St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-08-09

offer in condemnation of Eastern associa-
tions to encourage removal thither. He
could discover no irregularities in tile re-
turn Of Mr.. Whitfield, the pro-slavery del
egate, to the House of Representatives, but
he clearly discerned that the Territorial
LEGISLATURE was legally 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 stimulate and excite North
crn emigration. At the time Of which I
speak, there was no one in Congress or out
OF Congress, in Office or out of Office, who
exerted himself more untiringly to rerpet-
uate that reign Of terror inau gurated to in
sure the admission Of Kansas into the Un-
ion as slave State. fear there are many
now bearing up the banner inscribed with
the name Of fnthis Senator, who never have
fully understood, or who have forgotten
this tarnished page in his history. If there
has ever been more determined foe to
the growth of freedom in Kansas, or to the
principles of the Nebraska Kansas bill than
Stephen A: Doug las, he has been able to
keep himself very much under cover. It
is gratifying, however, to make single re-
mark in his favor, it is this, that he seems
as willing as the most ardent of his friends
to divert attention from this period of his
career. am not aware that, in either es-
say or address, he has ventured to recur to
it; but on the contrary he seems disposed
to treat it as blank in his life. ~>s- '''''@
Whilst these proceedings were progress
sing in the Senate, the: other branch of
Congress, carried resolutions of investlga-
tion under close division Of parties. and
sent select Committee to the Territory.
The consequence was such an exposure as
satisfied the country not only Of the truth
of everything charged, but Of existing con-
spiracies beyond anything that had been
imagined, The published evidence effect
ualy revealed the intentions of the South,
and made deep impression upon: the
North. It was then established that nei-
ther law nor properties 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 a general and well-ma-
tured plan Of operation, at the head Of
which stood the sclf.crowned chief of pop
ular Territorial Government. Mr.. Doug
las term of Office was now approaching its
close. It is not unlikely that desire for
a rc-election, and a knowledge of the con-
viction forced upon his State by the exam
nation alluded to, induced him to look
with different eyes upon Kansas, and Gre
ated an anxiety on his part to- take up the
cause of her robbed and wretched people.
I cannot certainly say how this may have
been, I only state sudden and mirracu-
lous change came over HIM, and for while
he seemed to glory in the name of 'rcbel'>
He opposed the admission of Kansas under
the Lecompton constitution with seeming
seriousness, and then announced his deter
mination to vote for the greater iniquity,
the "English Bill" It was then the hon
ored and heroic Harris, who now sleeps in
death, shed tears of anguish, and gave ut
terance to his despair. Over this, again,
the veil has been carefully and closely
drawn by the guardians of Mr.. Douglas
fame. His admirers have acted wisely, as
it has prevented, doubtless, many unpleas-
ant surmises and suggestions. To that
boldest, and truest, and greatest Of all the
warriors in the battle for the right, David
G.. Broderick, IS Mr.. Douglas indebted for
bis rescue from whirlpool which would
certainly have engulphed him-from a
stain which would have obliterated his he
roism in connection with the cause to which
he has SO ostentatiously protested to devote
HIMSELF, 1 withhold the words in which
the scathing rebuke was clothed: And yet
this noblest and most self sacrificing of
men, Mr.. Douglas protector, the martyr to
truth, who in the fulness of his heart and
on his dying couch exclaimed, "they have
killed me, they have murdered me, because
I was opposed to the extension of slavery
and corrupt administration" upon his re-
turn home, and in the hour Of his sternest
trial, when fighting; like; Spartacus, upon
his bended knees, against the pensioned
hordes Of the present dynasty, and at a
time when he had a right TO expect all pos
sible aid from the man whose interest he
had made his own, found all the sympa-
thies of Mr.. Douglas extended to his oppo-
nents, and himself treated as an enemy and
an otfcast. # we would respect the mem
ory Of Broderick we can never support
Douglas J; it would be a mark Of baseness
and servility: IF ever. there was true son
of the North, inhumanly broken in spirit,
and who had reason to exclalm, 't'saye me
from my friends" that man was David G..
Broderick. Had Stephen A. Douglas but
discharged the duty he sacrcdly owed him,
he would have gained victory for freedom
in California, and would to-day, in my
opinion, be living in the land, and ac-
knowledged as one Of the foremost men in
the republic. He laid down his life to at
test his sincerity; many who professed to
love him will, in wild. revel and reckless
exultation, ,.utterthe name of himcwho could
not ,dad time Or o. opportunity 'tu1 ty to speak E