Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1860-09-01
Seward in Rochester. Mr.. Douglas

!
! (slave States) and six of them have
since abolished slavery. This fact
shows that the cause Of freedom has
steadily and firmly advanced, while
slavery has receded in the same ratio.
We al look toreoard aoith confdaace
to the time a0jtets DeI8ocare, NargLru9,
Virginia, Ae,etuc&y and Misso,tri ard
pr06a6ly North Curoz;na and Is,ea-
esSee .c1tA one yradua1 system Of ensan-
c!pat1oa, Aador tie operation Of achich
these States must, IN process Of time,
become free.
Then, sir, the position of the Sena-
tor from South Carolina is entirely i'm
practicable. 1t is also inadnissable. if
practicable. Itwould revolutionize the
fundamental principles of the govern
ment. 1t would destroy the great prin-
ctples OF popular equality (not popular
sovereignty which must NECESSARILY
form the basis of all institutions. 1t
Woald be a retrograde movement in
the age OF progress that would astonish
the worId'' to SO amend the Constitu-
tlon as to preserve an equilibrium be-
tween the slave and free States). AD-
pe"di.c. Cong. Globe, 1850, v0k p,
p0J /, page 81.
And how was it that "the cause of
freedom steadily and firmly advanced,
while slavery receded in the same "a
| to-" Why, it was mainly by carry
ing ont ''tne fundamental principles of
the government, i'll congressional acts
OF slavery prohibition. He deprecated
''retrograde movement" which would
| check the ''gradual system Of emanci-
patton" for ;sbolition) which he had
"contideuce" would make free the sew
ell States named. He saw the ''irre-
presslble conflict between freedom
and slavery, and wanted the influence
OF the government kept on the side of
! freedom, and denounced the idea that
an equilibrium OF free and slaves States
in the Union was desirable. lie scout
ed the Droposjtioa that tie Union 2ous
to remain "hay slaUe and huLf free.'
What was afterwards treasonab!6 in
Mr.. Lincoln, WAS then very proper in
Mr.. Douglas.
We Will now see how.
3D., DOUGLAS DENOUNCING ALL INTER
yENTION.
This part Of his path is too well un-
derstood to need much notice. All un-
derstand what is meant by "the great
principle of popular sovereignty" We
Will give but,tWo extracts to mark his
trail III this department:
''The people Of a territory can, By
lawful means, exclude slavery from
their limits prior to the formation of a
State Constitution. If
the people are opposed to slavery they
vii, elect representatives who will bY
untriendly Legislation eIEectually pre-
vent the introdUtion Of it into their
midst. = Y :: Hanno no
matter what the decision Of the Sa-
! pleme Court may be, still the right of
The people to make 4 slave territory or
q free territory. ."-DoayIaS' Speech at
! freCport, 1858.
i firmly and conscienciously believe
that there is no safety for the country,
no hope for the preservation Of the
Union, except by 3 faithful and rigid
adherence to the doctrines of non-in-
tervention by Congress in the territo-
rles. Intervention means disunion. .
DougIas' letter to Richardson before
| his nomination.
| The emphatic statement that "inter-
vention by Congress with slavery in
the territories means disnnion'' is plain
enough for anybody. The entire ques-
ton whether slavery shall or shall not
exist in the territories rests with the.
people thereof, ono matter what the
decision Of the Supreme Court may
be.' There is now no safety for the
country, ''no hope for the preservation
Of the Union;'' except through the
''non-intervention by Congress" in the
matter
Lastly, and
4TH, DOUGLAS INTERVIEWS FOR SLA-
VERY.
The convention that put Mr.. Doug
las in nomination for the Presidency
unanimously adopted the following res
olutlon:
RESOLUTION OF BALTIMORE DOUGLAS
CONVENTION
"Resolyed, That 1t is in accordance
with the Cincinnati platform that du-
ring the existence Of territorial govern
ment the measure of restriction. what
ever it may be, imposed by the FEEDER
al Constitution on the power Of the ter
rltorlal Legislature over the subject Of
the domestic relations, as the same has
been or shall hereafter be finally de-
termined by the Supreme Court of the
! United States, should be respected by