The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-08-23

der the most solemn guarantee of self
government, only asked to prove their
accusation, and to .be relieved from
oppression. In other words, they de-
clared they had never been able to en-
Joy selfgovernment, that they were
ruled by invaders, and demanded the
sovereignty conferred by law upon
them. Mr.. Douglas should have been
the first man to fly to their relief; and
if he had been as completely dedicated
to the principles of his bill, as some
would have us believe, he would have
urged investigation and carried it. So
far from having done so, he put himself
in the lead of those Senators most hos
tile TO an exposition and became the
mere mouth-piece, advocate and apollo
gist of those engaged in the work of
forcing Slavery upon an unwilling peo-
pie. He enjoyed at that time the full
confidence of the South, and his De-
mocraoy was rthodox-because be was
loyal to his task-masters willing to do
battle for their most extravagant de-
mands. He was then Chairman of the
Committee on Territories, and / call at
tention to his report as such, made
March II, 1856, as conclusive upon the
point l have stated. In that paper he
could find nothing to say against foreign
conspiracies to invade the soil of Kan
sas and control elections, but he had
much to offer in condemnation of East
ern associations to encourage removal
thither. He could discover no irregu-
larities in the return of Mr.. Whitfield,
the pro-slavery delegates the House Of
Representatives, but he clearly dis
cerned that the Territorial Legislature
was legal-elected body, with perfect
authority to enact the most cruel aud
arbitrary slave codes and that the COM
plants of fraud and force were got up
merely to stimulate and excite Northern
emigration. AT the time of which /
speak. there was no one in Congress or
out OF Congress, in Office or out of Of
flee, who exerted himself more untiring-
ly to perpetuate that reign of terror
lnaugurated to insure the admission of
Kansas into the Union as Slave State.
L fear there are many now bearing up
the banner inscribed with the name of
this Senator, who never have fully un-
derstood, or who have forgotten, this
tarnished page in history. If there has
ever been more determined foe to the
growth of freedom in Kansas, or to the
principles of the Kansas-Nebraska bill.
than Stephen A. Douglas, he has been
able to keep himself very much under
cover. 1t is gratifying, however, to
make single remark in his favor; it is
this: That he seems as willing as the
most ardent of his friends to divert at
tention from this period in his career.
l am not aware that, in either essay or
address, he has ventured to reour to it :
but on the contrary, he seems disposed
to treat it as a. blank in his life.
Whilst these proceedings were pro-
crossing in the Senate, the other branch
OF Congress carried resolutions of in
vestlgatlon under close division of
parties, and sent Select Committee
to the Territory. The consequence
was such an exposure as satisfied the
country not only of the truth of every
thing charged, but of existing conspi-
racies beyond anything that had been
imagined. The published evidence eff.
fectually revealed the intentions of the
South, and made a deep impression
upon the North. 1t was then estab-
lished that neither law nor proprieties
were to be allowed to stand in the wav
OF slavery exsention; and we are al
most driven to the conclusion that the
repeal of the Missouri restriction was
but part Of general and well-ma-
tured plan of operations, at the head
of which stood the selfcrowned chief
OF popular Territorial Government.
Mr. Douglas term of office was now
approaching its close. 1t is not un-
likely that desire for reelection, and
knowledge of the conviction forced
upon his State by the examination al
luded to, induced him to look with diff.
ferent eyes upon Kansas, and created
an anxiety on his part to take up the
cause of her robbed and wretehed peo-
ple.- l cannot certainly say how this
may have been, only state that sud-
den and miraculous change came over
him, and for while he seemed to glory
in the name of "rebel" He opposed
the admission of Kansas under the
Lecompton Constitution with seeming
seriousness, and then announced his
determination to vote for the greater
iniquity the English BILL" 1t was
then the honored and heroic Harris,
who now sleeps in death, shed tears of
anguish, and gave utterance to his des-
pair. Over this again the veil has been
carefully and closely drawn by the
guardians of Mr.. Douglas fame. His
admirers have acted wisely, as it has
prevented, doubtless, many unpleasant
surmises and suggestions. To that
boldest, and truest, and greatest of all
warriors in the battle for the right.
David G. Broderick, is Mr.. Douglas in
debted for his rescue from whirlpool
which would certainly have engulfed
him-from stain which would have
obliterated his heroism in connection
with the cause to which he has so os-
tentatiously professed to devote him
SELF / withhold the words in which
the seathing rebuke was closed. And
yet this noblest and most self sacrific-
4 ing of men, Mr.. Douglas protector, the
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