The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-10-10
NORTH IOWA TIMES.
Douglas at Cleveland.

We extract largely from the speech of
Mr.. Douglas at Cleveland. If Republi-
can can read it and get away from its I'M
answerable logic, or fail to admire the
plain, bold and American style of its de-
livery, we will give up all hope of his be-
coming identified with the partyof "TheCo Con-
stitution and the Union." We believe, sim
cerely, that there is scarce man in the
west but who approves Douglas positions
on all the subjects he presents-the ILL.,
noisan is the living reflex of western..public
opinion, and as such he should be support
ed actively 10y every man except he who
wants the Government destroyed, or its
operation befouled by the.contaminating in
fuence of amalgamated races. Mr.. Doug
las had just closed a review of the Nebras-
ka bill. He proceeds as follows:
THE OBJECT OF REPEAL.
A person on the stand here inquired,
"Did you mean to deny by that bill the
right Of Congress to control slavery in the
territories?'
Mr.. DOUGLAS. I am asked from the stand
whether I meant to deny the right of Con-
gress to control the slavery question in the
territories. The object of the bill was to
Danish the subject of slavery from Con-
gress forever and refer it to the people of
the territories to do just as they pleased, to
have slave or not as they chose. ["That's
right" and applause. That was the OBJ
ject of the bill, and the object was incor-
porated into the bill itself. That is the
fundamental principle of the Democratic
party in opposition to the Republicans of
the north and secessionists of the south.-
Cheers.
F-GoyERNMENT.
Now, my friends, why should not this
principle of Popular Sovereignty be carried
out in the territories of the United States?
Voices, at should" The Republicans
tell you that it is right in the States of the
Union but all wrong in the Territories
["That's it."l They say that they have no
objection to the people of Ohio regulating
the slavery question for themselves They
think that you have sense enough not only
to make laws for your own State but also
through your representatives in Congress
to govern all the territories. Laughter
and applause. Now suppose that assump-
ton to be true, and would you if you sho'd
move to Nebraska territory, be any less ca
pable of governing yourselves after you got
there than you were before you started p
Cries of "No," and applause. find be-
fore me to-day probably as many legal vot-
ers as can be found in the State of Della
ware, the State of Florida, or the State of
Oregon. Nobody doubts but what the peo-
pie of thse States are capable of self-gov-
erment Now if you, being as numerous
as these voters in either Of these States,
and being capable of selfgovernment at
home, should all move to territory, would
you be any less capable after you got there
than before you started? [Cries Of "No."l
Why then do you not allow the people to
govern themselves in territory as we'll as
a State?
The Republicans tell you that State is
sovereign power and that there is no sov-
ereignty in territory and nothing but SOW
ereignty can make laws and establish insti-
tutions. believe that is their argument.
Laughter. That argument is not origi-
nal with modern Republicans. 1t was
made many years ago by very respecta-
bic body Of old gentlemen known as tories.
Laughter, applause and cries of true
During the time of the American Revolu-
luton the tories used to say that the peo-
pie Of the American colonies were not SOW
ereign powers, but set of miserable sodat-
ters and adventurers and hence had no
government themselves.
THE COLONIES.
But there was body of men at that time
living in America, headed by such patriots
as Washington, and Jefferson, and Frank
lin, and Hancock, and Adams, who told the
British King ana the tories that British
subjects in America were entitled to self
government as well as British subjects in
England. Laughter and applause. They
the right of Parliament to
make all laws not affecting the general well
fare Of the country, without interfering
with the domestic concerns of the colonies,
just as we Democrats now acknowledge the
right Of Congress to pass all laws affecting
the general welfare of the Republic which
do not interfere with the domestic concerns
Of the people of the States, or the Terrific
ries. Remember that the battles of the
revolution were all fought in defence of the
right of self-gcvernment in dependent colo
onies, in dependent territories, in depend
ent provinces and not in sovereign States.
We only ask therefore that the people of
the American Territories shall be permitted