The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1860-02-16

to be deceived BY it. Applause.
| Leaving aside the stern reputation which
Mr.. Douglass popular sovereignty has
csived at the hands of the people at the last
State elections all over the Union, it is
characteristic sign of the times, that even
one of his political friends. an nt-Lecomp-
ton Democrat, recently went SO far as to de-
clare, on the floor of Congress, that he would
no. vote for Mr.. Douglas. il nominated by
! the Charleston Convention, unless clear
and unequivocal construction were affixed
| to the reafirmation of the Cincinnati plat
/ FORM A wise precaution. indeed! But
whatever construction nigh. be given 10 the
! Cincinnati platform, what viii that gentleman
do with the double faced platform which Mr..
/ Douglas has laid down for himself? What
will the abstract pledge of convention be
worth to him, if Mr.. Douglass principles
pledge him to nothing? What will he do
unequivocal position, is always ready to
sneak behind superior authority. declaring
that "these are questions 20 be settled by the
courts?" Laughter and applause
Mr.. Doug lass situation Is certainly very
perplexing one. On one side, he is ostran-
cised by the Administration Democracy for
his illogical and unconstitutional doctrine,
that the Legislature Of a Territory has con-
troll over slavery; and. on the other hand, one
of his nearest friends. Mr. Morris, of Illi-
nos, in bis recent speech on the Presidents
me sage, denounces the doctrine, that slave
property may be carried into the Territories
just like other property. as an atroclous
.'abomination' Was Mr.. Morris not aware
that this determination" is the Identical doc,
trine advocated by Mr.. Douglas in his New
! Orleans speech? Let Mr. Morris examine
the record of Judge Douglas, and he will
find out that whatever abominatlon AIR.
Buchanan brings forward in his message, he
advocates none that is not a direct logical
consequence of Mr.. Douglass own admis-
sions.
/ see the time coming when those who
rallied around Douglass colors, because
they believed in his principles, will, from his
most devoted friends, become his most indig
nans accusers. They already unwt-
tingly, denouncing his doctrines, when they
intend to defer him; they will not be
sparing in direct denunciatious
they discover how badly they had been de-
ceived. and how ignomniousiy they were to
be sold. We might. indeed. feel tempted to
pity him. It We had not to reserve that gen
erous emotion Of our hearts for those who
are wrong by mistake and unfortunate with
out guilt. Applause.
Mr. Douglass ambiguous position. which
makes it possible for him to cheat either the
North or South. without adding new in
consistency to those already committed,
makes it at the same time necessary for him
to put his double faced theories upon an
historical basis, which relieves him of the
t necessity of expressing moral CONVICTION
on the matter of slavery either way. To say
that slavery Is right, would certainly dis
please the North; to say that slavery is
r wrong, would inevitably destroy him at the
: South. In order to dodge this dangerous
dilemma, he finds it inexpedient to construe
, the history Of this country so to show that
this Question of right or wrong in regard to
! slavery had nothing whatever 10 do with the
fundamental principles upon which the
: American Republic was founded. Dealing
with slavery only as matter OF fact. and
f treating the natural rights OF man and the
; relation between slavery and republican in
2 institutions as a matter of complete indlffer
ence, he is bound to demonstrate that slavery
never was seriously deemed inconsistent with
liberty, and that the black never seri
j ously supposed to possess any rights which
5 the white man was bound TO respect.
2 But here he encounters the Declaration of
Independence laying down the fundamental
principles upon which the Republic was TO
develop itself; he encounters the ordinance
OF 1897. the practical application of those
principles; both historical facts, as stern and
> stubborn as they ara sublime. But as Mr.
r Douglas had no logic 10 guide him in his
theories. so he had no conscience to restrain
G him in his historical constructions. To in
: terpret the Declaration of independence ac-
] cording to the evident meaning of its words
: would certainly displease the South; to call
: it seli-eyident lie would certainly shock
. the moral sensibilities of the North. So he
q recognises it as venerable document, but
: makes the language. which is So dear to the
2 hearts of the North, express a meaning
: which comedies with the ideas of the South
We have appreciated his exploits as a
logician; let US follow him in bis historial dis
: coveries.
: Let your imagination carry your back TO
: the year 1776 You stand in the
: hall of the old Colonial Cour, house of Phil
: adelp phia. Through the open door you see
" the Continental Congress assembled; the mo-
. ment Of q great decision is drawing near
), Look at the earnest faces Of the men assem-
: bled there. aud consider what you may e1-
l. pect Of them. The philosophy of the egh-
J. teeuth century counts many of them among
q its truest adopts. They welcomed heartily
l. in their scattered towns and plantations the
e new ideas brou ,ht forth by that sudden pro-
gress Of humanity. and. medisating them in
the dreamy solitude of virgin nature, they
. had enlarged the compass Of their thoughts,
e and peo7led their imaginations with lofty
10 ideals. A classical education for mos: o.
~ them are by no means iIiiterate men) has
Ie put all the treasures of historical knowledge
AZ at their disposal. and enabled them to apply
. the experience OF past centuries to the new
., problem they attempt to solve. See others
% there Of simple bas strong cast of mind
s. whom common sense would call its trues,
!! representatives. Wont to grapple with the
p dangers and difficulties of an early settler:
IN life, or. if Inhabitants of young uprising cit
N les, wont to carry quick projects into speedy
Oh sxecu,ion they havs become rarardleSs a