Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-08-11

! 10 CODplhinJS OF outrage almost WithOu
n parallel in the civilization Of the cour
try. These despoied pioneers, who ha
taken mp their abodes in the Territory On
der the most solemn guarantees of sell
government, only asked to prove their aC
cusation, and to be relieved from eppres
sion. In other words, they declured the,
had never been able to enjoy self-govern
ment that they were ruled by invadors
and demanded the sovereignty conferred
by law upon them. Mr.. Douglas shoul,
have been the first man to dy to their re
lief and if he had been as completed,
dedicated to the principles of bis bill, O
some would make us believe, he would hayt
urged investigation and carried it. So fa
from having done so, be put hiuself in th,
lead ct those Senators most hostile TO al
exposition, and become the mere mouth
piece, advocate aud apologist of those en-
gagged in the work Of forcing slavery upor
an unwilling people He enjoyed at thai
time the full confidence of the South. anc
his democracy was orthodox, because he
was loyal to his task masters. willing &c
do battle for their most extravagant de-
mands. He was then chairman of the
Committee on Territories, and call at
tention 10 his report as snch, made March
IL, 1856, as conclusive upon the point |
have stated. In that paper he could find
nothing to say against foreign conspiracics
to invade the soil of Kansas and control
elections. but he had much to offer in con.
demnation of Eastern associations to en-.
courage removal tbiiher. He could discover
no irregularities in the return of Mr.. Whit
field, the pro-saVery delegate to the House
of Representatives, but he clearly discerned
that the Territorial Legislature was Ie-
gally elected body, with perfect authority
TO enact the most cruel and arbitrary slave
codes, and that the complaints of fraud
and force were gotten up merely to stimn-
late and excite northern emigration. At
the time of which speak there was no one
in Congress or ont Of Congress, in Office or
out of Office, who exerted himself more un
tiringly to perpetuate that reign of terror
inaugurated to insure the admission of Kan.
sas Into the Union as a slave state / feat
there are many now bearing up the banner
inscribed with the name of this Senator,
who have never understood, or who have
forgotten this tarnished page of his history
If there has eve$ been more determined
foe to the growth or freedom in Kansas,
or TO the principles of the Nebraska Kan
sas bill than Stephen A. Douglas. he has
able to keep himself very much under COW
er. 1t is gratifying, however, to make a
single remark in his favor it is this, that
he seems as willing as the most ardent OF
his friends to divert attention from this
period in his career. am not aware that,
in either essay or address, he has yentured
to recur to it but, on the contrary, he
seems disposed to treat it as blank in his
life. .... ....
Whilst these proceedings where progress
ing in the Senate, the other branch Of Con
gress carried resolutions of investigation
under close division ofparties, and sent Sc.
lect committee to the Territory. The conse-
uuence was such an exposure as satisfied
the country not only Of the truth of every
thing charged, but of existing conspiracies
beyound anything that had beeu imagined.
The published evidence effectually revealed
the intentions of the South, and made a
deep impression upon the North. 1t was
then established that neither law nor pro-
prieties were to be allowed to stand in the
way Of slavery extension ; and we are al
most driven to the conclusion that the re-
peal of the Missouri Restriction was bnt a
part of the general aud well.matured pan
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
unlikely that desire for reelection, and a
knowledge of the conviction forced upon his
State by the examination alluded to, induced
him to look with different eyes upon Kansas,
aud created anxiety on his part to take up
the cause of her robbed and wretched peo.
pie. / cannot certainly say how this may
have been l only state a sudden and
miraculous change came over him, for a
while he.seemed TO glory in the name oI
"rebel" He opposed the admission OF
Kansas under the Lecompton ConstitioT
with seeming seriousness, aud then announ
ced his determination to vote for the greater
inionity, the English Bill" 1t was then
the honored and heroic Harris, who now
sleeps in death, shed tears of anguish, anC
give utterance to his despair. Over th
again the vail has been carefully and closely
drawn by the guardians Of Mr.. Douglas
fame. His admirers have acted wisely, a
it has prevented, doubtless, many unpleasant
surmises and suggestions. To that boldest
and truest aud greatest of all the warrior
10 the battle for the right David G. Broder
ick, is Mr.. Douglas indebted for his rescu
from whirlpool which would certainly hav,
engulphed him-from a stain which wouIC
have 'oblterated his herosm in connection
with the cause to which he had so Ostenta
tiously professed to devote himself / with
hold the words in which the scathing rebukt
was clothed. Audyet this noblest and mos
selfsaerifieing of men, Mr.. Douglas protcc
tor, the martyr to truth I; wherin the fulnes
of bis heart, and on his dying couch, ex
claimed, "they have killed me, they hay
murderd, me, because was opposed to tn
extension of slavery and a corrupt Admins
tration. Upon his return home. and IN IN
hour of his sternest trial when fighting, lik
Spartacus, upon his bended knees, agaIns
the pensioned hordes of the present dynasty
and at time when be had IA right to ezpec
all possible aid from the man whose lnteres
he had made bis own, found oil the sym
pathies of Mr.. Douglas extended to his op
ponents, and himself treated as an enem,
aud an offcast, If we would respect th