The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-02-14
Douglas, Seditlon Act.

How humiliating is it 10 see the leaders OF I
party once respectable, volunteering to disgrace
their country, AID consign their own names t
infamy, by psndering to the pro-slavery, disunioI
sentiments of the South. At every step in th'
downward course of the Democratic party 1t ha
seemed to US there was no lower deep into which
it could sink, but somehow it has Away
managed to fnd one. In speaking Of Douglas
late Sedition speech, which il has bid for tn
Presidency, the Advertiser says:
The Alien aud Sedition law Of John Adam
was a very mild and harmless measure in cOmpar
ison with the Sedition bill recently submitted il
the c. S. Senate By Douglas The former Wa
only designed to prevent hbels against the Gov
eminent, while the latter is directly intended e
punish as treason all opinions hostile TO slavery
Its object is to crush out all freedom Of speech o.
action against that great national curse. In hi
infamous speech, accompanying his more infa
nous bill, the miserable demagogue said:
Without stopping to adduce evidence in de
TAIL | have no hesitation in expressing my fin
conviction that the Harper's Ferry crime was III,
natural, logical, ineuitabie result Of the doctrne'
and teachings Of the Republican party, as ex
planned and enforced in their platform, their par
tizan presses, their pamphlets and books, and es
pecially OF their leaders in and out of Congress.
Hence he assumes that the doctrines Of the
Republican party, the only object of which is to
prevent the extension and check the aggressinns
of slavery, are reasonable, leading directly &c
open war upon the institutions" Of the South
Having assumed this position, he proceeds thus
to point out the remedy:
"The Constitution has given the power, and
all We ask of Congress j. TO give the means, and
we BIZ indictments and CONNECTIONS an the Fede-
raj Courts of oar screrai States, ,oiH make a.ch
examples Of the leaders of these cOnspirdcies as
,o,H strike terror into tie hearts OF others, and
there will be an end Of this crusade. The great
principle that underies the organiziti n of the
Republican party is violent, irreconcilabe, eter-
nal warfare upon the Institution of American
slavery, with the view of its ultimate extinction
throughout the land. Sir, Icontess the object OF
the legislation ] contemplate IS to PIT io,cn his
outside interference; 1t Is to rrpress Mis IRE
pressijie conflict"
This is the remedy All who profess the prin.
cples that he has just toldu s form the Republican
creed, are to be INDICTED AND CONVICTED
IN FEDERAL COURTS, an order to strike ter
ror into the hearts of oti.srs' Every man who
has the boldness To profess Republican principles
aud vote for Republican men, to be dragged
into "federat Courts for ssition, and tried and
convicted in order to strike terror into the hearts
of the people, and compel them to abandon their
opposition to slavery. This is the platform upon
which Stephen A. Douglas is TO stand in the COM
ing Presidential contest-this is Douglas DemOc.
racy. With such a law, nine-tenths of the Nor
thern people would be subject to punishment for
sedition, or compelled forever to close their
mouths upon question which so nearly concerns
their welfare.