The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-01-23
Speech Of Senator Douglas on the
Crittenden Amendment.

proceeded
ssaalno actof his public life ever gave him, SO
maohEpains as to vote for the resolution. The
Committee could not agree. In order to see
the real seause of the troubles, we must go
back To the late election. We should assume
that whenever Congress undertook to act on
the question Of slavery, discord and agitation
was sure to follow. When Congress let the
question alone there was peace He referred
to the excitement when the Missouri Com
promise was enacted. The fearful agitation
of 1920 was settled by the establishment OF
aCompromise, line. d So long as that adjust
ment was carried oeut there was peace and
ouiet.r Texas was adjusted quietly under this
rule, though sthere was great icentrariety OF
opinio1.Is Bat NO one objected, because 1t ex-
tended that aine. Again, California and New
Mexico ware acquired, and the extension OF
the line to the Pacific Ocean was demanded.
The records show that he repsrted, as Chair
man of the Committee of Territories, reso-
luton to extend the line to the Pacific. This
was adopted in the Senate, but when it was
sent to the House it was rejected by the North
ern totesss That opened the food gates OF the
agftatfon' of 84S, which only was settled by
the Eornprornise of 1850. When we settle
tits question in the Territories, then we shall
settle it entirely The Abolitionists dcould
never have brought the Union to the verge OF
torres II was q a'rejeetion of the extension OF
tbatline in lS4S that reopened the agitatlsn.
The arguments of 1919 and 1920 were re-
peated. Fhe positions of the North and the
South were the same. The purest patriots In
the land we're alarmed, and Mr.. Clay came
back to, the Senate to see if he could not
bring back peace. He found no tlouble with
the Southern members, but he could ind no
support Of this line from the North. The
Missouri line was aban 1ened because the
friends said they could not carry it out in
good faith. Then they turned to see what
next was best There was desire to take
the question out of Congress and secure the
country At last it was decided to leave the
Question to the people of the Territories them
selves.s., The records show that he supported
both compromises and for the same reasons.
Peace followed all over the country, But IN
lS53-4 it became necessary to organize the
Territories of Kansas and Nebraska. The
COMMITTEES in forming the bill, determined TO
carry out the compromise, measures OF lsou'
though they had all been in favor OF the MIS-
souri, Compromise as long as it could be car
ried out hue and cry was Immediately
lraised that the Committee were violating
sacred com promise. But the bill did not men
Fionsthe Missouri, Compromise, but Gid give
sthe people the privilege OF settling the ques-
stions for themselves The history of the Gov
sei.nnient might be divided into three parts
Before 1920, the Government admitted many
territories, and all was peace. After the ag'-
tation of 1920 was settled, all was peace again
till 1S5o. We come DOW to the consideration
of THAT party which has plunged the country
into this state of 2discord. 1t is folly for any
man no. to see facts which do exist. The re-
suit of the recent election, in connection with
ialf the Circumstances with which it is sur
~. g Il, tp
form the conviction that it is = fixed policy OF
,the dominantr party of the North to invade and
destroy their Constitutional rights, and they
are ready TO rush, rashly | think, into all, the
horrors Of revolution and disunion, rather
than TO Submit to what they think the i'm
bending blow which hangs over them. The
Senator from Ohio, (Mr. Wade,) acknowledg-
= ed the existence of this conviction in The
minds of Southern people, and said he did not
som UGH blame them as he did the Northern
n Democracy, who had misrepresented and falsi
fled the purposes and policy of the Republican
party, yet he advocates, policy which will
!, not relieve those apprshensions, but threatens
them with war and coercion, rather than te
!, give them security. 1t matters not whether
these dangers were real or Imaginary, if the
ssSonthern people are prepared to take posi-
y ton which, viii plunge US into disunion ane
,fdiscord forever regret that any one on thi
floor should have introduced party politics
and vsndeavored to make party capital out o
any question affecting the peace and safety Q
this country. But, since the Senator has at
tempted to .maks-the Northern Democracy re
sponsible for the, resolution, l am forced &
enquire whether the charge be true, There II
no man living who weuld be better pleased t.
learn that he had 1misrepresented or Inisun
B -derstoodf the policy of that party. | would
rr1s m Gr,o ssxuha thar Mt
5isayI itsis mot the policy of that party to con
= 1iue Slavery within its present limits, by thu
saction of the Federal Government! Whethe
itI is. mott the policy of that party to exclud
Slavery from the Territories we now possess
fersny.Ee may, hereafter acquire? Whether 0
not that party are in favor of returning fugi
nj fives from their masters from whom thew may
escape? In short, will give him the ropportu
nifty Of saying nov, whether it is not the poll
10y 'of That party to exert all the powers of tn
federal Govsrnmeht,g under the Constitution
% acc0fding to their Interpretation of that in
% str1 nnent TO restrain and cripple the institu
tiphs Of Slavery, with view to it's ultimate ex
ttinStiSn ID the States, old as well as new
North as well as South?a 10 oson ,sslos zis
81 E.ow ADs (Rep. ohio')azAll these ques
Stfofis are most Gpertinently answered in th'
speech TO whichhe is now protesting to maxi
answer 1 have nothing to add to it.
M. DoUdLlsgf did not expect an unequivoca
answer. know too well that Senator will no
.dsfsS that! eaeh jof these interrogatories doe
express his individual policy, and the policy o
the Republican party, as he understands it
The haxshsst thing have said of the Repub
uoliesn,party that they intended to use tn
d peusr OF, the Goyern,nent en with a view to tn
altimate extinction Of Slavery, not only in tn
but in the States Of the Union,
have said, and have believed it, and woul
,ejpice to be corrected, that it is the policy @
lis party to prohibit Slavery in allthe Terri
J ttoriest of the United States now owned o
sbhereafter acquired with view to surround
u ing the Slave States with Gordon of Abolition
States and thus keep Slavery confined till tn
dtHumbef increases beyond the capacity OF tn
o 4siftofeed them, and thus force them to di
of starvation, as means Of getting rid of tn
Of svilof, Slaysryin the name of humanity an,
: ,bfistienity.os have SAID that in Illinois, il
N the neutrality-suspicious. of the State; but neve
sses sidf fitim alElave State. 1 have always bee
boexcsedingiy mild in speaking OF that party il
stbe feiaxeholding States. But inasmuch as
did,n not get direct answer from the Senate
sxb as The schaxae against the Northern