Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-01-23

I
ganzation of Territories, and the admission of
new States This sketch of the origin and pro-
gress of slavery agitation as an clement of polit-
ical power and partisan warfare covers the entire
period from the organization OF the Federal gov
ernment under the Constitution, in l1o9, to the
present, and is naturally divided into three parts:
First. From lTS9 when the Constitution went
into operation, to 1890, when the Missouri
controversy arose, the Territories were all organ
lied upon the basis of on-intervention by Con- |
gress with the domestic affairs of the people, and
especially upon the question of African slavery.
During the whole of this period, domestic tran
guilty and fraternal feeling prevailed.
Second From 1920, when the Missouri com
promise was adopted, TO 1913 and 1850, when it
was repudiate1 and finally abandoned, all the
Territories were organized with reference to the
policy of an equitable partition between the two
sections upon the line of 36 deg. 30 min. During
this period there was no serious difficulty upon
the Territorial question, so long rs the Missouri
compromise was adhered to, and carried out in
good faith.
Third From 1850, when the original doctrine
OF nonntervention, as it prevailed during the
first thirty years. was established as the policy
of the Government in the organization OF Terri
tories, and the admission of new States, 10 the
present time, there has been constant struggle,
except for short interval, to overthrow and re
pudate the policy and principles of the compro-
ing to the old doctrine of Congressional interven-
ton for the prohibition of slavery in all the Ter
ritories, south as we'll north of the Missouri
line regardless of the wishes and condition OF the
people inhabiting the country.
In view of these facts, feel authorized to re
affirm the proposition with which commenced
my remarks, that, whenever the Federal Govern
ment has attempted to control the slavery ques
ton in III newly acquired Territories, alienation
of feeling dscord and sectional strife, have en-
sued; and whenever Congress has refrained from
such interference peace, harmony and good Will,
have returned The conclusion draw from these
premises is, that the slavery question should be
banished forever from the Halls of Congress and
the arena of Federal politics by an irreQellable
constitutional provision. have deemed this ex-
position of the origin and progress of the slavery
agitation essential to full comprehension of the
difficulties with which are surrounded, and the
remedie; for the evils which threaten the disrup
ton of the Republic The immediate causes
which have precipita.el the Southern country into
revolution, although inseparably connected with,
and flowing from, the slavery agitation, whose
history / have portrayed, are to be found in the
result of the recent Presidential election. ! hold
that the election of any man, no matter who, by
the American peo ple according to the Constitu
! ton, furnishes cause justification, for the
dissolution of the Union. But we cannot close our
eyes to the fact that the Southern people have
ceived the result ofthat election as furnishing
elusive evidence that the dominant party of the
North which is soon to take possession of the Fede
raj Government under that election are determined
to invade and destroy their constitutional rights.
/ Believing that their domestic Institutions, their
/ hearth stones, and their family altars, all to
| be assailed at least by indirect means, and that
the Federal Government is to be used for the in
auguration of line of policy which shall have for
its object the ultimate extinction of slavery IN all
the States, old as well as new, South as well as
North, the southern people are prepared to rush
| wildly madly, as think, into revolution ,disunon,
war, and defy the consequences, whatever they
NAV be, rather than to wait for the development
! of events or submit tamely to what they think is
/ a fatal blow impending over them and over all
they hold dear on earth. 1t matters not so far as
we and the peace of the country and the fate of
the Union are concerned, whether these appre
tensions of the southern people are real or inn
aginary, whether they are well founded or wholly
without foundation, so long as they believe them
and are determined to act upon them. The Sen
at or from Ohio, Mr.. Wade whose speech was
received with so much favor by his political
friends the other day referred these serious ap
prehension, and acknowledged his belief that the
southern people were laboring under the convic-
ton that they were well founded. He was kind
enough to add that he did not blame the southern
people much for what they were doing under this
/ fatal misapprehension; but cast the whole blame
upon the northern Democracy; and referred es-
4 pecially to his colleague and myself, for having
misrepresented and falsfed the purposesand policy
of the Republican party, and for having made the
southern people believe our Misrepresentation.
), He does not blame the southern people for acting
on their honest convictions in resortng to revo-
luton 10 avert an impending but imaginary Ca
lamty. No; he does not blame them, because
they believe in the existence of the danger; yet
he will do no act to undeceve them; will take no
step to relieve their painful apprehensions; and
will furnish no guarantees, no security against
the dangers which they believe to exist, and the
existence of which he denies; but on the contrary
he demands unconditional submission, threatens
war, and talks about armies, navies, and mil
itary forces, for the purpose of preserving the
Union and enforcing the laws | submit whether
this mode of treating the question is not calcu-
lated to confirm the worst apprehensions of the
: southern people, and force them into the most
extreme measures of resistance
regret that the Senator from Ohio, or any
other Senator, should have deemed it consistent
with his duty, under present circumstances, to
introduce partisan politics, and attempt to man
ufacture partisan capital out of questions nvolv-
e ing the peace and safety of the country. | re-
E peat what have said on another occasion, that
if know myself, my action will be influenced
by partisan considerations, until shall have
D rescued the country from the perils which envi
d ron it. But since the Senator has attempted to
throw the whole responsibility of the present dit
4 ficulties upon the northern Democracy, and has
charged with misrepresentng and falsifying
f the purposes and policy of the Republican party
and thereby deceiving the southern people, fee
called up to repel the charge and show that it j:
4 without shadow of foundation. No man living
/ would rejoice more than myself in the convic
ton, if could only be convinced of the fact tha
have misunderstood, and consequently msrep
= resented, the policy and design Of the Repub
lIcan party. Produce the evidence and convince
;, me of my error and win take more pleasure il
n making the correction and repairing the injustice
a than | ever have taken in denouncng what
Q believed to be an unjust and ruinous policy.
! With the view of ascertaining whether hav,
a inexperienced or misrepresented the policy and
n purposes of the Republican party, | will now in
), quire of the Senator, and yield the floor for AZ
n answer: whether it is not the policy of his party
to conhne slavery within its present limits by th
n action of the Federal Government Whether the,
. do not intend TO abolish and prohibit slavery bl
! act of Congress, notwithstanding the decision o
! the Supreme Court to the country, in all the Ter
= ritories we now possess or may hereafter acquire
. Whether he and his party are in favor of return
!. ing to their master the fugitive slaves that ma
. escapeg In short | will give the Senator an op
!, portunity now TO say
Mr. Wade Mr.. President
Il Mr.. Douglas. 0ne other question. and vii
= give way.
n Mr.. Wade Very well.
> Mr. Douglas. will give the Senator an op
: portunity OF saying now, whether it is not tn
% policy OF his party to exert all the powers of tn
. Federal Government under the Constitution, ac
% cording to their Interpretation of the instrument
to restrain and cripple the institution of slavery
! with view to its ultimate extinction in all tn
% States, old as well new, South as well a
: North.
# Are not these the views and purposes of tn
a. party, proclaimed by their leaders, and under
IN stood by the people, in speeches. addresses, ser
i. mons, newspapers, and public meetings? Now
] will hear his answer.
Mr.. Wade Mr.. President, all these ques
es ton most pertinently answered in the speec
az the Senator is protesting to answer. have moth
c ing to add to it. If he will read my speech, h
ri will find my sentiments upon all those question:
n Mr. Douglas. Mr. President, | did not expeC
~ u an unequivocal answer. knew too well tina
n the Senator will not deny that each of these in
d; terrogatories do express his individual policy an
IS the policy OF the Republican party as he under