St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-02-09
A. b. +. HILDRETH, Editor.
st. Charles City, Iowa, Feb. 9, 1860
Stephen A. Douglas.

OF TINS during his public career. He
occupies prominent position before
the country as a candidate of a large
number for the next Presidency. 1t
would be right to expect that, occu.
pying this position, and being a men,
Der of the Senate, his course in that
body would be marked 10y the express
sion of views worthy of statesman.
Though his friends have claimed that
he is one of the first statesmen in the
country, the impartial observer of his
political career will be forced to con-
clude that in Mr.. Douglas compost
tion there is more that belongs to the
politician than to the statesman. He
brought himself prominently before
the country by advocating the repeal
of an act which had been passed by
statesmen, and which statesmen had
always approved. He cnunciatcd
new doctrine, which he believed would
be popular at the South, and which he
told the North would ensure the same
results as the Missouri Compromise
In defence of this doctrine he has
been compelled at times to vary his
position, and he has shown that when
man aspires to the Presidential Of
flee, he is more apt TO be governed by
what he believes will make him popu-
lar, than by what he knows should
govern Statesman. lie gave ad-
ditional proof Of this fact in the
Senate on the 23d ut. He then ad-
dressed the Senate upon the right of
Congress to ensure each State protec-
tion against invasion. The question
was one which should have been dealt
with on broad, national grounds. No
State has right to interfere with the
domestic affairs of another, and when
it cannot protect itself from invasion
is entitled to be protected by the gov
ernmcnt.
Mr.. Douglas, however, did not
view the question as Statesman.
He either forgot he was Senator, or
is incapable Of viewing a question as
a Senator, when his personal interests
are at tstake. He was looking towards
the South, and had in his minds
eye" the Charleston Convention. He
therefore felt as a politician, and as q
politician lie most certainly spoke.
Tho burden of his song was the Re-
publican party. In regard to this par
ty he followed the example of some of
his compeers, and when he spoke Of
the Harper's Ferry affair, said it was
the natural, logical, and inevitable re-
suit of the doctrines and teachings of
the Republican party, as expressed in
the party platforms and by party
presses, and in the speeches of the
party leaders," BY this assertion he
certainly proved himself a most
thorough politician. No intelligent,
right-minded person can fail to per-
ceive that if Mr. Douglas was in earn
est, he is not a statesman, for his con-
clusions are not logical and if he
was not in earnest, then most certain
ly-he compromised his position as a
Senator.
The man who asserts that the
doctrines or teachings Of the Re-
publican party, either as expressed in
its platform, or by its presses or par
ty leaders would lead to such affairs
as that at Harper's Ferry, does so be-
cause he is either simple minded or
designing. The doctrine of that par
ty, as expressed again and again, is
opposition, not to Slavery, but to its
extension. With Slavery where it
exists, that party has never pretended
to meddle. 1t has always drawn a
marked distinction between Slavery
where it exists, and the carrying of
Slavery into the Territories. The Re-
publican party is not composed of
fools, but embraces large portion of
the intelligent and educated men of
our country These are not the per-
sons to seek to interfere with vested
rights. Whatever they may think of
Slavery, they have no wish to inter-
fere with it in the Southern States.
They think that those States should
deal with it, within their borders, just
as they deem best What they choose
to do with it there is their own busi-
ness, and that of no one else.
Mr.. Douglas knows this-he knows
that in the call for Republican Con-
vention, those are invited to attend
who are IN faror Of maintaining inriolate
the rights Of the States, and Of defending
the soil Of erery State and Territory from
ianiess inrasion. This, most assuredly,
does not look like encouraging any
John Brown raids. 1t is useless, how
ever, to offer any defence to accusa-