The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-07-06
"Ry Their Fruits shau We judge,

few years ago Judge Douglas eulogised
the prohibition of slavery contained in the
Missouri Compromise, and invoked curses
on the ruthless hand that should disturb it.
Sir years ago, as Chairman of the Commit
tee on Territories In the Senate, he made a
report approving that Compromise line and
recommending the organization Of one Ter
rltory for the region now covered by Nebras-
Ia and Kansas, and leaving the prohibition
OF slavery, known as the Missouri Compro-
mise line, unrepealed. On the prese on
of that report, Dixon, a slaveholdine Whic
Senator, suggested that he and bis friends
would support Douglas and bis friends,
through thick and thin, without regard to
party ties or party lines, IL they would repeal
the prohibition Of slavery. Douglas consid-
cred the matter day or two, accepted Dix
on's prefer, and amended bis report 90 as
to repeal the prohibition OF slavery, estab-
lish two Territories instead OF one, and
"leave the people free to regulate their do.
mestic affairs in their own way"
Hero was sudden and complete summer
sauif, and the m olive of the change 10 clearly
revealed in the attending circumstances. But,
although the Territory was thrown open to
the incursions of Shareholders, it was under
stood on all hands that the people Of the
Territory, through their Legislature, might
prohibit slavery at once, or whenever they
pleased. just in time, however, TO prevent
any practical action in that direction, the
National Democratic Convention at Cincin.
natl, in their platform, limited the people to
set time for regulating their domestic in
etitutions in their own way" io.tcit, when
they were about to form State Convention,
Hero 10 the resolution:
Resolved, That we recognize the right of
the people Of the Territories, including Kan
cas- and Nebraska, acting through the legal,
and fairly expressed will of majority of
actual residents, and whenever the number
OF their inhabitants justi1es it, to form a
Constitution, with or without domestic slave
~, aud be admitted into the Union upon
terms OF perfect equality with the other
States.
Thus popular sovereignty was cut down
from the general right OF the people to leg
islate upon the sut ject during their Terrific
rial day to the special right of the people,
when changing from Territorial to a State
government, TO form a constitution admitting
or excluding slavery.
Tue Democracy, with Buchanan and the
Cincinnati platform, was successful in the
Presidential election, and thereupon the bred
Scott decision was brought forward as a iu-
dicial Interpretation Of the Nebraska bill and
the Cincinnati Platform. This bred Scot,
decision declared that property in slaves was
affirmed by the Constitution OF the United
States, and that under the Constitution the
Shareholder could not be prohibited from
entering and settling 10 the Territories of the
United Statcs either By Congress or any 9th
er power. Douglas entered no protest To
that decision. lie has again and again lust
fled IL, and proclaimed bis adherence TO it
And by il, ~ declared by President Buchan.
an, slavery is As firmly established in all til,
Territories of the United States as in 6eor
gia or South Carolina.
But when Douglas was about to come be
fore the people, or the Legislature rather OIL
Illinois, he found that be had dropped dowr
too low on the slavery question, and he
therefore, suggested the idea that the con
stitutional rights OF property, which be ad
mitted thu Shareholders entitled to, might b,
impaired BY s'unfriendly legislation" on th
part Of the Territory. Getting back to thu
Senate again, however, be made haste to sur
render even this contemplate reservation O
squatter sovereignty TO the judgment OF th
Baltimore Convention have, In the infamou
10000 resolution, endorsed this snrrende
OF the remnant of squatter sovereignty t,
sns tesder meroies OF the Supreme Court o
the United States.
That all this "iling and backing,n thi
"sabsiding" and 'sfzzling," has been in th
interest OF slavery, is evident from the fac
that Mr. douglas himself appeals to the nat
ural fruits Of bis principle ne the best resso,
In the world why ths Shareholders shoul,
sustsin it and support him.
lie sass iD bic speech in the Senate il
May, 1850:
Ii IL part of the history OF the country thu
under this doctrine OF non intervention, tb
doctrine that 700 delight TO call squatte
sovereignty. the people Of New Mexico hav
introduced and protected slavery in the Who'll
of that Territory. Under THE doctrine, the,
have converted tract VI free territory int
slave territory. more than five times the sig
! Of the State Of New York. Under this doc
trine, slavery has been extended from th.
kio GrEnds 10 the Gulf Of California, AMI