Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-02-06
THE NATIONAL CRISIS.
SPEECH OF STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS
Delivered in tho United States esnOte, Thurs
day, January Sd, 1891

the Comnitte Of Thirteen be taken up
MIR. d. proceeded to address the Senate.
lie said no act Of his public life ever gave
him so much pain as to vote for the reso-
luton. The Committee could not agree.
In order TO see the cause of the trouble,
we must go back TO the late election.
We should assume that whenever Con-
gress undertook TO act on the slavery
question, discorG and agitation was sure
to follow. When Congress let the guess
ton alone there was peace. lie referred
to tho time when the Missouri Compro-
mise was enacted. The fearful agitation
of 1920 was settled by the establishment
of the compromise line. So long as that
adjustment was carried out, there Sas
peace and quiet. Texas was adjusted
quietly under this rule, though there was
a great contrariety OF opinion. But no
one objected because it extended that
line. Again, Calitornip and New Mexico
we're acquired, and the extension of the
line to the Pacific ocean was demanded.
Tho records show that he reported, as
Chairman Of the Committee on Terrific
res, Il resolution to extend the line to the
Pacific. This was adopted in the Senate,
but when it was sent to tue House it was
rejected by Northern votes. That open
cd the flood gates of the agitation Of lS4S,
which was settled by the Compromise Of
1850. When we settle this question in
the Territorie then we shall settle it en-
tirely. 4 We
3 come now to the consideration of that
party which has plunged the country in
to a state of discord. Itis folly for any
man not to see facts which do exist. The
result of the recent election, in connec-
ton with all the circumstances with which
it is surrounded, have led the people of
the South TO form the convictions that ii
! is fixed policy Of the dominate party oi
the North to invade and destroy their
constitutional rights, and they are feady
to rush, rashly think, into all the hor'
d rors OF revolution and disunion, rather
than to submit TO what they think the
impending blow which hangs over them
The Senator from Ohio Mr.. WadeJ ac'
knowloged the existence ofths conviction
inthe minds Of the Southern people, anc
said he did not so much blame them a
u lie did that northern Democracy, who
e had misrepresented and falsitied the pur
pose and policy of the Republican party
yet he advocates policy which will no
- relieve these apprehensions, but threatel
them with revolution and coercion
rather than to give them security. |
matters not whether these dangers were
real or imaginary, if the Southern peopl,
y ar prepared to take position which vii
a plunge us into disunicn and discord for
ever. regret that any one on this foo
y should have introduced party politics, anC
endeavor to make party capital ou. OF an!
question affecting the peace and safe
+ ty of this country. But, since the Sena
: tor has attempted to make the Northern
Democracy responsible for the revolution
am forced to inquire whether the
charge is true. There is no man liyini
s who would be better pleased 10 learn tina
: he had misreprcsented or misunderstood
y the policy Of that party, l would like Il
know whether that Senator will now sa,
it is not the policy of that party to con
fine slavery within its present limits b.
the action of the Federal Government
Il Whether it is not the policy OF that par
is ty to exclude slavery from the Territorie
= we now possess, or any we may hercaite
d acquire? Whether or not that party
s. in favor OF returning fugitives to thei
- masters from whom they escaped II
short, / will give Kim the opportunity Q
rs saving now, whether it is not the polio
"a of that party to exert all the powers {
lr the Federal Government, under the Con
~ ~ stltutiol,. according their interpretatio
of that instrument, with view to its II
innate extinction in the States, old as we
to as new, North as we'll as South.
Mr.. Wade rep, Ohiol All those que
tions are most perfectly answered in th
ST speech to which he is now protesting
D. make answer. have nothing to ad
d, toit.
- Mr.. Douglas-I did not expect a
equivecal answer. | know to well tbs
so Senator will not deny that each of the.
n interrogatories does express his indivldt
al policy and the policy Of the Republ
can party, as he understands it. III
harshest thing l have said of the Republ
can party was they intended to use IL
nu power Of the Government with a view
the ultimate extinction of slavery, NJ
:, only in the Territories but in the States
the Union. have said, and have belle,