Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-04-04
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Mr.. Douglas Roa.ts Republicans.

| 81 f7-TlfI = T1.7 - . i '. ..-
In the United States Senate, on Monday Of
last week, Mr.. Douglas "poked fun, extensive.
ly, at the Republicans, for abandoning the "doc--
trines'' Of the campaign. He maintained that
they had hooked his thunder. He said:
Since the war policy has been go generally
disayowed by Senators on that side of the Cham.
Der, and peace has been declared TO be the policy
of the Administration, IL seems that was not
10 far wrong when incurred the displeasure of
90 many Senators on account OF my interpreta.
tion Of the Inaugural. For 1t seems to be gen.
orally conceded now that no revenue ia TO be
collected, unless Congress makes it the duty of
the President 10 do IL; no ports are to be block
AIDED, unless Congress makes it the duty of the
President to blockade them; no military force
10 to be used, unless Congress shall require il to
be done, and provide the means; and that moth.
ing 10 to be done that leads to war. This is a
very good policy-a much wiser and better pol.
icyathan had expected or hoped for from Re-
publican Administration. do not know that
should have made as great efforts to defeat them,
II thought they would have acted with as
much wisdom and patriotism.
Mr.. Clark-You did not defeat them.
Mr.. Douglas-No; nor would | have made as
great efforts to defeat them. 81 .
Mr.. Clark-You did US no harm. (Laugh-
ter;2
was not my fault. used my best efforts to do
it. q M
Mr.. Clark-You could not quite come It.
Mr.. Douglas-I could not quite come il, and
| you see the consequences. Seven States are
out of the Union, civil war is impending over
you, commerce is interrupted, confidence de-
stroyed, the country going to pieces. just be-
cause was unable to defeat you. No man in
America believes these consequences would
have resulted, If | had been successful in my
| efforts to defeat you. You can boast that YOU
have defeated me, but you have de-
feated your country with me. You can boast
that you have triumphed over me, but you have
triumphed over the unity of these States. Your
triumph has brought disunion; and God only
knows what consequences may grow out of it.
Mr.. HoWe-D0 understand the Senator
that It is the election of President Lincoln, In.
stead OF some one OF the other candidates, that
has caused the dissolution of the Union7
MIR. Douglas-The Senator from Wiscopsin
can understand me Just as Il say. If had sue
ceeded In defeating your party at the Presi-
Dental election, thereby rendering 1t certain
that the policy of that party was not to be car
RED into effect, the people of the Southern
states would have rosted In security that they
were safe, and the Union never would have been
dissolved.
Mr.. Howe-What policy Is that7
| Mr.. Douglas-The policy of sectional party,
that makes war upon the institutions of slave
~ as 1t exists In the States OF the Union; and
wishes 70 use the power of the Federal Gov
eminent to cripple 1t wherever the Constitution,
according to your construction, does not forbid
Mr. howe-Ihat Is the very point upon which
want the Senator's testimony.
| Mr.. Douglas-Well, YOU have got II, '
Mr.. Howe-That the Republican party In not
In favor Of any sectional policy. It's In favor
OF maintaining the authority Of the whole peo-
pie OF the Union over all questions within their
Jurisdiction.
Mr.. Douglas-That, suppose, depends upon
what 10 meant by the words sectional party. /"
presume there will be no controversy about
the proposition that dle Republican psyiv yests
upon he basis Of hostility to The institution Of sla-
otfy ioheTsuer u ezists, 10 The ertent that The Con-
sftattoH Of the United States does not forbid your
inteTfertnee. Under that construction of the
Constitution, you claim the right to prohibit
saverylinall the Territories of the United States
py act Of Congress. Not only that, but you as.
serf that Congress Is clothed with the power and
outy tnus to prohibit, and that you are going to
use the authority of the Federal Government, to
the extent of the powers conferred by the Con.
sttution, according to your construction of IT, 10
cripple, restrain and destroy what you call the
"slave power" In this country. That being
your avowed policy, the Southern States, when
you triumphed in the Presidential election.
came to the conclusion that you were in earnest:
snat you had not been proclaiming these prin-
ciples to the Northern people for the purpose Of
deceiying them into giving you support: and that
you meant TO do just tohat you pretended ron mould
do. Hence they expected that the moment Won
got power, you sould take up the bill of last
year. which you had passed through the House
Of Representatives, which was lying on the ta-
ble OF the Senate-to repeal the slave code of
New Mexico, and abolsh slavery In that Terri
tory; out hess Southern people did you injustice In
suppo"Hs you intended 10 do any such Minq. The
result proves that you did not intend to do it.
and that the apprehensions Of the Southern peo.
pie were not well founded II seems that tbese
professions of an intention to prohibit slavery
in the Territories were made only for the pur.
pose OF getting Northern votes o1
When you had accomplished your object. YOU
abandoned all idea OF passing the bill, finn Veed
you ever entertained 1t, for fear IL mioht dis
ftrb The peace Of The Union. You have abandon.
cd the aggressive policy of abolishing slavery
in the country south Of the thirty-seyenth mar.
allel. You have made further sacrifices than
that, for the sake Of peace and the Union. II
give you credit for them. You have passed ter
ritorial bills organizing the Territories Of Colo.
rado, Nevada, Dacotah, on the principle Of
what2 The Nebraska vilainy, ii | NAV be per. |
mitted to repeat the polite language of die Sen
ator from Wisconsin. never deemed myself At
liberty TO use the word In the Senate before:
but inasmuch as the Senator used it. and an.
pealed TO the Chair to know whether Il was
any violation of deeorum, ,and silence gave con.
sent, Ilsuppose nowI may be permitted TO saw
that you organized all the Territories we nov
possess on the Identical principle OF the Nebras.
ks villainy! a'ls. q D! 'slall lio1a1 r'll9
Mr.. Howe-Now really, Mr.. President. let
me assure the Senator that did not, cut that
coat for him at all, nor for the Nebraska bill.
! spoke Of an act Of the Government OF the
United States imposing slavery upon Terri
tory as villainous act, and not the mere enact.
ment OF law organizing Territory and omit
ting TO exclude slavery, should not, out Of
Difference to the Senator, have spoken Of tsuch
an act as vllainous one. 80. 80. ~ 49, '5s
Mr.. Douglas--I am very glad, Mr.. President,
to hear that explanation, and take It In ali
sincerity. ] thought the gentleman was man
OF too much intelligence ever 20 have said or
thought that the Nebraska bill was villainv.
and / did not expect to hear that from him: and
am very glad, therefore, 10 be corrected. i
Knew that some politicians, for political effect,
we're In the habit Of so representing Il some
years ago, In order to get votes, but never
supposed any Of them believed il. The Sena.
tor, therefore, referred only to an act of the
Federal Government to establish slavery in
Territory. donot know what act Of this Ftd
/ syGl Government he refers to. | am not aware