The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-01-04
Judge Douglas Position. The Com.
mittee Of Thirteen.


mittee Of Thirteen.
We find the following article in the
Washington States, in reference to the
propositions of Judge DOUGLAS, presented
to the Committee of Thirteen. We believe
the statement to be published by the au-
thority of the Judge, if not actually pre-
pared by him for the press:
In the free interchange of opinions which
took place in the Committee of Thirteen, it
is understood that Senator Douglas ex.
pressed the opinion that no adjustment
would restore and preserve and perpetuate
peace and harmony on the slavery question
which did not Danish it forever from the
halls of Congress and the arena of federal
politics, and prohibit Congress from legis.
lating upon the subject in any case what
ever, except to perform the constitutional
obligation in respect to fugitive slaves.
While he regarded this principle of non.
interference by Congress as the essential
basis of any adjustment which might be
made, there we're various means by which
the end could be accomplished. One, and
in his opinion the best, was to leave the
people Of the organized Territories free to
decide the question for themselves, subject
to the limitations of the Constitution and
the courts, to decide upon the validity and
constitutionality of the Territorial laws,
without any interference by Congress.
Another was an equitable partition be-
tween the two sections of all the territory
we now own or may acquire, as was provi.
ded in the Missouri compromise, and now
proposed by the Senator from Kentucky.
A third was to provide that the status of
slavery and personal freedom, as it existed
when the territory was acquired, should not
be changed, either by Congress Or by the
Territorial Legislature, and that the courts
should determine all questions involving title
to slave property and personal freedom, as
was provided in the Clayton Compromise
bill, and supported by Mr.. Calhoun in l848.
Perhaps there might be other modes by
which the same object could be accomplished.
The chief merit of each of these PROPOSE
tions, which Mr.. Douglas said he had sup
ported in turn, and abandoned only when it
was found impossible to pass it, was to
expel the slavery question and its agitation
from the halls Of Congress, and place it be-
yond the reach of Federal legislation.
He was ready now to unite in recommend.
ing to the people of the several States such
amendments to the Constitution as would
take the slavery question out of Congress
and would ensue domestic tranquility to the
people of all the States, and fulfil every OBJ
legation Of the Constitution of the United
States. In view of the dangers which
threaten the republic with disanion, revolu.
ton, civil war staring us in the face, be
was prepared to act upon the matters in
controversy without any regard to previous
action, and as if he had never made speech
or given vote upon the subject. He was
unwilling to believe that Senators, North
and South, were going to sacrifice their
country, in order to preserve their political
consistency or to maintain party organi.
cation in the different sections OF divided
Union. The trainers of the Constitution
had yielded their favorite theories and con.
victions on many points, in order to pro.
duce harmony and ensure general concur
renee in the adoption of the Constitution.
These concessions, in the wise men, have
always been regarded as evidences of their
patriotism, and not of weakness. If we
can meet the present issues, and perform
the duties imposed upon US in the spirit
which animated them, and, indeed, follow
their example, we can yet save the
Union without war or bloodshed. He
did not believe that in the recent election
the people of either the North or South
had decided irrevocably that they preferred
dsunion to yielding one iota of the extreme
demands in their partisan platforms. On
the contrary, be did believe, that If two
thirds of each House of Congress would
agree upon constitutional amendments in
spirit OF mutual concession and compro-
mise, and recommend them to the people OF
the several States, each amendment would
be ratified by three.fourths of all the States.
IN order to trke the slavery question: pps
Of Congress, and preserve the Union, and
maintain perpetual peace and good will be-
tween all its members. 1t did not require
any State or section to surrender any right
which it possessed, nor to assume any obll-
cation which the Constitution does not now
impose but in spirit of Cancellation and
fraternity to settle amicaby and justly the
matters in dispute by an irrevocable con-
stitutional amendment. 1t was not his pur-
pose at this time to commit himself for or
against any proposition which had been
offered or suggested, but to declare his con-
scious desire for fair, just, and amicable
adjustment of all the matters in controversy,
so as to remove every cause of complaint
or irritation.
TIM ct Anthnnv Paner Mill is now