The Placer herald., 1860-10-06
Faithlessness of Douglas.

was before congress, aSreeu lndI '"o oi''
should be so worded that the vexed question,
as to the powers of a people of Territory,
should be left an open question to be submit
ted to the Supreme Court for adjudication.
He pledged himself that he would not claim
that the Kansas Nebraska act endorsed his
peculiar ideas of squatter sovereignty, but
would abide by the decision of the Court,
when rendered With this understanding,
those who were opposed to that doctrine,
voted for the Bill and assisted in passing it.
Since that time the Supreme Court has deci-
ded the question adversely to Douglas doc
trine-and what has he done! Why, in
stead of Welding obedience to that decision,
in accordance with his solemn pledges, be
has proved totally fathless by repudiating
the settlement and is now before the country
riding his squatter sovereignty hobby, in
opposition to National Democrat, who, in
accordance with the argument, maintains
the decision and accepts it as correct ex-
position of the Constitution with regard to
the Territories. Such utter faithlessness is
enough to disgust honest strai ghtf forward
men. But it appears that his treachery has
not been confined to his acts with the Dem
ocratic party. 1t seems that he has been
playing the same game with his Republican
friends lie charged in several of his re-
cent speeches that by supporting the Critten-
den amendment, the Republicans have aban
doned their principles with regard to the
power of Congress over the Territories, and
adopred his. This has brought out a reply
from Senator Wilson of Massachusetts, who,
l,l,.orol -, Mama did
"a tale unfold" which places Douglas in no
enviable light. Senator Wilson speaking of
the struggle to defeat the Lecompton con-
stitution, said:
While that measure was pending, Mr..
Douglas said to me in the Senate Chamber,
that 1T a0as slander to sag that the Repub-
Acans acere aJandoning their principle of
Congressional prohibition; that If such a
charge shouM be made against them IN his
presence, he wouM denounce it,
With this understa ding and agreement,
it appears that the Republicans consented to
support the Crittenden amendment. Pretty
soon thereafter, Douglas was engaged in
canvassng the State of Illinois with Lincoln,
each of whom were pressing their claims,
for the United States Senate. Mr.. Douglas
then boldly charged that the Republicans
had abandoned their principles in supporting
the Crittenden amendment He did not
hesitate to give ntterance to what he himself
had pronounced Il slander, and which he had
promised, to denounce. And what do you
suppose is the reason Of this treachery?-
Why, he says Lincoln pressed him so hard
that he was compelled to SANDER the Repnb
lican party in o'der to save himself Here
is what Wilson says about the matter
Great was my surprise, then, when read
in the public press, that Mr.. Douglas, in de-
bate with Mr.. Lincoln, had made the charge
which he told me he would proclaim untrue
if made in his presence. When Mr.. Doug
las returned to WASHINGTON in the winter Of
1859, | said to him in substance, that we had
fought together the Iecomplon battle; that
we had often held consultations in regard to
the matter; and that | felt bound in honor to
hold sacred what had transpired in that great
contest of personal character. But felt
indignant when saw that he had made
charge against the Republicans which he
knew to be unjust, and which lie declared
to me he would repe if made in h S presence.
He declared that Lincoln had pressed him so
hard he had to take that position to sape him.
SELF
Wilson concludes that, as Lincoln is push
ing him hard again, he finds it necessary to
repeat the slander in order to save himself
Breckenridge is pressing him so hard that he
must needs slander him also. Should not
the manifestation of such utter unscrupu
lousness on the part of Douglas disgust the
people with the demagogue? Is there any
man who would feel safe with him in the
Presidential chair. MarysoiUe Express.
The COLUMNS WoN'r SrAND.-The Nation