Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-08-04
STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS


the most true and faithful of the Anti-Lccomp-
ton Democrats in the country. Not being able
like some who were at one time associated with
him to "turn about and wheel about ut the
command of the slave power, he has Joined the
great army which is marching under the lead
OF the gallant Lincoln. In speech delivered
at Philadelphia, July 9th, he reviews the po-
sitions Of the several Presidential candidates,
and in so doing draws the following truthful
picture of Stephen A. Douglas:
Whatever conclusion may be drawn as to my
estimate of Mr.. Brcckinrdgc's character as Il
politician, | can only say that my esteem for him
/ is profound when brought into comparison with
! that which | entertain for his Democratic COM
/ pcttor. There are few, if any living men con-
| corning whom more has been said, and less
really known, than Stephen a. Douglas of ILL.,
nos. There are thousands, by far too many
thousands, now sustaining him under the mis-
taken and delusivc idea that he is directing his
/ efforts to counteract the plans of the Southern
/ Democracy. This is lrightfu hallucination,
/ but natural one, when We take into consdera-
ton the humiliating fact that all that devotion
could do has been done, by those surrounding
his person, to distOrt true record, and to stamp
Il counterfeit character for him on the public
mind. Pic,ciHg him as one If tie mast unsafe
0,d tredcherOus Of iead1s, you will pardon me
certain statements which it now seems ncccssa-
/ ~ should he made and the correctness of which.
/ presume, win not be impugncd. ] have not
yet forgotten when, in the winter of 1866,
/ during the first session Of the Thirty fourth
/ Congress, the residents Of Kansas asscvcrating
/ that the cardinal principles Of the Nebraska
/ Kansas act had been wantonly and wickedly
nulliled that fraud and violence, concocted in
the lodgcs Of Missouri had invaded their
homes and imposed foreign rule upon them
for the purpose of forcing upon them insiitu-
tons which they abhorrcd, and invoking the
interposition Of Congress in their behalf, the
pridcd father Of "untrammclcd popular SOY.
ercignty" turned his back upon his violated
child, and closed his cars, as in DEATH to com
plants of outrage almost without parallel in
the civilization of the country These despoil-
cd pioneers, who had taken up their abode in
the Territory under the most solemn guarantees
Of selfgov"rnmcnt, only asked to prove their
accusation, and to be relieved from oppression.
In other words, they declared that they had
never been able to enjoy sclfgovernment, that
they were ruled by invaders, and demanded the
sovereignty conferred by law upon them. Mr.
Douglas should have been the first man to fly
to their relief; and if he had been as complete
~ dedicated TO the principles of his bill as some
would would make us believe, he would have
urged investigation and carried il. So far from
UANllP uoHe So ne put nlWnCH III the lCoU OF
those Senators most hostile to an exposition
and became the mere mcuth-piece, advocate
and apologist Of those engaged in the work of
forcing Slavery upon an unwilling people. lie
enjoyed at that time the full confidence Of the
South, and his democracy was orthodox, because
he was loyal to his task masters, willing TO do
battle Cor their most cXtrayagant demands. He
was then Chairman of the Committee on Terri
tories, and call attention TO his report as SUCH
l..
point | have stated. In that paper he could
find nothing to say against foreign conspiracrs
to invade the soil of Kansas and control elect
ions, but he had much to offer in condemnation
Of eastern associations to encourage removal
ihithcr He could discover no irregularities in
the return of Mr.. Whitfield the Pro- Slavery
Delegate to the House of Representatives, but
he clearly discerncd that the Territorial Legisla-
ture was a lcgally-elected body, with perfect
authority to enact the most cru,l and arbitrary
slave Codes and that the complaints of fraud
and force were gotten up merely to stimulate
and excite Northern emigration. AT the time
of which speak. there was no one in Congress
or out of Congress, in office or out Of Office
who exerted himself more untiringly to per-
petua,e that reign of terror inans"rated TO III
sure the admission ot Kansas into the Cuion as
a slave State. fear there are many now bear
ing up the banner inscribed with the name of
this Senator, who never have fully understood
or who have forgotten this furnished page in
his history. II there has orer been . more de-
teImiae| .foe 10 tie gro,rth Of free,lom IN KGa-
s0y, ar II Hepr'Hcipies IF The NcjrdSkG- Kanscs
, hill. HGn Stephen i. DoRgias, he has Jec,, aGle
to Keep himscii cery much mdeH core1 1t is
gratifying, however, to make a single remark in
his favor: it is this that he seems as willing as
the most ardent Of his friends to divert attention
from this period in his career. | am not aware
that, IN either essay or address, he has venturcd
to rccur to it, but on the contrary he seems
disposed to treat it as blank in his life.
While these proceedings were progressing in
the Senate the other branch of Congress. car
l ried resolutions Of investigation under clio Sc
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 every thing charged but of exist
ing conSplraceS beyond anything that had been
imagined. The published evidence efFectualN
revealed the intentions of the South and made
II deep impression upon the North. 1t was
then established that neither law nor prophecies
were 10 be allowed TO stand in the way of
Slavery extension; and we are almost driven
to the conclusion that the repeal of the Mis-
souri, Restriction but u part of II general
and well maturcd plan of operations at the head
of which stood the self-cruwncd chief of pop
Ilar Territorial Government Mr.. Douglas
term OF office was now approaching its close
II is not unlikely that desire for a re- eet ton.
and knowledge of the conviction forced up
ON his State by the examination alluded to- in
duccd him to look with different ewes upon Kan
saS, and create an anxiety on his part TO take
up the cause of her robbed and wretched peo-
pie. cannot certainly say how this may have
been only that a sudden and miraculous change
came over him, and for a while he seemed to
glory in the name of the "rebel." He opposed
the admission of Kansas under the Iecompton