The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-09-28
How Douglas Refused to give the people
OF the Territories full control over the
Slavery question, when he had the OPP
poTtuuity.

Whilst Douglas traverses the country spout
ing generalities about popular sovereignty I"
and I" non-intervention." II may be instruct
i've to rccur to onechapter In his history. When
the Nebraska bill was pending in Congress, the
proposition was made by Senator Chase Of
Ohio. to confer full sovereignty upon the citi-
,ens of the territory over the whole slavery
question, and It was bitterly opposed by sena-
tor Douglas and went down. The following Is
an extract from the Congressional Globe, page
424, 5000
"The Senate, as in Committee Of the Whole,
resumed the consideration Of the bill to organ.
ize the Territory of Nebraska; the pending
question being on the amendment submitted on
the 18th inst, by Mr.. Chase, to add to the l4th
section Of the substitute reported from the
Committee on Territories, as amended on the
motion Of Mr.. Douglas, the words -
Under which the people OF o Territory.
through the appropriate representatives, II
they see ct, may prohibit the existence OF slav-
cry therein"
SO that the part Of the section relating TO
that matter would read:
"That the Constitution and all the laws Of
the United States which are not locally inap.
plicable, shall have the same force and effect
within the Territory Of Nebraska rs elsewhere
in the United States, except the eighth section
Of the act preparatory to the admission Of Mis-.
souri, into the Union, approved March Q, 1870.
which, being inconsistent with the principles OF
non- Intervention by Congress with slavery In
the States and Territories, as recognized by the
legislation Of 1850, commonly called the COM
promise measures, Is hereby declared impera-
tive and void-it being the true intent and
meaning Of this act not to legislate slavery in
to any Territory or State, nor to exclude II
therefrom but to leave the people thereof per-
fectly free to form and regulate their own In
situations In their own way, subject only to the
Constitution Of the United States, under tchich
the people Of the Territories, through their aP-
prohibit the sristence Of Siarery therein
March 2, 1884, the vote was taken and re-
suited as follows:
Yeas-Messrs. Chase, Dodge OF Wisconsin,
FESSENDEN, Fish, Foote, HAMLIN, SEW
ARD, Smith, Sumner and wade-l0.
Nays-Messrs. Adams, Atkinson, Badger,
BELL, Benjamin, Brodhead, Brown, Butler,
Clay, Clayton, Dawson, Dixon, Dodge OF Ia,
D0UGLAL, Evans, Fitzpatrick, Gwin, Houston,
Hunter, johnson, Jones Of Ia, Jones OF Tenn,
Mason, Morton, Norris. Petit, Pratt, Rusk,
Sebastian, Shields, Slidell, Stewart, Toucey,
Walker, Weller and Williams-36.
Douglas thus voted for declaration by Con-
grcss that the people Of Territory might pro-
hibit slavery. That was the time to show his
devotion to real popular sovereignty, but he
proved traitor. Seward, Fessenden and Ham
lin all voted for the amendment, together with
every Republican Senator present. An amend
ment was the same day offered by Mr.. Chase,
giving to the people Of the Territories the right
to choose their Governor, Judges, &C., instead
Of having them appointed by the President.
All the Republicans voted for the amendment,
but Douglas and his popular sovereignty "
friends defeated il.