Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-09-15

IN that body 10y successive re-electiOns
until his death In June, 1861.
AS a member of both bodies he took |
part in the discussion of nearly every |
question which arose during those Is
wears of unexampled agitation and ex-
element, His speeches on the annex
alton of Texas. the war with Mexico,
our foreign policy, the aggressions OF
European states In America, the ex-
tension of our own territorial limits,
the compromise acts of 1850, the Ore
gon, California, Kansas, Nebraska aud
Lecompton controversies, internal I'M
provements, and incidentally the ques-
tion of slavery, the prolific source of
nearly all the agitatiOns OF the last
quarter of a century. and of the civil
war which has drenched the country
la fraternal blood, are all marked by
the clearness, vigor and boldness,
which were the chief characteristics OF
his oratory.
1t was, perhaps, in the patriotic, but
vain attempt Ia calm the prevailing ex-
element and close up forever the source
of the dissentions, which had so long
distracted the country, by the the pre-
paration and defence of the compromise
of MIR. Douglas was more signally dis
played than. IN any other political labor
| of his life.
In January, 1850, Mr.. Clay introduced
into the Senate, series OF resolutions,
hoping that they might be made basis
of legislation, which would be satisiac-
tory 10 the contending parties. While
these resolutions were under considera-
ton. MIR. Douglas, as chairman of the
| committee on territories, introduced
| two bills. one for the admission of Cali
| fornia into the Union as "A state, and the
other for the organization of the terri
torres of Utah and New Mexico, and the
adjustment OF the boundary question
with Texas.
| In April a committee of 13, with MIR.
CLAY at its head, was appointed, and all
propositions concerning the slavery
question were referred To 1T. On the
Sth of May, Mr. Clay reported from The
committee, Mr. Douglas two bills com
bined in one, with IA single amendment.
| When introduced 10y the latter, they
provided that the power OF the terrific
rial legislature should embrace all sub
| iects OF legislation consistent with the
constitution. AsrepUrted 10y Mr. Clay,
the slavery question was expressly tx-
cepted from the power of legislation.
| THIS exception was subsequently re-
scinded. and the bill wal passed as orig
inalIy reported by MIR. Douglas. The
| compromise measures, so far as they re-
| lated 70 the organization of the terrific
ries. were his work, aud they were
founded on the principle that the peo-
pie of the territories, through their leg
| islatnres, should determine the slavery
question for themselves, land have the
! same power over IL as over all other mat
tiers affecting theirInternal polity.
These measures, as you all know,
though they were, at the Presidential
election of 1852, approved by both the
great political parties, we're far from
calming the popular excitement. And
when Mr.. Douglas, in 1853, as CHAIR
man of the Committee on Territories
introduced the Kansas Nebraska bill, 1T
led to fierce and protracted discussion.
| The object as the committee, declared
| in a special report accompany ing ~,
was ito organize all territories III the
future upon the principles OF the com
promise measures of 1880; and That
these measures were Intended tn have IL
much broader and enduring effect than
merely to adjust the disputed question
growing ont of the az QUESTION of MeXl-
can territory, by prescribing certain
fundamental principles, which, while
they adjusted the existing difficulties,
would prescribe rules of action IN all
future time, when new territories were
to be organized or new states to be adj
mitted into the Union: That the prin-
ciple upon which the territories OF 1901
were organized was that the slavery
question should be bauished from the
halls of Congress and the political are
ma, and referred to the territories and
and states, which were Immediately in-
terested in the question, and alone re-
spoLsible for its existence, and theere-
port concluded by saying that 1.-THE bill
reported by the committee proposed to
carry into effect these principles In the
precise language of the compromise
measures of 1850.
The repeal os the Missouri compro'
mise was incorporated into the bill, at
subsequent period, as an amendment,
AMI in this form 1T passed both Houses
of Congress and became a law IN 1854.
Whatever differences of opinion may
exist or may heretofore have existed III
regard to these measures, no one at tins
day will call 10 question the patriotic
motive by which Mr.. Douglas was act
uated, his deep anxiety to preserve the
harmony of the Union, his sincerity,
and the great intellectual power with
which he maintained every position he
took. No opposition in or out of the
| Canota no nouuIar clamOr no fear of
personal cOns6 quences disturbed his
equanimity or his courage. He threw
himself into every arena IN which he
was assailed, and defended himselfwith
an intrepidiiy and manly frankness
which always commanded the respect
of those who differed with him, and
with vigor which often won them over
to his own convictions.
AT no period of his life, perhaps, did
Mr.. Douglas appear so remarkable as
on an occasion which you all remember
when he returned to this city IN 1904,
where he had often been received with
triumphant demonstrations of respect,
and appointed a meeting in front OF
the north market hall to speak IN de-
fence of the Kansas Nebraska bill. lt
was a moment of the widest excitement
throughout the country. Kansas was
rent by conteDding parties; associations
had been organized and armed, north
and soutb, the latter to force slavery
into that territory, and the former TO
exclude it by force. Such was the pop
ular Indignation, that it was determined
MIR Douglas should not be heard. For
more than four hours, ne faced an