Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-11-06

. ND'hHN hul IlOulbit HIaNt'y bl act q
Congress, notwithstanding the decision o
the Supreme Court to tha contrary, in al
the Territories va now possess, or ma,
thereafter acquire Whether he and hi
party are lr favor of returning Il
their master the fugitive slaves tina
may escape? In short, | will give the
Senator an opportunity now to say
/ MR. WAD2. Mr.. Presilent---
Me. DouOtAs. One other question, and
I will give way.
Mn. WADE. Very well.
Mr., DouGLAs, J will give the Senator
an opportunity Of saying now whether il
Is not the policy Of his party to exert all
the powers of the Federal Government
under the Constitution, according 0 their
of the instrument, to res
train ard cripple lhe institution oi slave
ry, with view TO its ultimate extinction
in all the States, old a. we'll as new, south
IT. we'll as north.
Are not these the views and purpose.
OF the party, as proclaimed by lheir lead
ers, ana understood by the people, in
speeches, addresses, sermons, newspapers,
and public meetings? Now, will hear
his answer
Mr.. WADE. Mr. President all these
questions are most pertiueully answered
in the speech the Senator Is protesting TO
answer. IL he will read my speech, he
Will lind my sentiments upon all those
questions.
MR. DOUGLAS. Mr.. President. did
not expect an uneQuivocal answer. /
know too we'll that the Senator will not
deny that each Of these interrogatJries do
express his Individual policy and the pol,
icy Of the Republican party as he under.
stands 1t. ! should not have propoundtd
the ln,erroRatories to him il he had not
accused mo and the northern Democracy
OF having mIsreprcsenled the policy OF
the Republican party, and with having
deceived the southern people by suCu
misrepresentation. The most obnoxious
sentiments ! ever attributed TO the Re,
publican party, and that not in the South,
but IN northern Illinois and the strong
holds OF Ab0ltIonism, was that they iu,
tended 10 exercise the powers Of the Fed
era! Government with view to the ulLl-
mate extinction Of slavery in the south
crn States. have expressed my belief
and would be CAD 20 be corrected if am
IN error, that It Is The policy OF that party
to exclude slavery from all the Territories
we now possess or may acquire, with u
view OF surrounding tho slave States With
Gordon OF abolition States, and thus con-
fine the institution within such narrow
limits that, when the number Increases
beyond the capacity Of tie soI to raise
food for the subsistence, he institution
must end IN starvation. colonization, or
servlle insurrection. have often expos.
ed the enOrmities of this policy, and mp.
pealrd TO ;he people OF Illinois to know
whether this Elode Of getting rid Of the
evils Of slavery could be justified in the
name Of civilization, humanityand Chris
tiauIty? | Lave often used these argu-
monts in the strongest abolition portions
Of the North; but never in the South.
rHe truth Ii, have always been very
mild and gentle upon the Republicans
when addressing n southern audience; for
il seemed ungenerous TO say behind theI
backs, and where they dare not 80 10 re
ply to me, those things which ! was 10
the habit Of SAYING to their faces, and in
the presence Of their leaders, where they
were in the majority.
But iuasmuch IS ! DO not get a direct
answer from the Senator who makes this
charge against the Northern Democracy,
as TO the purposes Of that party to u5e the
power Of the Federal Government under
their construction of the Constitution
with view 10 the ultimate extinction Of
slavery in the States, will :um to the
record Of their President elect, and see
what he say, On that subject. The Re.
publlcans have gone 10 the trouble to
collect and publish in pamphlet form, un .
der the sanction Of Mr.. Lincoln the de-
dates which took place between him and
myscltin the senatorial canvass Of 1858.
1t may not be improper hero TO remark
that this publication Is unfair towards me,
for the reason that Mr.. Lincoln personals
IS revised and corrected his own speech
cs, without giving me an opportunity to
correct the numerous errors in mine. In
a'much rs the publication is made under
the sanction OF Mr. Lincoln himself, ac,
coupanied by letter from him that he
has revised the speeches by verbal crrreC-
tions, and thereby approved them, it be,
comes important to show what his views
are, since he is in the daily habit Of refer
ring to those speeches ior his present
opinions.
Mr.. Lincoln was nominated for United
States Senator by Republican State con
yenton Al Springfield in June, 1858, Am
the nomination, lie had cares
fully prepared written speech, which he
delivered on the occasion, aud which, by
order of the Convention, was published
among the proceedings as containing the
platform Of principles upon which the
canvass was to be conducted, More i'm
poelance IS due to this speech than TO
these delivered dnder the excitement of
debate in joint discussions by the exgen-
cies OF the contest. The first few para
graphs which J will now read, may be ta-
Ken rs tait statement Of his opinion and
feelings upon the slavery question. Mr..
Lincoln said;
"Mr. Iresident and Gentlemen or the
Convention, ,f We could first know where
We are and whittier we are tending. we
could better judge what to do and how to
do it. We are now far into the lifth year
since policy was initiated with the a,
vowed object and confident promise of
putting an end to slavery agitation. Un,
der the operation Of that policy, that agi.