The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-10-10
Douglas the author of the L. ccOmn ID
torn Constitution. ..

The charge is broadly made by the Leaven.
worth (kansas) Dispatch, that Stephen A
Douglas is the author of the Lecompton Con-
stitution, which he solemnly repddiated, and
whom adopted by the Constitutional Conven.
ton made war upon President Buchanan for
transmitting to Congress and recommending
the admission of Kansas into the Union as o
State.
Below we give the article from the Dispatch
and ask all honest Democrats and sound Nation
al men to pause and consider, before casting
their votes for such q man. Read! Read!!
Read!! ......
From tie Lcavenworth Dispatch.
lie rermdiates his oson Ofsw.ing and turned
Traitor to those who foRoaoed his counsel
| his Letter to Gen. Calhoun, President of The
Leconpton Convention.
| The history of the Lecc mpton controversy
and the position of Stephen A. Douglas there.
on, is perhaps better and more generally under.
stood by the country than any other political
issue of the present age. Senator Douglas pro.
fessed to behold in the adoption of that Con.
stitution by Congress violation of his theory
of Popular Sovereignty, and opposed it with an
earnestness and vehemence which, at the time
placed his sincerity above suspicion, and his
cons stency beyond doubt.
Such is the public record; bat there is n se.
cret one-one known to but few--whicb rends
asunder the fimsy veil fseeming sincerity and
consistency, in which he clothed his unworthy
AIMS and which forever damns him in the estii.
nation OF every honest man. Evidence which
would be sufficient to convict criminal before
any court oil Justice exists to prove that he
wrote letter to John Calhoun, deceased, Pres.
ident OF the Lecompton Convention, advising
the course which was adopted by the Copyeu
tion in regard to the Constitution To be more
explicit, his letter advised the submission OIL
the Constitution with or without slavery. Ms the
people might decide; but in such a manner as
compelled the people to take the Constitution
| itself, nolens uolens
| AS we said BEFORE evidence to convince the
most skeptical can be produced to prove the ex.
istence OF this letter Itwas seen by members
of the Convention and others, and il necessary
numerous affidavits can be produced to prove
its existence, as well as its tenor and inferno.
tration. twas known to have been in the
possession of the family Of Gen. Calhoun afte,
his decease, and efforts were made to obtain II.
but failure connected with other circumstan.
ces warrants US in asserting our belief that
Douglas or some of his friends succeeded in
regainipg possession of it, prior to the above an.
plication being made by the other parties.
| Satisfied that our statements are correct. and
having every confidence in our ability to pro.
duce the proof Of o,r assertions, we charge
Stephen A. Douglas as the father of the Le.
compton Constitution, which instrument he II
sed 10 split the Democratic Party and set him
self up the leader of the anti-Lecompton wing
We charge him with repudiating his own off.
spring. and betraying those who followed his
counsel, when he opposed the Lecompton Con-
stitution in the u. =. Senate, and took violent
issue upon the adoption of that measure.
In conclusion, we ask what Interpretation
is to be put upon his course? Was his course
in repudiating and opposing his own work but
another Of the many glaring Inconsistencies and
barefaced tergiyersatons in his political theo-
ries and actions? Or was il deep laid scheme
on his part to give him ground Tor that oppo
sition to the Administration, which he had
threatened months beforehand?