Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-01-11
XXylth CONGRESS---2d SESSION,
SENATE WASHINGTON Jan 2

SENATE ..... w ASHINGTON, Jan. s.
The galleries and the lobbies were again
crowded to-day.
Mr.. Douglas asked that the report of
the Committee of Thirteen be taken up.
Mr.. Douglas proceeded to address the
Senate. He said no act of his public life
ever gave him SO much pain as to vote for
the resolution The Committee could not
agree. In order to see the real cause of
the troubles we must 60 back of the late
election. We should assume that when
ever Congress undertook to act upon sla-
very, discord and agitation were sure to
fellow. When Congress let the question
alone there was peace.
He referred to the excitement when 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 a great contrariety of opinion.
But no one objected because it extended
that line, Again, California and New
Mexico were acquired, and the extension
Of the line TO the Pacific Ocean was de-
manded. The records show that he report
ed, as Chairman of the Committee on Ter
ritories, a resolution to extend the line to
the Pacific. This was adopted in the Sen
ate, but when it was sent to the House, it
was rejected by Northern votes. That
opened the flood gates of the agitation of
1948, which were only settled hy the Com
promise Of 1850. When we settle this
question in the Territories, then we shall
settle it entirely.
The Abolitionists could never have
brought the Union to the verge of disso-
luton but for the question in Territories.
1t was the rejection of the extension of
that line in lS48 which opened the agita-
ton. The arguments Of 1919 and 1920
were repeated. The positions 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 te see if he
could not bring peace. He found no trou-
BILE with the Southern members, but he
could find no support of this line in the
North The Missouri line was abandoned
because its friends said they could mt car
ry it out in good faith. Then they turned
to see what was next best They desired
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
peopl 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
1853 and 1851 it became necessary to or.
ganze the Territories Of Kansas and Ne
braska. The Committee in forming the
bill, determined TO carry out the Compro.
mise measures of 1850, though they haG
all boon in favor Of the Missouri Compro-
mise us long as it could be carried out
A hue and cry was Immediately raised tha
they We're violating a sacred compromise
but the bill did not mention the Missouri
Compromise, but did state that the people
) have the power of settling the question fol
themselves. The history of the Govern
ment might be divided into three parts
Before 1920, the Government admitted
many Territories, but all was peace. AT
ter the agitation Of 1920 was settled, al
} was peace again ill 1850. Since then W,
have had a continued controversy, and tn,
result Of the late election has convinced
the South that it was the fixed policy o
the dominant party of the North to in
. wade their constitutional rights. The Sen
ator from Ohio (Wade) admitted the exis
. tencc of this belief at the South, bu
charges it to the misrepresentation Of tn
Northern Democracy. 1t matters no
whether these evils are real or imaginary
if the South were resolved to rush into tn
. horrors of disunion and war, rather thai
suffer them, he was sorry to see the Sena
: tor bring it, party question, here; but a
! it was brought, he felt bound to defend th
c Democracy. No man was better please
;, to learn that he had misrcpresented tn
i Republican party. lie asked the Senate
), from Ohio if it was not the policy Of tina
!, party to confne slavery within its presen
limits by the action Of the Federal Gov
Z ernment. and whether it was not the poll
Icy Of that party to exclude slavery lrOr
c the Territories we now possess or ma
hereafter acquire; whether or not tina
II party were in favor Of returning fugitiy
slaves; and, in short, whether it was nc
|, the policy of that party to exert all tia
1t power Of the Federal Government, unde
&c the Constitution according to their inter
pretation, to restrain and cripple the in
Is stitution of slavery with view to its ulti
n ,ate extinction in the States, old as we
II as new, North and South.
u Mr.. Wade said he could fnd the ans We
in his speech already made. lie had n
! additions to make.
y Mr.. Douglas said he did not expect a
! unequivocal answer, lie proceeded to al
y que that such was the policy of the Re
e publican party, and quoted Mr.. Lincoln
u speeches when he said the crisis mu!
come, and the States must become all on
J. thing or the other, to show that he main
IT tanned such policy. He said he had a hop
,, that Lincoln would repudate all such ez
!. treme sentiments. BE that as it may, ne
II ther he nor his party have the power to d
harm to the South. The South, howeve
oi are ready to rush into dsunion and NEE
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