Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-07-27

the political issues, parties, and men, OF the
present time, is likely to be worth reading.
On Tuesday evening, July oath, he delivered
a striking speech in Philadelphia, from which
we propose to make some extracts. After de-
scribing the influence of slavery to shape our
politics, degrade our government, and disgrace
our country, he proceeds to discuss the presi-
dental candidates and their position devoting
his attention chiefly to Breckenridge and Doug
las, and more to the latter than the former.
Here is what he says of Mr.. Douglas -
MR.. DOUGLAS AND KANSAS.
Whatever conclusions may be drawn as to
my estimate of Mr.. Breckinridge's character
as politician, | can only say, my esteem for
him is profound when brought into comparison
with that which | entertain for his democratic
competitor. There are few if any living men,
concerning whom more has been said, and less
really known, than Stephen a. Douglas of IL
hnois There are thousands, by far too many
thousands, now sustaining him, under the
mistaken and delusive idea that he is directing
his efforts to counteract the plans of the south
ern democracy. This is frightful haucina.
ton, but natural one when we take into con-
sideraton the humiliating fact that all devotion
could do has been done, by those surrounding
| his person, to distOrt a true record, and to
stamp counterfeit character for him on the
| public mind Viewing him as one of the most
unsafe and treacherous Of leaGers, you will
| pardon me certain statements which it now
seems necessary should be made, and the cor.
| rectness of which, L presume, will not be i'm
| pugned. | have not yet forgotten when, in
| the winter of 1866, during the first session
of the thirty fourth congress, the residents of
Kansas asseverating that the cardinal princi-
piles of the Nebraska-Kansas act had been
wantOnly and wickedy nulliied. that fraud
and violence, concocted in the blue-lodges of
Missouri, had invaded their homes and impos-
ed foreign rule upon them for the purpose of
forcing upon them institutions which they alb
horred, and invoking the interpositiOn of con-
gress in their behalf, the prided father of Gun
trammeed popular sovereignty" turned his
back upon his violated child, and closed his
ears, as in death, to complaints Of out
rage, almost without a parallel in the
civilization of +. the century. These de-
spoiled pioneers, who had taken up their
abode in the territory under the most
solemn guarantees Of selt-government, only
asked to prove their accusation and to be re-
lieved from oppression. In other words, they
declared that they had never been able to en-
JOY self-government, that they were ruled by
invaders, and demanded the sovereignty con
ferred by law upon them. Mr. Douglas
should have been the first man to fly to their
reliet ; and if he had been as completely dedi-
Gated to the principles of his bill as some would
make us believe, he would have urged inves-
tigation and carried it. So far from having
done so, he put himself in the lead of those
senators most hostile to an exposition, and be-
came the mere mOuth-piece, advocate, and
apologist of those engaged in the work of fore
ing slavery upon an unwilling people. He en-
ioyed at that time the full confidence of the
SOUTH and his democracy was orthodox, be-
cause he was loyal to his taSk-maSters, willing
to do battle for their most extravagant de-
mands. He was then chairman OF the com.
mittee on territories, and | call attention
to his report as such, made March II,
1856, as conclusive upon the point | have
stated In that paper he could find nothing
to say against foreign conspraces to invade
the soil Of Kansas and control elections, but he
had much to offer in condemnation of eastern
associations to encourage removal thither. He
could discover no irregularities in the return of
Mr.. Whitfield, the pro slavery delegate TO the
house of representatives but he clearly dis.
cerned that the territorial legislature was a le-
gally 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
northern emigration. AT the time of which l
speak, there was no one in congress or out of
congress, in office or out eff office, who exerted
himself more untirngy to perpetuate that
reign of terror inaugurated to insure the adj
mission Of Kansas into the Union as slave
state.
DOUGLAS, FREDERICK, AND HARRIS.
l fear there are many now bearing up the
banner inscribed with the name of this Sena-
tor, who never have fully understood, or who
have forgotten this furnished page in its his:o.
ry. Ii 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. Douglas, he has been able to
keep himself very much under cover. 1t is
gratifying, however, to make a single remark
in his favor it is this, that he seems willing
as the most ardent of his friends to divert at
tention from this period in his career. | am
not aware that, in either essay or address, he
has ventured to recur to it but on the con-
trary he seems disposed to treat it as blank
in his life.
While these proceedings were progressing
in the Senate, the other branch OF Congress,
carried resolutions of investigation under a
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 conspiracies beyond anything
that had been imagined. The published evil
dence efiectually revealed the intentions of the
SOUTH and made deep impression upon the
north. 1t was then established that neither
law nor proprietes were to be allowed to stand
III the way of slavery extension; and we are
almost driven to the conclusion that the repeal
of the Missouri Restriction was but a part of
general and welmatured plan Of operations,
at the head of which stood the selt-crowned
clliei OF popular territorial government Mr.
Douglas term of office was now approaching
Its close. 1t is not unlikely that desire for
re election, and knowledge of the convic-
ton forced upon his state by the examination
alluded to, induced him to look with different
eyes upon Kansas, and create an anxiety on his
part to take up the cause of her robbed and
wretched people. | cannot certainly say how
this may have been; | only state sudden
and miraculous change came over him, and
for while he seemed to glory in the name of
"rebel." He opposed the admission of Kan
sas under the Lecompton Constitution with
seeming seriousness, and then announced his
determination 10 vote for the greater iniquity,
the English bill" 1t was then the honored
and the heroic Harris who now sleeps
in death, shed tears of anguish, and
gave uterance 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 prevent
ed doubtless, many unpleasant 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 his rescue from whirlpool which
would certainly have engulfed him-from a
stain which would have obliterated his herosm
in connection with the cause to which he has
SO osentatiously protested to devote himself
withhold the words in which the scathing
rebuke was clothed. And yet this noblest and
/ m go narif pin nf tNn, A.,