The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-04-19
EcoSc-uDED.l |

the Union, aud wishes TO use the power OF
the Federal Government TO cripple it
wherever the Constitution, according to
your construction, does not forbid.
Mr.. Howe. That is the very point upon
which | want the Senator'S testimony
Mr.. Douglas. Well, you have got IL
Mr.. Howe. That the Republican party
is not iu favor of any sectional party It
is in favor of maintaining the authority of
the whole people Of the Union over all
questions within their jurisdiction.
Dir. Douglas. That, suppose, depends
upon what is meant by the words sec
tional party" presume there will be no
Ltroversy about the proposition that the
Republican party rests upon the basis of
hostility TO the institution Of slavery
wherever it exists to the extent that the
constitution Of the United States does not
forbid your interference. Under that
construction of the constitution, you claim
the right to prohibit slavery in all the ter
ritories Of the United States by act OF
Congress. Not only that, but you assert
taat Congress is clothed with the power
and duty thus to prohibit and that YOU
L
eral Government TO the extent Of the
powers conferred by the constitution, ac-
cording TO your construction of it, to
cripple, restrain. and destroy what you
call the slave power in this country
That being your avowed policy, the south
ern states, when you triumphed in the
D esdential election, came TO the conclu-
sion that you were in earnest; that you
had not been proclamirg these principles
to the northern people tor the purpose of
decei,ing them into giving you support;
and that you meant TO do just what you
pretended you would do. Hence they
expected that The moment YOU got power,
you would take up the bill of last year
which you had passed. through tie House
of Representatives. which was Wing on
the table Of the Senate-to repeal the
slave code of New Mexico, and abolish
slavery in that territory, but these South
ern people did you injustice in supposing
you intended 10 do any sach thing The
result proves that you did not intend TO
do it, aud that the apprehen>ions Of the
southern people were not we'll founded
IL seems that these professions of an in
tention to prohibit slavery in the territo>
ries were made only COR the purpose of
getting northern votes. When you had
accomplished your object, you abandoned
all idea Of passing the bill. if indeed you
ever entertained il, for fear it might dis
turb the peace of the Union. Hence
thought the Senator of Kentucky (Mr
BreckiDrdge) did you great injustice he
other day when be said that you had not
abated one iota from the platform Of your
party. or the creed of the Republican or
ganization. | think that you have aba'ed
much. You have ab,ndoueI the agrees
sive policy of aboIishag slavery in all the
country south of the thirt, ,enth par al
lei You have made further sacrifices
than that for the sake of peace and the
Union. | give you credit for them
You have passed territorial bills organic
ing the territories pf Colorado, Nevada.
Dakota, on the principles of-what? The
Nebraska yilaiuy, if | may be permitted
TO repeat the polite language Of the Sens
tor from Wisconsin. never deemed my
slf a! liberty t) use the word in the S,.na:e
before; but, inaSmuch as the Senator used
it, and appealed to the Chair 10 know
whether it any violation of decorum.
and silence gave consent, | suppose now
may be permitted to say that YOU or
ganized all the territories we now possess
on the identical principle of the Nebra,ka
vilIainy
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 territory as a vilIainous
act, and not the mere enactment of law
organizing territory and omting to ex
clude slavery. | should not out of def
erence to the Senator, have spoken of
such an act as a viIainous one.
Mr. Douglas. am very glad, Mr.
President To hear that explanation, and
take it in all sincerity. | thought the
gentleman was man Of too much inteli-
gence ever 10 have said or thought that
the Nebraska bill was villsiny; and |
did not expect to hear that from him, and
am very glad, therefore, to be corrected
know that some politicians. for political
ttSSt, Heio tt tIc uhOlI Ol 50 ItDTtNeul my
It some years ago, in order to get votes,
but never supposed any of them believed.
The Senator, therefore. referred only to an
act of the Federal Government to estab.
lish slavery in territory. do not kno"
what act of this Federal Government he
refers TO. am not aware that the Fed
eraI Government ever passed an act estab
fishing slavery anywhere. | never heard
of such a Law. The Federal Government
has passed acts to prohibit slavery in
some places, but never to establish it, to
maintain 1t, 10 protect it, or TO keep it in
any place. Hence the Senator vas mis-
taken in using The word "yIIainy in
this connection, for it seems none lad ever
occurred. 1t was merel : iapsus knguae
and therefore, of course, the reporter will
not keep 1t in the report.
Il is true that in the beginning of this
Government slavery was prohibited by
law in the territory northwest of the Ohio
river That prohibition continued up to
1883, when Minnesota was admitted into
the Union that is, it continued within
the limits of each territory until II becaD.