The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-08-31

uuIu iuuOr IOt uOt icoo ttihu tWO yearS, IOr
maintaining that persons have not right to
hold slaves in Kansas, and also that persons
conscientiously opposed to holding slaves
shall not sit as jurors TO try persons for vio-
lation Of the acts concerning slavery, shall
be declared null and void" Mr.. Douglas vo-
ted against IL. .- rl.
When Mr.. FeScnden moved "to recall oil
the United States arms heretofore distributed
to the militia and people Of Kansas" Mr..
Douglas voted against Il.
When the House put In The army bill the
proyiso, "That no part Of the military force
shall be employed In aid Of the enforcement
Of any cnactments Of the alleged Legislative
Assenhly of Kaneas; that II shall be the duty
ofthe Presidsnt 70 uss the military forcein aid
Territory ts preserve the peace, suppress In
surreetions, ,repel invasion and prot ct persons
and property therein, and upon the national
highways in the State of Missouri or elsewhere
frOm unlawful seizure and Searches" Mr..
Douglas voted against II. .r-,
When moved to strike out all after the
cnacting clause Of the Toombs bill, and In
scrt, that "all acts passed by the Legislature
Of Kansas, or by any assembly acting rs
such, be and the same are hereby abrogated
and declared void and Of no effect" Mr..
Douglas voted against 1t. ".
John NJ. Clayton, from the slave State Of
Delaware, characterized these laws, which
Douglas would MT abrogate, In language
that did honor TO his head and heart. Mr..
Clayton said:
"rhe unjust and Ubiquitous, oppressive
and Infamous laws, enacted by the Kansas
Legislature, ought to be repealed. The act
prohibits all freedom Of discussion In Kansas
on the great subject directly referred to the
sxclu decision of the people in that Ter
ritory. strikes down the liberty Of the prep,
too, and Is an act us cgrcgiously tynnnical
rs ever was attempted by any of the Stuarts,
Tudors or Plantagenets Of England; and
this Senate persists in declaring that we shall
not repeal them. | will not ever degrade
my self by standing for an instant by those
abominable and Infamous laws. The Senate
should wash Its hands Of all participation in
these iniluities."
Mr.. Douglas is opposed to the agitation Of
slavery questions in Congress. have heard
that declaration before from his lips. Who
among all the public Of America has engaged
in the discussions growing out Of the slavery
question more than this same Douglas3 lie
has done more to stir up the strifes Of this
slavery agitation than any man Of our age.
Opposition to his principles, policy and mca-
sures, hc has ever been swift to denouncc M
slavery agitation. Tho statesmen who have
simply adhered to the faith Of the fathers
to the opinions Of Washington. Henry, Jef.
ferson. Mason and Madison, and the states
men Of the South Of their age, hc has ever
been In haste to brand as abolition agitaton
and abolition confcdcratcs.
But the material interests Of tho country,
the Pacific Railroad, the Tariff, and other
measures, have been sacrificed by these Con.
gressional agitations and discussions Grant
ed. But Douglas and his compeers have
been the agitatos. The records will show
that the best interests Of the nation have
been put aside to give time TO Douglas and
his political associates To define their posi-
expound their "grcat principle. I"
The Republican House Of Representatives at
the last session found time to expose hoary
abuses, pass acts to admit Kansas. modify
the Tariff, repeal the slave code Of New Mex
leo, and abolish polygamy in Utah. but the
Democratic Senate had M time to deal with
questions of that character. Davis resolu-
tons, and "my great principle" and tho
slave interests, thrust aside all other qucs-
tons. Mr.. Douglass could find time ~ ex-
pound his hobby Of non intervention, but he
could find no time to devote to the revision
Of the revenue laws. no moment to attend
the meeting Of his Committee on Territories,
and giving his casting vote for the report in
favor of the admission of Kansas. ] COM
mend prudent silence to Mr.. Douglas on
these questions.
When Congress assembled in December
last, the country was profoundly agitatcd by
tho events connected with John Brown raid
at IIarpcr's Ferry. Madness ruled the hour.
Swayed by passion, prejudice and interest,
the slave propagandists poured upon the Re
publican party their ferccst maledictions.
Northern Democrats echoed their words and
Joined In the wild hunt. Senator Mason de-
mandcd committee OF investigation. lie
rot his committee--cast a drag net over the
testimony from every
1uartcr. That testimony Is reported. and
not Republican in all America Is tainted
with completely in that Harper's Ferry af.
fair. In that time Of unrcasoning passion,
Douglas rushed into the arena, not TO calm
agitation, not to do Justice 10 maligncd and
men. lie dcmr a,dcd scdition
law. Give him such law and he would
show the Senator from New York that there
Is a constitutional mode Of rspressing the ir.
repressiblc conflict llcsought to commend
himself to the doubling South by declaring
L to be his firm and deliberate conviction
hat the Harper's Ferry crimo was the natur-
n, logical, inevitable result Of the doctrines
and teachings OF the Republican party, as
explained and enforced in their platform and
hooks, and especially in the speeches oil their
,,ders In and out OF Congress
The Republican party secs as washington
saw, the dircful effects OF slavery, IL Dc
lieycs with Henry, that slavery is a lament
able evil = with Luther Martin, that saV-
cry ia Inconsistent with the genius OF He
rutlIcani,m : with Madi-on, that slavery |
|, n dreadful calamity that imbecility Is |
,er attendant upon o country filed with
.,ayes:' with Monroe. that slavery has
prcyed upon thcvery vitals Of the Union, and
has been pr judicial to all the States in which
/ has ,xistcd.' The Republican party pro-
poser to preserve the vast territorial pos~s- |
ons Of the Republic from the direful ct.
Tccts Of this dreadful calamity which has
preyed upon the vitals OF the Union,' by ap-
plying to. and engraving upon, those Ien,,
lorial n <~c-rions thee words. slavery snail
be AND Is FOREVER prohibited : and ior cher'
sbinr the sentiments and advocating the poi
icy OF the fathers. Douglas held them resPon.
lille for the act Of John Brown at Harpers
Ferry.
A charge more unjust and calumnious nev-
=, WA, uttered by mortal lips! But Doug. |
las aid not get his scdition law. Jefcron
Dayi. pointed out the arbitrary character Of
his proposed enactment, and he very quietly
subsidized
In.tisnted by Reuben Davis. the Delegate
rom New Mexico wrote to his Territory to
pass Slave Code, and the Iegislaturc enac-
led one Of the most atrocious codes that ever
iarkcned the statotes Of any age. That act