Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-09-19
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nous character, but he is also opposed to
the freedom Of the press aud the freedom
OF speech; that freedom for which the
blood OF the troest patriots that ever lived
was split, for which they fought through
seven long and dreary years of sanguinary
conflict And yet in this enlightened a ge
We see q Senator cOOlly propose to aunihi.
late by one fell swoop. this brightest fea-
ture of our Republican institutions: delib
erately propose 10 place upon our ststnte
Law as sntagonistic to liberty as any
which ever CALLED the souls of down. trod
den millions in the old world.
Sustaining the contemplated law by the
most venomous attacks upon some of the
best citizens Of the Republic; threatening
to insugurate prisons and dungeons to
crush out the spirit OF opposition.
Hereis tho Aet --I ovt-a.s fres tho
speech of Mr.. Douglas in favor Of q. delIy-
cred in the Senate. J an. %, 1860:
SEDITION ACT. Mr.. DOUGLAS.
"And be it further "Mr. President the
en1cted. That il any mode of PRESERVING
person shall write, peace splain. This
print. utter or pub system of sections
hsh, or shall cause war fare musi cease.
/ or procure 10 be writ The Constitution has
ten' printed, uttered given the power. and
rpuolshed, or shall all We ask of Con-
knowingly and will gress Is the means.
Ingiy assI-t or aid IN and we, by indict-
writing, printing. ut tn-hts and convict
tering or publishing ions in the Federal
anv false scandalpms Courts of the several
and malicious Urit- ates, will make
ing or writings such examples of the
against the Govern leaders of thee con-
ment OF the United s"Irscies, as will
States, oreither House strike terror into the
of tie Congress ofthe hearts of the others,
United states. or the aud there will be an
! President ofthe Unit. enc of this crusade,
ed ate, with intent The great principle
to defame the said that underlies the or.
iIovernme {, or eth gsnization Of the Re-
er House IT the Con- publican party is vi
gress. or the said olent, irreconciIable.
President, or to bring eternal warfare upon
them, or ther of he institution o
them into contempt American slavery
or disrepute F; or 10 tE- with a view 10 its
cite agginf them, or ultimate extinction
either or any Of them. throughout the land.
The hatred Of The 9sod Sir. 1 nfess the OBJ
pepls Of the Uaiied lect of the legis alton
States. or fos'ir gpse / contemplate is to
d'tisu Ietiki" the Unit P q L DOWN this
ed STATES; 10 e1ci,e outside interference
any uRtGDfal esEabi- it IS to repress the
nations therein, for {. irrepressible con-
sppesin9 or resisting fict.'
any tau Of The Uaihd Sir, give US such
Sfates. or any act of Law as the Constitu-
| the Pres,deni of the tion contemplates and
United States, doue authorizes, and will
/ in pursuance Of any show { h e Senator
/ such law, or Of the from New York (Mr.
powers In him vested Scward) that there is
bv the Constitution Unconstitutional mode
of the United Ststes; of repressing the 'ir-
then such persons be repressible conflict
ing there OF convict / will open the pris
ed before anv court lou doors to allow
of the United States conspirators against
having jurisdiction the peace of the Re-
thereof, shall bel pun. public and domestic
ishei by fine not tranquility of our
exceeding two thous States TO select their
and dollars, and By cells wherein to drag
Imprisonment notex out miserable life,
ceeding two yesrs. as punishment for
{ their crimes against
the peace of socIety-'
But" says The Douglas Democrat.
"ihat was inleaded for such murderous
outlaws az John Brown and his followers,
aud that WIS wha. Mr. Douglas meant in
his speech" Then why did he speak thus
falsely OF the Republican party, knowing
! full well that i. is only the extension Of
American slavery against which that party
wages its warfare And why did he vote
/ against the amendment of Senator Harlan,
/ OF Iowa, which was a conclusive test OF
the Hoa. gentlemsn's intentions If it be
true that slavery i Divine institution,
eau it ee damaged any by free discussion
Ne arr told that ruth i mighty and will
prevail; IS il any less mighty in regard to
slavery Here Is the amendment
But the free discussion of the morality
aud expediency of slavery should never
ue interfered with by laws of any State. or
the United States. ADD The freedom Of speech
and of the prees, or this aud every other
subject OF domestic aud national policy,
should be maintained inviolate IN ali the
STATES"
For this amendment all the Republicans
present voieh; ali the Democrats present,
including Mr.. Douglas, voted against il,
causing it 10 be rejected. There was moth
ing wrong in the proposed amendnent-it
contained nothing favorable to treason or
sediiion, aud offered no pa,hation for the
wrong which the Act was ostensib.y in
tended to eradicate. II. however, proved
one thing. that the sole object Of the Act
proposed by Mr. Douglas, was to defead
aud perpeiuate slavery. Not coni.nt with
removing the Missouri Compromise which
he said was can ,nized in the hearts Of the
people; with introducing the Kansas Ne
traska bill, which deprived the people OF
the Territory Of eight-ninths of their sov
-reignty (and the SaPreme Court took the
resl); with favoring the iniguitous Eng
Iish bill. the bsssst Of them all; with be-
ing The means, according to his own testi-
mony. OF extending slavery over Territory
, five times the extent of New fork-not
content with ali this. he must needs do ont
mere sersils act for his exaeting masters
n aud the proposed sedition Law ia the re
: suit
htff utiHk QtEf7AHA buc DC1etS -
direction of federal power wholly favorabl
TO the S .uth, aud denounced by those VIII
few abort months before were his friend
ly comppers, he still crouch~d benea III
lash, licking the very rod that smote hiu
to the ground. Aud now the A1ericaI
people are presented with most ridicu
lous spectacle-this same Senator peram
- bulating the States, making stump speech
esiu favor of himself for the Presideney.-
Not having received the sanction OF reg
ular nomination from his party. not ever
a satisfactory recommendation from thos
J. who we're favorable to him in the Conven'
tions, he still has the presumption to I'M
n a ,ine that he is q candidate for the high
It est office in the gift OF the people.
7. II that portion Of the Democracy no"
a ever, usually known by the prefix Doug
~ las" are satisfied with their man, sediiio
: record snd alt. we eeriaiUly cannot oblee
It. a. he viii not receive The electoral vote