Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-02-06
THE NATIONAL CRISIS.
SPEECH OF STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS
delivered in the United States esnate, Thurs
day, January 3d. 1861.

uaS, oahuary ou, 1901.
Mr.. Douglas asked that the report oi
the Comnitte Of Thirteen be taken up
Mr.. ID. proceeded to address the Senate
lie said no act @! his public life ever gave
J him 80 much pain as to vote for the reso.
luton. The Committee could not agree.
In order TO see the cause of the trouble,
we must 60 back to the late election.
We should assume that whenever Con-
gress undertook to act on the slavery
question, discord and agitation was sure
to follow. When Congress lot the guess
tion alone there was peace. He referred
to the time when the Missouri Com2ro,
mise was enacted. The fearful agitation
OF 1920 was settled by the establishment /
OF the compromise line. So long as that
adjustment was carried out, there vas
peace and quiet. Texas was adjusted
quietly under this rule, though there was
great contrariety of opinion. But no
one objected because it extended that
line. Again, Califcrni, and New Mexico
were acquired, and the extension of the
line to the Pacific ocean was demanded
The records show that he reported, as
Chairman of the Committee on Terrific
ries, a resolution to extend the line to the
Pacific. This was adopted in the Senate,
but when it was sent to the House it was
rejected by Northern votes. That OPEN
ed the flood gates Of the agitation of 1913,
which was settled 10y the Compromise Of
1850. When we settle this question in
the Territ cries then we shall settle it en-.
tirely. \ We
como now to the consideration Of that
party which has plunged the country in,
to state of discord. is folly for any
man not to see facts which do exist. The
result of the recent election, in connec-
ton with all the circumstances with which
it is surrounded, have led the people of
the South to form the convictions that it
is fixed policy Of the dominate party of
the North TO invade and destroy their
constitutional rights, and they are ready
to rush, rashly think, into all the hor-
rors of revolution and disunion, rather
than to submit to what they think the
impending blow which hangs over them.
The Senator from Ohio (Mr. Wade) ac<
knowleged the existence ofthis conviction
inthe minds of the Southern people, and
said he did not so much blame them as
he did that northern Democracy, who
had misrepresented and falsified the pur-
pose and policy of the Republican party !;
yet he advocates policy which will not
relieve these apprehensions, but threaten
them with revolution and coercion,
rather than to give them security. 1t
matters not whether these dangers were
real or imaginary, if the Southern people
ar prepared to take a position which will
plunge us into disunion and discord for,
ever. Iregret that any one on this floor
should have introduced party politics, and
endeavor to make party capital ou. Of any
Question affecting the peace and safe>
ty of this country. But, since the Sena.
tor has attempted to make the Northern
Democracy responsible for the revolution,
| am forced to inquire whether the
charge is true. There is no man living
who would be better pleased 10 learn that
he had misrepresented or misunderstood
the policy Of chat party, lwould like to
know whether that Senator will now say
it is not the policy Of that party to con,
fine slavery within its present limits by
the notion Of tho Federal Government
Whether it is not the policy OF that par
ty to exclude slavery from the Territories
We now possess, or any we may hereafter
acquire? Whether or not that party is
in favor of returning fugitives to their
masters from whom they escaped ? In
short, will give Kim the opportunity of
saying now, whether it is not the policy
OF that party to exert all the powers OF
the Federal Government, under the Con-
stltutio1, according their Interpretation
of that instrument, with view to its ul>
innate extinction in the States, old as well
as new, North as we'll as South.
Mr.. Wade rep, ohiol All those ques.
tons are most perfectly answered in the
speech to which he is now protesting to
make answer. / have nothing to add
oft.
Mr.. Douglas--I did not expect an
eouiyecal answer. know to we'll that
Senator will not deny that each of these
interrogatories does express his individu-
al policy and the policy of the Republi>
can party, as he understands it. The
harshest thing have said of the Republic
can party was they intended to use the
power of the Governmentwi a view to
the ultimate extinction Of slavery, not