The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-06-07
Speech Oh HON. s. 4. DOUGLAS,
Delivered in the Q. S. Senate, Jan. Sd, 1861.


slavery question, continued as follows
10 view OF these facts, ! feel authorized to
reaftirm the proposition with which | commen-
ced my remarks, that, whenever the Federal
Government has attempted to control the slave
nv question IN our uewly-acquired Territories,
alienation Of feeling, diScorj, and sectional strife
have ensued and whenever Congress has re-
Trained from such interference, peace, harmony,
and good will have returned. The conclusion
I draw from these premises is, that the slavery
question should be banIshed forever from the
Halls of Congress and the arena OF Federal poll
tics by an lrrepealabie constitutional provision
I have deemed this exposition of the origin and
progress of the slavery agitation essential TO
full comprehension otthe difficulties with which
y . are surrounded, and the remedies for the
evils which threaten the disruption OF the Re-
public. The immediate causes which have pre-
clpitated the southern country into revolution,
although inseparabIy connected with, and flow
ing 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 people, according 10 the ConStitu-
lion, furnishes no cause, no Justification, for the
dissolution of the Union. But we cannot close
our eyes 10 the fac! that the southern people
have received the result of that election as fur
nlshiRg conclusive evidence that the dominant
party of the North, which is soon to take pos
session of the Federal Government under that
election, are determined 10 invade and destroy
lhplr constitutional rights. Believing that their
domestic Institutions, their hearthstones, and
their family atarS, are all to be aSSaled at least
bv indirect means, and that the Federal Gov
ernment is TO be used for the Inauguration OF
line of policy which shall have for Its object the
ultimate extinction of slavery IN all the States,
old as we'll as new, South as we'll as North. the
southern people are prepared TO rush wildly,
madly, as I think, into revolution, disurIon,
war, and defy the consequences, whatever they
may be, rather than to wait for the development
of events, or submit tamely to what they think
is fatal blow impending over them and over
all they hold dear on earth. Ii matters not, so
far as we and the peace OF the county and the
fate of the Union are concerned, whether these
apprehensions OF the southern people are real,
or imaginary, whether they are well founded or
wholly without foundation, 50 long as they be-
lieve them and are determined to act upon
:hem. The Senator from OHIO, (Mr. Wade,}
whose speech was received with so much favor
OF MS pOIlICdl nlSIlJS tie OLIeF QdE, EeltEEtC
to these serious apprehenslons, and acknowledge
ed his belief that the southern people were la
boring under the conviction that they were
we'll founded. He was kind enough to add
that he did not blame the southern people uch
for what they were doing under this fatal mis-
apprehension ; but cast the whole blame upon
the northern Democracy and referred especial
ly to his colleague and myself, for having mis-
represented and faisifed the purposes and poll
cy of the Republican party, and for having
made the southern people believe our mlsrePre-
sentatIons He does not blame the southern
people for acting on their honest convictions IN
resortng to revolution 20 avert an impending
but imaginary calamity. No ; he does not
blame them, because they believe in the exIs-
tence OF the danger; yet he viii! do no act to
undeceiye them will take no step 10 relieve
their painful apprehenslons and will furnish
no guarantees, no security against the dangers
which they bel'eve 10 exist, and the existence
of which he denies; but, on the contrary, he
demands unconditional submission, threatens
war, aud talks about armies, navleS, and militia
~ force, for the purpose OF preserving the a.
MON and enforcing the laws | submit wheth
er this mode of treating the question is not cal
cu!aed to confirm the worst apprehcnsions 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 10 man
uiacture partisan capital ont OF question IN
yolvlng the peace and safety Of the country
repeat what ! have said On another occasion,
that II know myself, my action will be lnAu-
,uceq uv no partisan Considerations, until we
shall have rescued the country from the perlls
which environ il. But since the Senator mas
attempted to throw the whole responsibility oil
the present difficulties upon the northern De-
nocracy, and has charged US with misrePresen-
ting and falsitying the purposes and policy OF
the Republican party, and thereby deceivlng the
southern people, feel called upon to rePel the
charge, and show that it is without shadow
Of foundation. No man living would reJoIce
more than myself in the conviction, il could
only be convinced of the fact, that | have ms
understood, and consequently msrePresented,
the policy and designs Of the Republican party.
Produce the evidence and convince me OF my
error, and will take more pleasure in making
the correction and repairing the injustice than
ever have taken in denouncing what | be-
heVed TO be an unjust and ruinous policy.
With the view of a8certaining whether4I
have misaPprehended or misrepresented the
policy and purposes of the Republican party,
will now inquire oi the Senator, and yield the
floor for answer whether il IS not the policy
Of hs party TO con6ne slavery within its pres
emf limits by the action OF the Federal Govern
ment3 Whether they do not intend to abolish
and prohibit slavery by act of Congress, not
wlthstanding the decision Of the Supreme Conr
lolhe contrary, in all the Territories we no"