Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1860-10-05
FACTS FOR THE PEOPLE,
POLITICAL RECORD OF STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS


POLITICAL RECORD OF STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.
The speakers at a recent Democratic meet
ing held in this place, labored to prove that
the Hon. Stephen A. Douglas during his po-
litical career has always been consistent; and
we have heard Democrats say, within few
days past, that Mr. Douglas has not departed
one iota from the principles he advocated
during the first years of his public life.
Now, we propose to show from the records
that Douglas upholds and defends measures
and principles to-day, that he denounced only
as far back as 1850, as obnoxious and wrong :;
that to-day he is as rabidly pro-slavery, as he
then was anti-slavery, and, in short, that the
views he now holds are the just the reverse
of those he formerly held. 10 do this, we
are not going to deal in any assertions
Everyone will acknowledge that the Congress
sioraa1 Globe is good authority, and the fol-
lowing extracts, principally from that journal,
were taken down by the reporters at the time
they were uttered, and published from day to
day, in common with the speeches of others,
as part of the proceedings of Congress. The
facts we compile from campaign document
issued by the Illinois Republican State Cen
trail Committee, work which should have
the largest possible circulation, as it shows up
in such a plain and conclusive manner the
double-dealng of the "Little Giant" We
ask careful perusal of the following extracts
by our Democratic readers, and then, if they
can, let them explain the why and wherefore
of their standard bearers political summer
saulting. If they can satisfactorily account
for it, they can do more than Douglas can.
1t is well known that the Douglas Democ-
racy deny the Right of Congress to legislate
on the slavery question for the Territories
On the Odd of February, 1916, Mr.. Douglas
made speech in the House of Representa-
tives, on the bills for the admission of Iowa
and Florida into the Union. In this speech
he said:
THE father may bind his during his minority but
the moment he atans his majority his letters are
and he Is free to regulate his conduct so WITH
TIE TERRITORIES; THEY ARE SUBJECT II THE
JURISDICTION AND CONTROL OF CONGRESS DUR
ING THEIR INFANCY-THElR MINORITY; but when
they attain their majority, AND OBTAIN ADMISSION
INTO THE UNION they are free from all restraints and
restrictions except such the Constitution of the United
States has imposed upon each and all Of the Staes."
Cong Globe, col. II, page PSI.
On the 18th day of March, 1850, Douglas
made speech in the Senate, defending the
Missouri Compromise, from which we take
following extract:
The Territories belong to the United States peo-
pie nation, and to be disposed of for the
benefit of ALL according to the principles of the Consttu
tlon. Each State, member of the Confederacy has
right to voice in forming the rules and regulations for the
of the Territories but the different sections
North, South East and Westhave such right IT IS
NO VIOLATION OF SOUTHERN RIGHTS TO PRO
HIBIT SLAVERY Cong Globe, APpendie, col. %,
part l, page 800.
On the same day, and in the speech last
quoted from, Mr.. Douglas distinctly asserted
the right of Congress to prohibit the intro
duction of certain species Of property in the
Territories, as being "unwise, immoral and
contrary to the principles of sound public
policy" among which he enumerated proper
ty in slaves. He said:
But you say that we propose to prohibit by law your
emgratng to the Territory with your property VIZ PRO-
POSE NO SUCH THING We recognize your right, in
property and there to hold and enoy in
to the laws you may ind force in the country These
the various States Of this Union vary points from
ercl,ed bg ,o in most Of the States as ireI as Terri
rg,E ns yS1H nc nT xxx On ~ M
., ~ ~, - - - =; -; ,;.i 80 D'iC roi
. n n ; @ ~ - , uus r atihs W MIN
nesola oesp .. .ora WIN ms o'lh. Inc oahk may
Meh ,he, to S,ase Ut Wnete pahks Is pro-
oeu ny u . 90, alueu. sprlls, WHISKY Dran
S an ro VI. m n f are ana con
.t az 90 p ;.; ~ , ms VI e e STATS, IL not an OF
.ei ou no Mne'ner rom 'ie Nor.h or south
Gan Tar s specs vi p'op.,ts MIL MN, ana oa sell
OF uiG az ms b IN al ie m because II
The Territory and in the Indian country BY the acts q
AND HOLD HIS SLAVE, FOR THE SANE REASON ON
ad ana %aias o "o scao S I pRcPes
FIGHTS OF NO STATE OF THE UNION They are law.
property whether brought from the North the South
%, part /, a,age 81. ' ''O''' f1''''"''' ''''
The above. was Douglas Democracy ten
years ago, and would be considered very good
Republicanism in 1860 But are the above
0'~
extracts any index OF Douglas Democracy at
A. w -,
tHe present uay we VIII answer by quot
I'M, fro,,, ro,,o e,,oooh,. e,,,,, a. .,...,o ,
mo iio' Sone oPoeoiiee NUN 'iic s''ilie source,
though of a later date than the above