Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-06-07
Lincoln on Slavery.

From Lincons Debates with Douglas we
extract the following which give pretty
clear idea of his position slavery which we
commend to those who charge ultraism upon
him. In reply to certain questions propouA.
ded by Judge Douglas he says
"Now, my friends, il will be preceived,
upon an examination Of these questions and
answers, that SO. lar have only aswered
that was not peledged to this, that, or the
other. The Judge has not framed his in.
terrogatories to ask me anythink more than
this. and have answered in strict accord
ance with the interrogatories, and have
answered truly that l am not pledged at all
upon any Of the points to which I have
answered But am not disposed to hang
upon the exact form of his interrogatory. l
am rather disposed to take up at least some
OF these questions, and state what really
think upon them. ..
GAS to the FIRST one, in regard to the Fu-
eitve Slave law, have never hesitated TO
say, and do now hesitate to soy, that,
think, under the Constitution OF the United
States, the people Of Southern States are
entitled to Congressional Fugitive Slave
law. Having said that had nothing to
say in regard to the existing Fugitive Slave
law, further than that think it should have
been framed so as to be free from some Of
the objections that pertain to it without les
sening Its efficiency. And, nnsmuch as we
are not now in an agitation in regard to
an alteration or modification of that law, ]
would not be the man to introduce It as a
new subject Of agitation upon the general
question Of Slavery.
ain regard to the other question. ofwheth.
er am pledged to the admission Of any more
Slave States into the Unisn, ! state to you
very frankly that would be exceedingly
sorry ever to be put in position of having
to pass upon that question should be ex.
ceedingy glad to know that there would
never be another Slave State admitted into
the Union; but must add that, IL Slavery
must he kept out of the Territories during
the Territorial existence of any one given
Territory, and then the people shall. having
a fair chance and clear field, when they
come to adopt their Constitu, ion, do such
an extraordinary thing as to adopt Slave
Constitution, uninfuenced by the actual
presence of the institution among them, |
see no alternative, IL we own the country,
but to admit them into the Union.
"The third interogatory is answ cred by
the answer to the second, it being, as con-
ccive. the same as the second.
The fourth one is in regard TO the aboli-
tion Of slavery in the District of Columbia.
10 relation to that, I,have my mind vely dis
tinctly made up. should be exceedingly
glad to see Slavery abolished in the Dis.
trct of Columbia. believe that Congress
possesses the constitutional power to abolish
it. Yet as member of Congress, ! should
no, with my present views be in favor of
endeavoring to abolish slavery in the Dis
trict Of Columbia. unless upon
these conditions; First. that the abolition
should be gradual; second, that it should be
on vote Of the majority of qualified voters
in the District; and third, that compensa-
tion should be made to unwilling owners.
With these three conditions, / confess
would be exceedingly glad to see Congress
abolish slavery in the District Of Columbia,
and, in the language of Henry Clay, l"sweep
from our Capital, that foul blot upon our ma
tion" +" =, t -