, 1861-03-08
Speech Of Hon. S. A DuOgIas,

The following is the speech delivered BY
Senator Douglas in the U S. Senate Cham
Der, on the 3d of January. 1t is q speech
of great Importance, and we trust, will bt
read universally:
Mr.. Douglas, Of Illinois, Dem. asked
that the report Of the Committee of Thir
teen be taken up. Mr. Douglas proceeded
to address the Senate. He said no act oil
his public life ever gave him so much pain
as to vote for the resolution The Commit
tee could not agree. In order to see the
real cause of the troubles, we must go back
OF the late election. We should assume
that whenever Congress undertook to act
on the question of slavery, dscord and agi-
tation was sure to follow. When Congress
let the question alone there was peace. He
referred to the excitement at the time the
Missouri Compromise 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 was peace and quiet. Texas was ad-
mitted quietly under this rule, though there
was q great contrarety of opinion. But
no one objected, because it extended that
line. Again, California and New Mexico
we're acquired, and the extension Of the line
to the Pacific Ocean was demanded. The
records show that he reported, as Chairman
of the Committee on Territories, a resolu-
tion 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 North
cru votes. That opened the flood gates of
the agitation of ls48, which only was set
tied by the Compromise of 1850. When
we settle this question 10 the Territories,
then we shall settle it entirely. The Abo-
ltionists could have never brought the
Union to the verge Of dissolution, but for
the question in the Territories. 1t was o
rejection of>the extension of that line in
l84S that re-opened the agitation. The
arguments of 1919 and 1920 were repeat
ed. The position Of the North and the
South were the same. The purest patriots
in the land were alarmed, and Mr.. Clay
came back to the Senate TO see if he could
not bring back peace He found no lroub-
le with the Southern members, but be could
find no support Of this line from the North.
The Missouri line was abandoned, because
its friends said they could not carry it out
10 good faith. Then they turned to see
what was next best. There was desire
to take the question out of Congress, and
secure the peace of the country. AT last
it was decided to leave the question to the
people Of the Territories themselves The
records show that he supported both com
promises, and for the same reasons. Peace
followed all over the country. But in
1854 1t became necessary to organize the
territory of Kansas and Nebraska. The
Committee, in forming the bill, determined
to carry out the Compromise measures Of
1850, though they had all been in favor Of
the Missouri Compromise as long as it could
be carried out. A hue-and-cry was imme-
diately raised that the Committee we're vio-
Iating sacred compromise. But The bill
did not mention the Missouri Compromise,
but did give the people the power of set
tling the question for themselves The his
tory Of the Government might be divided
into three parts. Before 1920 the Govern
ment admitted many Territories, but all
was peace After tho agitation Of 1920
was settled, all was peace again until 1850.
Since then we have had a continual contro-
versy, and the result of the late election
has convinced the South that it is fixed
policy Of the dominant party Of the North
to invade their constitutional rights. We
come now to the consideration Of that party
which has plunged the country into this
state Of discord. 1t is folly for any man
not to see facts which do exist. The result
of the recent election, in connection with
all the circumstances with which it is sur
rounded, have led the people Of the South
to form the conviction that it is fixed
policy Of the dominat 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 submit to what
they think the impending blow which hangs
over them. The Senator from Ohio Mr.
Wade, acknowledged the existence Of this
conviction in the minds Of Southern people,
and said he did not SO much blame them as
Re did the Northern Democracy, who had
misrepresented and falsifed the purposes
and policy of the Republican party yet he
advocates a policy which will not relieve
these apprehensions, but threatens them
with war and coercion, rather than to give
them security. 1t matters not whether the
dangers were real or imaginary, if the
Southern people are prepared to take po-
sition which will plunge us into disunion and
discord forever. regret that any one on
this floor should have introduced party poll
tics, and endeavored to make party capital
out of any question affecting the peace and
safety Of this country. But, since the Sen
ator has attempted to make the Northern
Democracy responsible for the revolution,
am forced to inquire whether the charge
be true. There isno man living who would
be better pleased to learn that be had mis-
represented or misunderstood the policy OF
! (. A. a.