Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-10-10
VOL. mo. 7.
WHAT IT HAS DoNE!t

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great speech in the u. S. Senate, in which
he magnified the triumphs of Popular Soyer-
eighty for the cause of Slavery. This speech
was made with view of coaxing the Southern
ers into supporting him for President at the
then approaching Convention at Baltimore.
While it failed of its object at the South, it
has had the effect to open the eyes of North
ern Democrats as to the real bearing of ssnon-
Intervention" in reference to slavery. We
make the following extracts:
"But," said Mr.. Douglas, sswe are told the
necessary result OF this doctrine of non-inter-
vention, which gentlemen, by way of throwing
ridicule upon it, call popular sovereignty, is to
ueprive the South OF all participation in what
they call the common Territory of the United
States. That was the ground on which the
gentleman from Mississippi, (Mr. Davis,) pre-
dicated his opposition to the Compromise
Measure of 1850. lie regarded refusal 10 re-
peal the Mexican law as equivalent to the Will
mot Proviso; refusal TO deny to a Terrific
rial Legislature the right to exclude slavery as
equivalent to an exclusion. He believed at
that time that this doctrine did amount to a
denial of Southern rights; but they doubted
it. Now let me see how far his predictions
and suppositions have been verified. / infer
that he told the people SO, for he makes il a
charge in his bill of indictment against me,
that am hostile to Southern rights because
l gave those votes. Now, what has been the
result My views were incorporated into the
Compromise Measure of 1850, and his were re-
jected. Has the South been excluded from all
the Territory acquired from Mexico2 What
says the bill from the House of Representa-
tiyes now on your table, repeating the slave
coGe in New Mexico established by the people
themselves? 1t is part of the history of the
country, that under this doctrine OF non- inter-
ventlon, this doctrine that you delight to call
squatter sovereignty, the people of New Mex
leo have Introduced and protected Siavery in the
,uhole Of that territory, more than fire times the
size of the Slate Of Netc York. Under this doc
frine, SLavery has been extended from the Rio
Grande 10 the Gulf Of California, and from the
line Of the Republic of Merico, not only up to,36
30, but up 10 3S deg.-giriRg you degree and a
half more Stare territory than you erer claimed.
In 1848, 1S49 and 1850 you only asked to have
the line OF sc d. 80 m. The Nashville Con-
vention fixed that as its ultimatum. l offered
II in the Senate in August, 1S4S, and it was a
dopted here, but rejected in the House of Rep
resentatiyes. You asked only up to SO d. 80
m, and non-intervention has given you slave
territory up to 3S d., degree and half more
than you asked and yet you say that this is
sacrifice of Southern rights?
"These are the fruits of this principle which
the Senator from Mississippi regards as>hostile
to the rights Of the Sonth. Where did you
ever get: any other fruits that were more PAL
atable to your tastes or more refreshing to
your strength What other inch of Free terri
tory has been conrerfed into Stare Te7ratoTy,on
the american continent, since the Revolution,
cept IN Near Merico and .4risona under the prin-
ciple of non-interrenfion affirmed at Charleston.
If it be true that this principle of non.ihter-
vention has conferred upon you all that i'm
mense Territory; protected Slavery in that
comparatively Northern and cold region, where
you did not expect to go, cannot yotS trust the
same principle further somth When you. come 10
acquire additional territory from MericoA If it
is true that this principle of non-intervention
has given to Slavery all New Mexico, which
was surrounded on nearly every side by Free
territory, Will not the same principle protect
you in the Northern States of Mexico, when
they are acquired, since they are now sur
rounded by Slave territory are several hun
dred miles further south have many degrees
of greater heat, and have climate and soil a.
dapted to Southern products? fire you nst
satisfied iUith these practical results 2"
This is the language of Mr.. Douglas him.
self. 1t shows up in strong light the faliacy
of popular sovereignty. Let every man read
and consider well the above extracts.