Gazette and sentinel., 1860-06-09
GREAT SPEECH
OF
4 MIN
IN REPLY TO DOUGLAS.
GREAT SPEECH
ETLE
(C0ncLudcd. !

1t is impossible not to admire the can
dor and trankness with which these an
swers were given. There is no equivo-
cation or evasion. The Senator from
Illinois also had his questions to answer
in the same way. All / propose TO do is
to read the answer to the second ques-
ton
The next question ~propounded to me
by Mr.. Lincoln is, can the people of a
Territory in any lawful way, against the
wishes Of any citizen of the United
States exclude slavery from their limits
prior 10 the formation of q State Consti-
tuition! | answer emphatically, as Mr..
Lincoln has heard me answer a hundred
times from every stump in Illinois, that,
in my opinion, the people of a Territory
an, by lawful means, exclude slavery
from their limits prior to the formation
of ii State Constitution. Mr.. Lincoln
knew that | had answered that question
uvcr and over again. lie heard Inc argue
the Nebraska bill on that principle all
Ovcr the State in 1854, i'll 1855 and 1856,
aud he has no excuse for pretending to
be Ill doubt as 10 my position on that
question. 1t matters not what way the
supreme Court may hereafter decide as
10 the abstract question whether slavery
may or may not go into Il Territory I'M
der the Constitution, the people have the
lawful means to introduce it or exclude
it as they please, for the reason that
slavery can not exist a day or an hour
anywhere, unless it is supported by local
police regulations. Those police regu-
latiOns can only be established by the
Legislature, and if the people are oppo-
scd to slavery they vii! elect representa-
tiyes u ,hat body who will by unfriend-
~ legislation cftctually prevent the in
Production q: it into their midst. If, on
the contrary they are for it, their legis-
lation viii favor its extension. Hence
no matter what the decision OF the Su-
prcine Court may be On hat abstract
question, stIh the right Of the people to
make a slave Territory or q free Terri
tory Is perfect and complete under the
Nebraska bill. Hope Mr.. Lincoln deems
my answer satisfactory On that point"
lie told US two days ago that he had
agreed that that very question should be
submitted r.decision to the Court. He
! told us that We submitted the judicial
I question 10 the courts, and when that
question was decided the Democratic
party should be a unit; but when he
goes home, and is pressed in a local
/ contest, and sees the prize he coyetS
slipping from his grasp, he turns his
back upon his promise, and ~rcpudiateS
, his words. He tells his people, as he
says he has spoken a hundred times
before, that even if the Courts decide
against him, he has got it SO fixed in the
Kansas and Nebraska act that the
North had a perfect right, under that
bill, to make free Territory Of every Ter
ritory in the Union, Notwithstanding
the decision of the Court; and yet the
Senator from Illinois stands up here and
arraigns his Democratic brethren, and
accuses them of a breach Of faith, and
talks Of turning them out of the party,
and triumphantly appeals TO his record
in 1870, and since then, to show that be
is consistent: and now, when we tell him
we will not stand these promises any
more-for once deceived a wise man
may be; but twice deceived i'll the same
way and By fhe same means, hGis a dupe
and "a fool. lie tells us he can leave out
tine courts, for il is no master what the
decision is. He tells. his people, have
fixed it in Tie kansas and Nebraska
bill, have got the South so that you
! can have free Territory and keep theis
slaves out always. Mr.. LINCOLN was
shocked at this, and told Mr.. Douglas
that hewas tellipg;tae people that the
Legislators, when they swore to support
the Constitution, could violate that
Constitutional provision. Mr. Lincoln
held up his hands in horror, though he
was bold IN the assertions Of his own
principles. lie told the Senator from
illinois that what be was sayingwas a
gross outrage upon ~propriety, and was
breaking the bargain which he had
made. Again, sir, he told the Senator
from Illinois he did not believe in tbs