The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-08-06

ABLE SPEICH or HON. JOHN HICKMAN, OF Pa,
AT PHILADELPHIA.


to NV estimate of Mr.. BreckiprIge's charac-
ter as politician, can only say that my
esteem for him is profound when brought
into comparison with that which entertain |
for his Democratic competitor. There are
few, if any, living men concerning whom |
more has been said, and less really known,
than STEPHEN A. Douglas, of Illinois. There |
are thousands-by far too many thousands
sustaining him under the mistaken and de-
lusive idea that he is directing his efforts to
counterfeit the plans of the Southern Dem
cracv. This is a frightful hallucnation, but
a natural one when we take into considera-
ton the humilating fact that all that devo
ton could do has been done by those sur
rounding his person, to distort true record
and TO stamp a counterfeit character for him
| on the public mind. Viewing him as one of
the most unsafe and treacherous OF leaders,
YOU will pardon me certain statements which
| il now seems necessary should be made, and
the correctness OF which, presume. will not
| be impugned. | have not yet forgotten,
when, in the winter OF 1896, during the
first session of the Thirty-fourth Congress,
| the residents of Kansas, asseveratng that
the cardinal principle of the Nebraska Kan
sas act had been wantonly and wickedly nnl.
| lifted, that fraud and violence, concocted IN
the Blue Lodges of Missouri, had invaded
1
them for the purpose of forcing upon them
institutions which they abhorred, and in
yoking the interposition of Congress in their
behalf. the prided father of s'untrammeled
Popular Sovereignty turned bis back upon
his violated child, and closed bis ears, as in
death, to complaints of outrages almost
without q parallel in the civilization of the
century. These despoiled pioneers, who had
taken uu their abode in a Territory under
the most solemn guarantees OF elf-govern-
ment, only asked TO prove their accusations,
and to be relieves from oppression. In 9th
er words, they declared they had never been
able TO enjoy self. government, that they were
Mled bv invaders, and demanded the SOW
ereignty conferred by law upon them. Mr..
Douglas should have been the first man to
1v to their relief and If he had been as
completely dedicated to the principles OF bis
: bill as some would make Us believe, he
would have urged investigation and carried
; it. So far from having done so, be put him
self in the lead of those Senators most hos
tile to on exposition, aud became the mere
mouth piece, advocate and apologist OF those
I engaged in the work OF forcing Slavery upon
, an unwilling people. lie enjoyed at that
time the full confidence of the South, and
his Democracy was orthodox, because be
. was loyal to his task masters willing to do
: battle for their most extravagant demands.
. He was then Chairman Of the Committee on
Territories, and call attention TO his repor'
as such, made March IL, 1856, as conclusive
upon the point have stated. In that paper
he could find nothing to say against foreign
eonspiracies to invade the soil of Kansas
and control elections, but be had much tt
It offer in condemnation OF Eastern associs
Is tions to encourage removal thither. III
e could discover no irregularities In the returr
n OF Mr. Whitfield, the Pro Slavery Delegate
- to the House of Representatives, but h
!. clearly discerned that the Territorial Legis
:, lature was legally elected body, with per
- feet authority 10 enact the most cruel AM
10 arbitrary slave codes, and that the complain
!, of fraud and force was gotten up merely u
stimulate and excite Northern emigration
At tho time of which | speak, there was n
:. one in Congress or out of Congress, In othc
% or ont OF Office, who exerted himself NOR
y untringly to perpetuate that reign of terro
. inaugurated to insure the admission 0
of Kansas into the Union as Slave State
y fear there are many now bearing up Oh
banner inscribed with the name of this Sen
- ator, who never have fully understood, Q
~ who have forgotten this furnished page i
- his history. LIZ there has ever been NOR
= determined foe to the growth of freedom
Kansas. or TO the principles OF the Nebrasks
Kansas bill than Stephen A. Douglas, he ha
Us been able to keep himself very much und,
he cover. Ii is gratifying, however, to make
10 single remark in his favor, it 10 this: that /
~, seems as willing rs the most ardent of b
friends to divert attention from this perc
of bis career. | am not aware that,
lg- either essay or address, he has ventured
its recur to IL; but on the contrary be seen
disposed to treat it as blank in bis lIf
Whist these proceedings were progressil
in the Senate, the other branch of UoDgre
, OF carried resolutions of investigation, under
!, close division of parties, and sent see
committee to the Territory. The consequen
es was such an exposure as satisfied the cou
per try not only of the truth of everythi
ex charged, but of existing conspiraeies beyo,
ar anything that had been imagined. The pu
lshed evidence eifectually revealed the i
guy tentlons of the South, and made deep il
the preston upon the North. Ii was then
tablished that neither law nor propert
were to be allowed TO stand in the way
was Slavery extension; and we are almost driv
o at to the conclusion that the repeal of the M
ass souri, Compromise was but part OF q &c
eral and well matured plan of operations,
the head of which stood the self-crown
N chief Of popular Territorial Government
Mr.. Douglass term of office was now
D. preaching its close. 1t is not unlikely tha,
New desire Tor reelection, and knowledge
cret the conviction forced upon ME State py
has examination alluded 70, induced HIM to io
rms with different eyes upon Kansas, ana crea
TO an anxiety on his part to take up the ca
JIM Of her robbed and wretched people. | Of
che not certainly say how this may have been
ave only state that a sudden and mracult
ther change came over MIN, ana Tor while
the seemed to glory IN the name of "rebel.'
He opposed the admission OF Kansas IN
the Leccmrtcn cersti.ctiec with seeming
nson robustness, anu sheh ahnonheeu ms uetefl