the right to take their slaves into the
Territories, and hold them as property; and
when this bill was under discussion. !, with
Others asked them if it would be considered as
an admission of their claim, and they held that
it would. This being the case, it was apparent
ly quite necessary to have distinct recognition
of the powers of the people to exclude Slavery
and proposed an amendment to add after the
words, subject to the Constitution the further
words, under which the people of Territory
may, if they see fit, exclude Slavery through
their Representatives That is not very ultra
not very strong-a simple proposition that, un
der the Constitution, the people had the power
If they should see fit through their legal Rep
resentatives, TO exclude Slavery. ] made that
proposition in good faith, because / said the
prohibition was to be broken down, and l want
ed that the people should be guaranteed in some
real power. Who voted for it /? Every Repub
lican in the Senate. Who against it? Ali the
Democrats, with one or two exceptions, anC
Mr.. Douglas among them. This gentleman
who talks of the power Of the people to exclud,
Slavery, voted down simple PROPOSITION 10 b,
put into his bin, giving them that power
WhyY The inference is irresistible. He voteC
IT down because he did not mean that the,
should have 1t. He knew if that clause wa!
put in the bill they would have it; he knew
that If that clause were added, the Shareholder
would not vote for it, and he voted it down te
comply with the wishes of the shareholders. Il
this popular sovereignty, when you tell a peoplt
that they can exclude Slavery if they will. anC
yet refuse in their organic law to give it t.
them2 is that popular sovereignty?
"sovEREIGN LEGISLATION.
"But let US see how much popular SOVEREIGN
ty they had in other respects. This act O
Congress (for you will observe that all this pewe
the Territorial Legislature gets is through al
act of Congress) gives what kind of Legisla
ture? 1t was divided into two Houses, Couu
ell and House of Representatives. The Couu
Gil consists of sixteen, and the House of TWEEN
ty-fve members. Well, can this Legislator
meet upon Its own adjournment? Mol Car
this Legislature say how long it will sit in TIN
Territory? No. Can this Legislature prolon,
Its session. No, not at all 1t is a restricte,
Legislature; it may sit forty days. Who tell
it how long it may sit? Congress Who tell
1t how many, members it shall consist of? Con
gressI Where do the members get their paw
Is this Legislature responsible to the people @
the Territory? Not at all. To whom is it re
sponsible7 To Congress. 1t gets its pa
from Congress; and here, Legislature Unite
as to its members by Congress, as to the tim
of its sessions, and paid by Congress, is Gale
Legislature invested with the power Of popr
Jar sovereignty.