The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1860-10-04
MR.. DOUGLAS AND THE MONTGOM-
ERT BILL.

Mr. Douglas has referred to the fact that
while the Lecompton Constitution was
pending in Congress, the Republicans
voted for the Critteuden Montg, merry
amcndment,-as proof that they had
abandoned their theory Of Congressional
power over the slavery question in the
Territories, and had adopted his priuci-
pie Of Popular Sovereignty in its stead.
Senator Wilson has answered this
charge in a speech made in reply to one
BY Mr.. Doug as, in Bangor, Maine,
few days since. We give the following
extract:
"Mr Douglas boastfully claimed yes
terday that he employed the Republi-
cans to aid him in carrying out popular
sovereignty aud defeating the Lecomptou
Constitution /: he charges that the Repub-
licans abandoned their principles, and
adopted popular sovereignty, and he ask.
ed if any Republican could deny that?
"The Republicans did not abandon
their great doctrine OF the power and du
ty Of Congress to prohibit slavery IN the
Territories the Republicans did not ac
cept popular soverei guty as principle
they were i'll minority in both houses
of Congress; they were powcress to af.
firm or reject any measure the Lecomp-
ton Constitution making Kansas a slave
State, was pending; they knew that the
people of Kansas, by at least ten thou
sand majority, were opposed to that pro.
duct of fraud and trckery. 4 few South
Americans on the one side, aud anti Le-
compton Democrats on the other, propos-
ed that the plan prepared by MIR. Crit.
tenden, to refer that Constitution to
the people of Kansas, should be agreed
upon as compromise.
Conference meetings were held,
pledges given to defeat the Lecompton
Slave Constitution, if We would, without
any concession Of principle, unite in the
support of Mr.. Crittenden's proposition
u proposition which could ia no event
pass the Senate The Crittcnder bill,
with our united votes, could rot pass,
but the pledge was made by "a few Amer
leans from the South, and twenty -four
anti-Lccompton Democrats in the House,
that they would stand firm aud defeat
the Lccompton Constitution. Knowing
that the people of Kansas would vote
that Constitution down, even if it should
pass the Senate, Of which there was no
probability, the Republicans accepted
the pledges rendered, and voted for the
'CritteHdsn.M Montgomery bill, which fail
ed, as they saw it woulo, in the Senate.
"Thc South Americans, true to their
! pliyhted faith, stood frm, but one half OF
the anti Lecompton Democrats violated
their plighted word of honor, and voted
for the English swiudle. la that hour
of apostacy, rumor said that Douglas
himself wavered, and was only saved
from supporting the English bill by the
iron will and nfcxible resolution of the
lamented Broderick. This was our posi-
ton; We never wavered or faltercd in
regard to our great central idea; but We
were pledged to freedom, and we would
with perfect consistency accept any rea
sonable plan to save Kansas from becom.
ing slave State. That was Mr.. Doug
las view then, and he was frank enough
to say SO. While that m ,asure was pend.
ing, Mr.. Douglas said to he in the Sen
ate Chamber that it was slandcr to say
that the Republicans were abandoning
their principle of Congressional prohibi.
ton that If such charge should be
made against them in his presence he
would dcnounce it.. Great was my sur
prise then, when | read in the public
press. that Mr.. Douglas iu debate 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 win
ter Of 1889, said to him in substance
that we had fought together the Lecomp-
ton battle; that we had often held CON
sulta,ian in regard to the matter; aud
that felt bound in honor to hold sacred
what trsnspired in that great contest Of
personal character but felt indig-
nant when | saw that he had made a
charge against the Republicans which he
knew to be unjust, and which he had de-
clared to mo he would repel if made in
his presence. He said that Lincoln
pressed him so hard that he had to take
that position to save himself As Ian
coin is pressing him very bard now,
suppose he is again making the charge te
save himself