The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-09-12
Douglas Compared with Him.
-. self. - -.

NNOANo Oi t'eoA W. W. oAA AAAiAA0I
afa .ls E self. 5sn dsa- SD
In 1858, in speech at Galesburg,
Illinois, Stephen Arnold Douglas thus de-
clared for Popular Sovereignty: aisaj
1.-The great Fundamental principle Of oar
Government is, that the people of each
State and Territory shall be perfectly free
to decide for themselves what shall be the
natural character of their institutions"
In the same year, few months later,
the champion of this doctrine had occa-
sion to visit New Orleans, and behold
what change came over him in this CON-
paratively brief period! In speech de-
livered in that city he allowed himself 10
say: 80
".Szaves are regarded as property, and
placed on an equal footing with all other
property. Hence the owner Of slaves,
the same as the holder of any other spe>
cies of property, has right to renove to
any Territory and carry his pa operty aciM
him. - 5''-Af iiiE osta sa9t -
We happen to have before us the speech
of Judge Douglas delivered at New Or
leans, and give below the whole paragraph
from which the above is taken, to show
the utter recklessness of the republican
press. We need hardly say that we quote
the above from the Fremont youraQz, for
our county readers, after reading this
whole article would have come to the
conclusion themselves, that no other pa,l
per in the country would be SO mean, as
to garble and misrepresent political op-
ponent as is attempted in the above.
The Republican party must be hard run
indeed when they undertake TO palm off
such garbled extracts as the above as the
doctrine of Judge Douglas. Here lis
what Judge Douglas did say:- -...
'T he democracy of Illinois, in the first
place, accepts the decision of the Supreme
Court of the United States in the case
of Dred Scott. as'an authoritative inter-
probation of the Constitution. In ac-f
cordance with that decision, we hold that
slaves are property, and hence on an equal
ity with all other kinds of property, and
that the owner Of slave has the same
right to move into Territory and carry
his slave property with him, as the own.
er of any other property has to go there
and carry his property. All citizens Of
the United States, no matter whether they
come from the North or the South, from
free State or a slave State, can enter
Territory with their property on an equal
footing. And, 1 apprelIend, when you
arrive there with your property, of what
ever description, it is subject to the local
laws Of the Territory. How can your
slave property be protected without local
law, any more than any other kind of
property? The Constitution gives you
the right to go into g Territory and carry
your slaves with you, the same. as any
other species Of property; but it does not
punish any man for stealing your slaves
any more than stealing any other kind Of
/ property. Congress has never yet passed
! a law providing criminal code or fur.
4 nishing protection to any kind of prop
erty. 1t has simply organized the Terri.
tory and established a Legislature, that
4 Legislature being vested with Legislative
power over all rightful subjects Of the
i Legislation, subject only to the Copstitu-
i tion Of the United States. Hence, what.
I ever jurisdiction the legislatuee possesses
!, over other property, it has over slave prop,
y erty-no more, no less. Let me ask yor
as southern men, whether you can hold
u slaves anywhere unless protected by the
local law?,3 Would not the inaetion1 O
/ the local legislature, its refusal to provide
& q slave code, CIR to punish offences .agains
5 that species Of property, exclude SLAYER.
just as effectually as a constitutional pro
hibition? Would it not have that effec,
in Louisiana and in every other State
5 No one will deny it. Then, let me asl
> you, if the people of a Territory refuse, t,
$ pass slave code. how are you going t.
; make them do it? When you give then
r power to legislate on all rightful subject
3 Of legislationhit becomes. a question 70
= them to, decide, and not for you' ,oa
D Every. democrat can maintain and de
b fend this position of Judge Douglas, ant
!. the republican press know that it is i'm
d pregnable, hence their efforts at misrepre
sentation. Messenger. >oBa W fssiaaa7
zdt Z --7----1-- IA r'r'7T 117F7 II 71ds ere
t Whittier Driftng?,
Q Cassius M. Clay, says the Cincinna,
s Enquirer, enlightened the Republica
= moatino in this oity on Saturday nipht