Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1860-02-24
SPEECH OF Gen. JOE. LANE.
In the Y. s. Senate on the 18Th Of Dec.
1859, on the Territorial question:


1859, on the Territorial question.
Mr.. LANE. I was unfortunate, Mr.
President in not hearing the point which
was submitted by the Senator from Ohio
in the course of his speech to the North
ern Democratic Senators. [ noticed that
the Senator from Minnesota rose and res
ponded, but did not hear what was the
question submitted.
proposed, referring to the statement con-
tanned in the speech of the Senator from
California at Grass Vally, was whether
the other Democratic Senators from the
non-slaveholding States held the position
that any man who entertains Judge Doug
las opinions or mine-for they essentially
differ in some thing5-as to the power of
a Territorial Legislature, was unfit to sit
at the Committee on Territories, or to be
received into the ranks of the Democrat
ic party-whether it was a cause of exclu-
sion!
Mr.. LANE. Mr. President, I desire to
say 10 the Senator that it is not my pur-
pose to prescribe rules or platform Of
principles for the Democratic party.
had nothing to do with displacing Judge
Douglas from his position as chairman OF
the Committee on Territories; but / will
say to my friend from Ohio that [ have
very great respect for him, and that have
no doubt there are many good Democrats
in the Northern States who do not agree
with me upon the Territorial question
would not say that any one OF them who
disagrees with me, and holds different
principles on that point, is not good
Democrat; nor do pretend to say that
the fact that Judge Douglas holds the
views or opinions he does OH this point
would have been a good reason with me
for opposing his election to the chairman
ship of the Committee on territories. He
had been displaced before | become a
member of this body. 1t was done by
Democratic Senators whose devotion to
the Constitution, the Union, and the rights
of the States no man Will undertake to
gainsay.
While [ am up Mr.. President, will
saw that have my views in relation to the
Territorial question and | am sorry to find
that they differ very materially from those
of nv friend from Ohio; but I am sure
he is good Democrat. There is nc
doubt about that and l know am gooo
Democrat. Then, sir, how can under
take to say that gentleman, differing in
opinion or the Territorial question, shall
not act together as Democrats when the
SalVaClOu OIL our COuHtly uOPOhoo tiPoll llle
success of the Democratic party? l think
that theiprinciples of the Democratic party
are the true principles of this Government
and they must be maintained, they can
not be compromised. Seeing and ceiling
as I do the Importance of union, on the
part of Democrats, on oil great questions
[ would not rule out any member of that
party because he did not feel as | do il
relation to Territorial matters.
I have great respect for Judge Douglas
7 believe him to be Democrat but
have right to differ even from him, and
do differ in opinion from Judge Douglas
and also from my friefd from Ohio, ir
regard to the power of the people in the
Territories I hold that the territory O.
the country is the common property O
whole country, that the people of every
State of this Union have equal rights il
the territories, and that while they remain
in a, territorial condition the inhabitantl
cannot, by unfriendly legislation or by {
gystem of unequal taxation, debar tht
people of any State from admission there
or. In other words, they cannot by legisla
ton infringe on the rights of the people
of any State. But let me give an illustra
ton: Z hope the Senate will allow me tt
make case.
Applications has been made to Congress
during the last two or three years for tn,
organization Of q territorial governmen
III ARIZONA. Arizona is in the southern