The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-09-20

cannot prevent US from travelling out o.
the yellow covers of Hrrper's Magazine
into the open records of history, where We
find MIR. Jefferson's apti-slssery clause
although accidently lost in 1854, stTenu.
ously insisted upon by the leading spirit.
Of the Republic, ipcorpor ated in the erea,
act of 1887, solemnly resffirned By the
first Congress under the Constitution, and
firmly maintained even against the petit
tion of the people of one Of the Terrific
ries. [Cheers.] This is the true "Jef.
fersonian plan,' the plan which Jefferson
framed. voted for. and which was carried
out in his spirit; not that nangled report
Of l7s4, which Mr.. Douglas wants US to
take as the the foundation Of all Terrific.
rial goverument, because an historical as.
cident bapnsus to coincide with bis
schemes.
That true Jefersonian plan rested, in
deed. on the principle of popular sovsr-
eighty; but it will be conceded that Mr..
Jeferson's great principle was as widely
different from that of Mr.. Douglas as the
ordinance of 1857 is different from the
Nebraska bill. While Mr.. Jeferson's
notion of popular sovereignty sprung from
the idea that man has certain inalienable
rights which the majority shall not en-
croach upon, Mr.. Douglass doctrine rests
upon the idea shat the highest develop
mept Of liberty consists in the right of one
class of men to hold another clsss of men
as slaves, if they see 6t to do SO. Ap.
plause.l While Mr.. Jefferson excluded
slavery from the Territories, IN Order 10
make roam t0r true popular sovereignty,
Mr.. Douglas invents bis false popular SOW
ereignty, in order to make room for sla-
very The ordinance of 1881, the true
"JeffersoDian plan" was indeed no mere
accid mt, no mere occasional act of legis-
lation. 1t spraug from the idea, as Mad
ison expressed it, "that republican insti-
tutions would become fallacy, where
slavery existed" and in order to suarau-
ty republican institutions to the Terrific
ries, they excluded slavery.
The ordinance Of 1887 was the logical
offspring of the principles upon which
your independence and your Constitution
are founded; it is the practical appIiea-
of the Declaration of Independence on
the government of the Territories. Its
very existence sets completely at nought
Mr.. Douglass doctrine and historical con-
siruction, and the dwsrfsh baud Of the
demagogue tries in vain to tear this bright
page out of your annals. Cheers The
ordinance of 1877 stands written on the
very gate posts ofthe Northwestern States;
written on every grain field that waves in
the breeze, on every factory that dots the
course of their rushing waters, on every
cottage that harbors thrifty freemen; crit
ten in every heart that rejoiees over the
blessings of liberty. Long continued
Applause There it stands in charse-
ters of light. Only blind man cannot
see it; only fool can misunderstood it;
only knave can wifully misinterpret it.
[ Repeated cheers.
Such is Mr.. Douglass principle of pop
ular sovereignty in its logical and histor-
ical aspect; apparently adopting the doc
trne that slavery is the creature of local
law only, and fighting against Congress
sional slave code, but, on the other hand,
admitting the very principle on which
protection to slave property becomes To-
gical necessity; and again assuming the
ground that slave property may be intro
duced where there is no local law, but
explaining away the logical consequences
of that doctrine by the transparent soph-
istry of unfriendly legislation: dragging
the proudest exploits of American states
uanship into the dust; emasculating the
Declaration of Indepe endence, because in
compatible with its principles; setting a.
side the ordinance of 1887, because that
stern fact is a conclusive historical arga-
ment against it; jesuitical piece of e.
quivocation and double dealing, unable
to stand before the criticism of logical
mind, because it is mixture Of glaring
contradictions; unable TO stop the acar Of
principles and interests, because st as at acar
aoith itself (Applause.) 1t is true, its
principal champion worked hard to Gov
er with bullying boisterousness the moral
COW ardice from which it sprang; but in
vain. He mistakes the motive power
which shapes the actions of free nations.
Having no moral convictions of his own
to stand upon, he could never address
bimself to Tie moral sense Of the people,
i (Sensation.) Having DO moral convlc-
tions of his ownl This is grave charge,
but know what | say. respect true
oonvictions wherever find them. Among
the ire.eaters of the South, there are men
who speak of the moral basis of slavery,
and believe iu it; who speak Of the bless
ipgs of servitude, and believe in it; who
assert that slavery is right, and belire it.
Atrocious as their errors may be, and
deeply as dsplors them, yet respect
their convictions as soon IS | fiBd them
out. But look into the record Of the
champion of popular sovereignty;" scan
it from syllable to syllable; and then tel
me, you Douglasites of the South, do you
find one word there indicating moral
conviction that slavery is right And
80, nooaI.s;tao IF the North who are in