The semi-weekly mountain Democrat., 1860-09-26

.
would destroy the great principles Of pop
ular equality mot popular sovereignty
which must necessarily form the basis Of
| ali institutions. It would be Tetrograde
movement in an age Of progress that
would astOnish the world" Ito 20 amend
the Constitution as to preserve an equi-
librium between the slave and free States.)
-Appendix, Congregational Globe, 1850,
rOL %, part !, page 81.
And how was it that "the cause Of
freedom steadily and firmly advanced,
while slavery rcceded In the same ratio?"
Why, it was mainly by carrying out "the
fundamental principles ofthe government
in Congressional acts Of slavery prohibi-
ton. He deprecated retrOgrade move.
ment," which would check the "gradual
system Of emancipation" (or abolitiOn,)
which he had confidence" would make
free the seven States named. Hc saw the
irrepressible conflict" between freedom
and slavery, and wanted the influence Of
the government kept on the side Of free
dom, and denounced the idea that an
equilibrium of free and slave States in the
Union was desirable. He secuted the
proposition that the Union was to remain
"half slave and half free" What was
afterwards reasonable in Mr.. Lincoln, vas
then very proper in Mr.. Douglas. --
We will now see how:
81. DOUGLAS DESouScEs ALI. ETERvESnoN.
This part of his path is too we'll under
stood to need much notice. All under
stand what is meant by /" the great prin-
ciple Of popular sovereignty" We viii
gave but two extracts, TO mark his trad
in this department:
&C. The people of Territory can, by
lawful means, exclude slavery from their
limits prior to the formation Of State
Consf;fuf;on ------ ----% %---~ 80 -
If the people are opposed to slavery, they
will elect representatives who will, by
unfriendly legislation, effcctSally prevent
the introduction Of 1t into their midst. y
Hence, TO matter what the de-
cision Of the Supreme Court may be, still
the right Of che people to make slave
Territory or q free Territory. DOtgLGG'
Speech at Freepert, 1853. ...
Il firmly and ccnscientiOHsly believe
that there Is no safety for the country, ne
hope for the preservation Of the Union,
except by faithful and rigid adheRenoe
to the doctrines Of noninlerven6ion by
Congress in the Territories. Intervention
means disunion." - DOWgl0e's letter to
Richardson before his nomination.
The emphatic statement that "inter-
vcntion [by Congress with slavery IN the
Territories means disuDion," is plaiR
enough fer anybody. The entire question
whether slavery slrall or shall not exist in
the Territories rests with the people there
Of, "no matter what the decision Of the
Supreme Court may bel" There is NOW
"no safety for the country, no hope foI
the preservation of the Umon," excepa
through the nonsinteTvenEon by Goa
gress" in this matter.
Lastly, and
Atm. DOUGLAS INTERVIEWS FOR sLAvERE'
The convention that pat Mr.. Doaglas
in nomination for the Presidency unani'
mously adopted the following resolution
Resolned, That it is in accordance with
the Cincinnati Platform, that during ElFt
existence Of Territorial government tx
measure or restriction, Wfatever Il msN
be, imposed by the Federal COnstlntics
on the power of the Territorial legfsle
ture over the subject Of the domestic re
lat;ons, as the same has been or .slsas
hereafter be finally determined BY M
Supreme Court Of the United States,
should be respected by all good citizens
and enforced promPtness and fdekty
by every branch Of the General Covers
ment. v
Here the doctrine Of Intervention 9eI
the protection Of slavery in the Terrific
ries against the unfriendly legislation,
| Of the people thereof is boldly and com
plctcly set forth, SO boldly, indeed, tina
many Of Mr.. Douglas warmest friend
seek to deny the binding force Of the re
solution on them or their candidate. Be-
what says Mr.. Douglas himself on NtIi
point? In his letter Of acceptance he ssYs
upon n careful examination Of fh
platform Of principles adopted atsOharacs
ton and reaffirmed at Baltimore, With iaI
! additional resolution which is in peT'fec
harmony with tho Others, I find It 70 b
faithful embodiment Of the time-hon0Fe'
principles Of the Democratic party, H1'6h
same were proclaimed and understood b,
all parties in the Presidential contests Q
lS46, 1852 and 1855" -
| So he would have his adhcrents believ
that Congressional and Executive initea
ventiOn for forcing slavery upon the pee
! pie Of the Territory, in spite Gr tDsej
priShes, is Gin perfect harmony" with eth
complete and perfect right OF the peopl
to make slave or free Territory" ia 'of
position to the Supreme Court or an
other authority
Having thus followed this trickste
through his labyrinthine course, we 1eav
the picture with the reader.