Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-08-10

| Whatever conclusions may be drawn as to m,
estimate of Mr.. Brcckin-idge's character as poll
tcian, | can only say that my esteem for bim i
profound when brought into comparison with tina
which entertain for his Democratic competitor-
Ahere are few, if any, living concerning whom
more has been said, and less really known, thar
stephen A. Douglas of Illinois. There are thous.
ands, By far too many thousands, now sustaining
aim under the mistaken and deusiye idea that he il
elrectng his efforts to counteract the plans of the
Southern Democracy. This is frightful halluci.
h@tl0n, but natural one, when take into con
saeration the humIiatiDg fact that all that devo-
aon could do has been done, by those surrounding
DIS person, 20 distort true record, and to stamp
counterfeit character for him the pub lie mind.
Viewing him as one of the most unsafe and treacfi
eTous Of leaders, you viii pardon me for certain
statements which IL now seems necessary should be
inade, and the correctness of which, presume,
VIII not be impugned. Ihave not yet forgotten,
When in the winter of 1885, during the first ses-
sicn of the Thrty-fourth Congress- the residents
OF Kansas, aSSeyerating that the cardinal principle
81 the Kansas ebraska act had been wantonly ami
wlckedly nullifed, that pride and violence, con-
cscted in the blue lodges of Missouri had invaded
Their homes and imposed foreign rule upon them
for the purpose Of forcing upon them Institutions
which they abhorr ed, and invoking the interposi-
tien OF Congress In their behalf, the prded father
OF s'untrammeled popular sovereignty turned his
back upon his violated child, and losed his ears, as
IA death, to complaints of outrage aim ost without
despoIied pioneers, who had taken up their abode
IN the territory under the most solemn guarantees
OF self government, only asked to prove their ac-
cusation; and to be relieved from oppression. In
other words, they declared they never had been
able to enjoy selfgoyernment that they were ruled
by invaders, aud demanded the sovereignty confer
red ey law upon them Mr.. Douglas should
have been the first to fly TO their relief and if
he bad been as completely dedicated to the princi-
pies OF his bill, as some would make us believe, he
Er hnrr al s.n4s- A
tar from having done so, he put himself in the lead
Of those Senators most hostile to exposition,
aud became the mere mouthpieee, advocate and
apoiogst of those engaged in the work of forci3g
slavery upon an unwilling people.
He enjoyed at that time the full confidence
Of the South, and has Democracy was ortho-
dox, because he'was loyal to his taskmasters,
wiling to do battle for their most extrava CANT
demands. He was then chairman of the Com
mlttee on Territories, and call attention to
bis report as such, made March Il, 1856, as
conclusive upon the point | have stated. Ia
that paper be could find nothing to say against
foreign conspiracies to invade the soil of Kan
sas and control elections, but be had much to
offer in condemnation of Eastern associations
to encourage removal thither. He could dis
cover no Irregularities in the return of Mr..
Whitfield, the pro slavery delegate 10 the
House OF Representatives, but he clearly dis
cerned that tne Territorial Legislature was a
legally elected body, with perfec. authority to
enact the most and arbitrary slave codes, and
that the complaints of fraud and force we're
gotten up merely 10 stimulate and excite North
ern emigration. At the time of which speak,
there was no one in Congress or out of Con-
grsss, in Office or out of Office, who exerted
biInself more uutiringly to perpetuate that
reign of terror Inaugurated to insure the a6
mission of Kansas into the Union as a slave
State. fear there are many now beariug up
the banner Inscribed with the name of this
Senator, VINO never have fully understood, or
who have forgotten, this tarnished page in bis
history. If there has ever been more deter
mined foe to the growth of freedom 10 Kan
sas til than Stephen A Douglas, he has been
able to keep himself very much under cover.
1t is gratifying, however, to make single re-
mark 10 bis favor; it is this, that he seems as
wiling as the most ardent of his friends to
to divert attention from this period in his ca
reer. | am not aware that, in either essay or
address, he has veutured to recur to ii; but,
on the contrary, be seems disposed to treat it
as blank in bis life.
Whilst these proceedings were progressing
in the Senate, the other branch of Congress
carried resolutions of Investigation under
close division of parties, and sent a select
TO the Territory. The consequence
was such au exposure as satisfied the country
not only of the truth of everything charged,
ba: of existing conspiracies beyond anything
that had been imagined. The published evi-
dence effeetually revealed the intentions of the
Soatb, aud made deep impression upon the
North. Lit was then established that neither
iam nor propr:etIes were to be allowed TO stand
in the way of slavery extension, and We are
almost driven to the conclusion that the repeal
of the Missouri Restriction was but part of
the general aud we'll matured plan of opera
tons, at tho head of which stood the self
crowned chief of popular Territorial Govern
ment. Mr.. Douglass term of Office was now
approaching Its close. 1t is not unlikely that
a desire for reelection, and knowledge of
the conviction forced upon his State by the
examination alluded to. induced him to look
with different eyes upon Kansas, and created
au anxiety on his Part to take up the cause of
her robbed and wretohed people. | cannot
certainly say DOW tDlS may nave oeeni ohIy
state sudden Ind miraculous change came
over him, and FOR awhile be seemed TO glory in
the name of "rebel.o He opposed the admis-
sion of Kansas under the Leeompton Consti-
tuition with seeming seriousness, aud then an-
bounced his determination to vote for the great
er iD:quity. The '.Eoellsh Bill" 1t was then
The honored and heroic Harris, who now sleeps
in death, shed tears of anguish, and gave ut
teraDce to his despair. Over this again the
veil has been carefully and closely drawn BY
the guardians Of Mr.. Douglas's fame. His ad-
nirers have acted wisely, az it has pre2snted,
doubtless, many unpleasant surlnises and sug-
yestions. To that boldest, and truest, and
greatest of all the warriors in the battle for
he right, David q. Broderick, is Mr.. Douglas