Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1860-10-27
ma. DOUGLAS AND the LBCUIPTU y
CNNhTlIlIioA

Nh. DOUGLAS AND THE LBCUIPTUN
CONSTITUTION.
We published yesterday documentary ey,.
dence in support OF the charge nsde against
Senator Douglas that be had copeoted the
scheme by which the people Of K Kspsss we're
deprived ofthe right Of voting against the
Lecomptop Constitution.
Mr.. Douglas has had his attention directed
to the matter, and has given the whole
charge the most direct and unqualified
denial. In bis speech st Milwaukee, on the
18th inst, he thus dsposes Of the matter -
Before left Washington, 10 the spring Of
1856, after Mr. Buchapan's inauguration, the
President rendered to Robert j. Walker the
Office of Governor Of Kansas, which be de-
clincd to accept. MIR. Buchanan subsequent.
ly appealed to me to 60 aud see Mr.. Walker,
and urge him to accept the appointment,
upon the ground that he (Mr. Buchauap) be.
lieved the peace Of Kansas, the peace OF the
country, and the Union itself, was in danger,
and that Mr. Walker was the only suitable
man in America to administer that office in
such jucture Of affairs. visited him &C.
cordiugly, and urged him os q patriot to
make the sacrifice and 60 to Kansas.
Mr.. Walker replied that if the President
put it upon the ground that the Union was
10 danger and that be was them on to perform
the high trust--under these circumstances be
would not decline but that be would never
go 20 Kansas unless the administration stood
pledged to the principle that the constitution,
whatever it might be when formed in Kansas
should be submitted to the people for accept.
ance or rejection.
1t is we'll known to my friends that an
not in the habit Of writing political letters.
1t is true that gave many letters Of intro
duction to Mr.. Calhoun, to persons applying
for surveying contracts, or having business
with the land Office in Kansas, and l may
possibly have written him, narrstiug this in.
terview. But am very sure that | wrote
him DO letter upon the subject Of politics, or
the Lecompton Constitution, pending the
session of the Convention. Walker proceeded
to Kansas, and published bis inaugural ad
dress, containing the statement that be was
authorized by the President aud his Cabinet
to say that the Constitution would be reject.
ed unless it was submitted to the vote OF the
people. When the Convention adopted the
constitution aud declared it in force, withou,
submitting it, the people, l denounced il
the very instant heard Of it. (Tremedous
shouts of applasse) The very pight the
news arrived at Chicago, bringing the !oru
of submission Of the slavery clause, denoun
ced it 10 unmeasured terms. l denounced il
before knew what the course Of any Other
man 10 America in relation to it would be-
| tCries of bravo" That's Q man." ant
applause.) did not wait one hour, or one
minute when discovered the trick by whicl
the people were TO be cheated.
II you look into the Lecompton constitu
tion, you will fud that the original documen
made Kansas q slave State, and then thu
schedule submitted another slavery clause
to the people to vote for or against if the,
voted Tor 1t Kansas was q slave State, and |
they voted against it still il was slav,
State. When l reached Washington, three
days before the meeting OF Congrese, ! we o
directly TO the President aud had @ talk will
him upon this subject, 10 which | Informed
him, as friend, not to send tho constitution
into Congress for acceptance. told him
was d violation Of every pledge we had mad
TO the people, violation OF the fundamental
principles of the Democratic party, and
violation OF the principles OF oil parties in al
Republican governments because it was oil
attempt to force q constitution on on uDwiil
ing people. he begged me not to say any
thing upon the subject until we should hea
the news as to how the vote stood on th
slavery clause. The vote, you remember
was 10 DC taken on the slavery clause on tn
2lst Of December, three or four weeks subse
quent TO this Convention. | told the Pres
dent that If he would withhold bis recommeu
da:Ion until the vote vas taken on that claus
l would withhold my speech against th
measure. He said he uust recommend it i
his message, and | replied that if be did
would denounce 1t the moment bis messag
was read. (Great applause. A voice, Nv
like you for it.")
"A last the President became somewha
excited upon the subject an
he arose and said to me. MT. Douglas,
desire yon TO remember that no Democra
ever yet differed from an administration @
his own choice without being crushed."-
("Ahw and laughter). Then he addeC
beware OF the fate of Tallmadge and Rives.
arose and said, MIR. President, wish 20
to remember that General Jackson is deaC
Sir" (rumultuOus cheeriugl From tha
day to this he and ! have been trying tn
question whether General jackson is dead
Great laughter aud applausel And or
thing is certain, the people Of Illinois decide
IN 1888, that james Buchanan was not Ger
eral Soon after made my speech agsius
The LecomptoD constitution. 10 December q
that year, General Calhoun und large nun
Der OF the members Of the Lecompton Cor
vention-all of his particular and confdentia
triepds-yisited Washington. Now if il b
true, as they charge on me, that ! ddriSs
Calhoun to pursue this course, ho,o does
happen that these gentlemen, tchile at Wash
ington, did not charge me wiih that Jac;f 4
voice, That's the polnt,'') They were pres
cot in the galleries Of the Senate day afte
day, week after week, and month after mont
hearing me denounce the Lecomptou const
! tuition, and the scheme OF submission, as
fraud, and not a man Of them whispered ths
, bad even been satisfied with it. tCries {
r Never, they could not do it.")
} My enemies wait until the controversy bs
, passed away, until John Calhoun is dead, an
} until We arrive upon the eve of u PresdentiI
election and then they trump up this miseri
Bile, base charge, which they never beior
} dared 10 nsinuate, that ] had sactioned
. scheme from which now even they shriu
| with horror.-Nel0 YorkHerGld.
CURIovs WILL OF SOUTHERN PLASTER.-