Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-03-29

INOGCAUO8Os0
Having done this much, it seems to
me there ought to be very little difficult
ty IN our arriving At fair and just CON-
promise on this question. l believe
this Union would be safe; that every
state now 10 it would remain, and the
cotton States would come back, il the
Republican party would now consent to
ingraft upon the Constitution the ident-
cal principle that they have unanimous
ly voted for in both Houses Of Congress
in organizing the Territories Of CoIora-
do, Dscotah and Nevada, at the late ses-
sion. II you never intend again to adj
vocate the Wilmot proviso, if you do
not intend any more to arouse the pas
s'ons Of the people in favor of Congress
sional prohibition, all You have TO do,
in order to restore peace, is to agree to
deprive yourself Of the power to DO that
which you now say you do not intend
to do, and which you have just refused
to DO. AL the Territories are now or
ganized. Every foot OF Territory we
have got, except that dedicated to the
Indians west Of Arkansas, which could
not be disturbed, is now organized on
the principle Of non.intervention.
A pretty large number on the other
side of the chamber stood with me, po-
litically, in ls4s, when this slavery agi-
tation was fairly inaugurated; beginning
with the presiding officer, and every
second man on the other side Of the
chamber. They were all good Demo
Gratis in l84S, and many Of them in
1852; many others as late as 1856 but
they dropped off one by one, and went
over to the common enemy, until they
have left US in small minority on this
side OF the chamber. And upon what
principle Gid they leave us-did they
abandon the Democratic party-and go
to the Republicansl On the simple
proposition that we we're for non-intcr-
venton and you were for congressional
prohibition. Well, it has proved good
hobby to ride into office upon. You
have rode into power upon it. We do
not complain. Yon have since aban-
doned the principle and repudiatel the
means by which you attained power.
We do not object to that. All we ask
is, inasmuch as you have kicked over
the ladder by which you assembled to
your exalted position, and have now
planted yourselves firmly upon the
ground upon which we have stood from
the beginning of the controversy, that
you will not at the next election attempt
to inAame the passions Of the Northern
people upon the slavery question, by pre-
tending to be in favor of congressional
prohibition. while we Democrats are adj
vocating non-intcrvcntion. You may
succeed once in obtaining power on enc
set Of principles and administering the
government upon another but it is a
dangerous experiment to attempt to play
that game too often. The first time it
may very properly be called patriotism,
at least by courtesy but the second may
possibly be another name.
l must do justice to that side of the
chamber in cit ng another act of self
denial and Of patriotism on their part
Last year, before the election they hur-
ried through the House Of Represents
tives, by strict party vote, bill to re-
peal the slave code of New Mexico and
to prohibit slavery therein. They mani
tested great zeal In trying to get it up
and pass it through this body; but we
would not let them do it. They we're
exceedingly grieved because they could
not at once pass the bill, and thereby
rescue New Mexico from the evils and
miscries of slavery; and many Of them
showed signs Of deep distress that &C
ton OH that subject should be postponed
tor another year. Well, sir, they went
to the people, carried the election, and
came back here. Very soon twelve
Senators went out; and two others de-
clining to vote on questions of this ma
turc, the Republicans obtained the pow
or 10 pass the bill repeating the slave
code and prohibiting slavery in New
Mexico but not word was said about
it. 1t slept on tho table, the sleep of
death. Evidently they refrained from
pushing that question to a vote, When
they had the power to pass it, from
considerations Of patriotism. They did
not deem it patriotic to increase the ex-
element and drive the border slavehold-
ing States from the Union by carrying
the principles to which they stood so
strongly pledged before the people.
Here is another instance where patriot
ism has triumphed over partisan policy
and party platforms! honor them for
it. But since experience has proved to
you that you cannot administer the gov.
eminent and preserve the Union on
your policy of congressionalinte
and since you have all the Territories
We now possess, why not just embody
that principle in the Constitution, deny
ing the power Of Congress over the sub
ject of slavery everywhere in the fu-
ture! Do this, and we shall have peace
and harmony in our country. At all
events, sir,I am in favor of such amend
ments to the Constitution as will take
that question out Of Congress, and re-
store peace to the country. That may
be done by non-intervention-by popu-
lar sovereignty, as it is called or by
the Crittenden amendment, making an
equitable partition Of the Territory be-
tween the two sections, with a self.exe-
cutting clause prohibiting it on one side
and protecting it on the other. It may
be done on the basis Of the peace COM
mission. 1t may be done in various
ways. ! prefer such an amicable settle