Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-10-25

curing every oGisse j. ~ 6laAs, end
every citizen, to lead his aid in the en-
torcement Of al constitutional provis-
ions, the fugitive slave Law iscluded.-
(Cr,es of "Gool!" and cheere.) de-
clared then, AZ l do to you to-day, that
no Nan ought TO be permitted to vote al
any election wac is not willing to obey
the constitution Of the United States IL
all Its parts. (Applause.) And there
fore trusted that they would 20 frame
their constitution AS to make 1t obllga-
tory on every citizen of Kansas to per-
form his Obligations under the conslitn-
ton. But, while expressed this op'n-
ion to Gcv. Walker, 1t was distinctly
understood hat this was a question for
the people Of Kansas TO decide for them
selves, and whichever way they decided,
it was to DE final aud concluslve. l do
not distinctly recollect whether l CON-
mun,csted % Mr.. Calhoun, or not, the
results Of ths interview with Gov. Walk
or. Ir is wdl known to my friends that
! am not in he habit OF writing politi-
cal letters. it is true that gave many
letters Of introduction to MIR. Calhoun to
persons applying for surveying contracts
OF ha7ing business with the land office
in Kansas, and l may possibly have
written him, rarrating this interview
Bat am very sure that | wrote him Lo
letter upon the subject OF politics, or the
Lecompton constitution, pending the
session OF the convention.
Gov. Walker proceeded to Kansas, and
published hn inaugural address, con-
tainlr the statement that he Was au-
tnoized by the President and his Catl-
net to say that the constitution would
be rejected unless it was submitted to
a vote of the people. When the con-
vention adopted The constitution and de-
clared it in force without submitting il
to the people, l denounced it the very
instant heard oft Tremendous Shouts
OF applause. The very night the news
arrived in Chicago, bringing the form OF
submission of the slavery clause, l de-
nounced it in unmeasured terms. l de.
nounced it before knew what the course
of any other man in America 10 rela ion
to it would be. Cries of Bravo"
"Thst's the man." and applause. | did
not wait one hour, or one minute, when
discovered the trick by which the peo-
pie were to be cheated. Cheers.
If you will look into the Lecompton
constitution, YOU will find that the origl-
nal document made Kansas a slave-State,
aud then the schedule submitted anoth-
er slavery clause to tue people to vote for
or against; if they voted tor it Kansas
was slave State. When l reached
Washington, three days before the meet
ing of Congress, | went directly to the
President, and had talk with him up
on this subject, in which l informed
him, as a friend, not to send the constr
tuition into Congress for acceptance. l
told him it was violation Of every pledge
we had made to the people, violation
of the fundamental principles ofthe Dem
ocratic party, and a violation OF the
principles of all parties, in all republican
governments; because it was an attempt
. force constitution upon an unwilling
people. He begged me not to say any
thing upon the subject, until we should
hear the news as to how the vote stood
on the slavery clause. The vote, you
remember, was to be taken on the sla-
very clause on the 2lst OF December,
three or four weeks subsequent to this
I'll a. lc%
he would withhold his recommendation
until Il g vote was taken on that clause
| would withhold nv speech against the
measure. He said he must recommend
it in his message, and | replied that if he
did would denounce it the moment his
message was read. Great applause. A
voice, 1--WE like you for it. AT last the
President became somewhat excited up
on the subject. Laughter. And be
arose and said to me "Mr. Douglas, !
desire you to remember that no Demo-
crat ever yet differed from an admins
tration of his own choice without be nc
crushed" ["Ah !" and laughter. Then
he added "Bewarc of the fate Of Tall
madge and Rives." arose and said :
"Mr. President, | wish you to remem-
Der that General Jackson is dead, sir
[Tumultuous cheering. From that day
to this he and l have been trying the
question whether or not General Jack
is dead. Great laughter aud applause.
And one thing is certain-the people OF
Illinois decided, in 1858, that James
Buchanan was not General Jackson
Renewed laughter and applause. |
have few words more to say on this
subject.