The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-03-19


YET M memtcr of congress ! shenls
not with my prescn, views ~ in "a
vor Of sndeavorins 10 abolish sinvcrl
IN the District of Columbia unless I
( would hc upon these conditions. First
that the abolition should hc gradual
second. that II should be ON vote ol
the majority OF qualified voters In IN,
District. aud, third. that compensation
should hc made TO unwilling owners
With these three conditions confesl
I would bc exceedingly glad 60 see
congress abolish slavery IN the District
of Columbia and, 10 the language oi
Henry Clay. sweep from our capital
that foul blot upon our nation
"ln regard 10 the flfth interoeatory
must say here that as 10 the aues
tlon Of the abolition OF the slave trade
between the different states can tru.
ly answer, as have. that ! am pledg,
ed TO nothing about IT, II is subject
TO which have not given that mature
consideration that would make me feel
authorized TO state n position 40 ms 70
hold myself entirely bound by IL. In
other words. that question has never
been prominently enough before me 70
induce me TO investigate whether we
really hare the constitutional power
TO do II. ] could investigate II II had
sufficient time TO bring myself 10 q
conclusion upon that subject. but !
have not done no, and say NO frank
ly 10 you here and 10 Judge Douglas
l must say. however that n should
10 OF opinion that congress does pos
sess the constitutional power TO abol.
ish slave trading among the different
states l should still not be IN favor OF
the exercise OF that power unless upon
some conservative principle as | con.
celve II, akin TO what have said IN
relation TO the abolition OF slavery IN
the District of Columbia.
my answer as TO whether desire
that slavery should be prohibited In
oil territories OF the United States Is
full and explicit within itself and can.
not be made clearer by any comments
OF mine. SO ! suppose In regard TO
the question whether am opposed TO
the acquisition OF any more territory
unless slavery is first prohibited there
In my answer Is such that could add
nothing by way Of Illustration or max.
ing myself better understood than the
answer which have placed IN writing
"Now, In oil this the judge has me,
and be has me on the record ! sup
pose he had fiattered himself that
was really entertaining one set OF
opinions for one place and another set
for another place; that | was afraid
TO say at one place what uttered at
another. What ! am saying here
suppose say TO vast audience as
strongly tending TO aboltlonlsm MS any
believe am saying that which II II
would be offensive to any persons and
render them enemies TO myself, would
be offensive TO persons IN this audi
ence."
Mr.. Douglas had presented his inter.
rogatorles on the 2lst Of August, and
Mr. Lincoln did not answer them until
the 27th They had no meetings be-
tween those days, and Mr., Lincoln had
ample time to ponder his replies aud
consult his friends But lie did more
--Ee Improved the opportunity 10 pre-
pare series Of Insldious questions
which he felt sure Mr. Douglas could
not possibly answer without utterly
running his political prospects Mr.
Lincoln struggled for a great prize,
unsuspected by the common mind, but
to his own. Mr.. Douglas was stand
Ing candidate for the presidency. but
as yet Mr.. Lincoln was very quiet
one, nursing hopes which his modesty
prevented him from obtrudlng upon
others. He wns wise enough TO keep
the fact OF their existence 10 himself
and In the meantime 10 dig pitfalls and
lay distractions IN the way Of his
most formidable competitors. His pres
ent purpose was not only to defeat
Mr.. Douglas for the senate, but TO
kill him"--to get him out Of the way
finally and forever II he could make
him evade the Dred Scott decision and
deny the right OF southern man TO
take his negroes into territory and
keep them there while II was terri
tory he would thereby sever him from
the body OF the Democratic party and
leave him the leader OF merely little |
half hearted antislavery faction In.
der such circumstances Mr. Douglas
could never be the candidate OF the |
party at large, but he might serve
very useful purpose by running on a
ticket and dividing the great
OF conservative votes. which
would inevitably elect single noml- |
nee.
Lincoln Killing Larger Game"
Mr.. Lincoln went to Chicago and
there intimated to some Of bis friends
what he proposed to do, They at
tempted TO dissuade him because. as |
they insisted, II Mr. Douglas should
answer that the Dred Scott decision |
might be eyadcd by the people Of a
territory and slavery prohibited In the
face Of II the answer would draw TO
lIm The synpatbles of the anilslayery
voters and probably Of itself defeat
Mr. Lincoln. but 80 long as Mr.. Doug
las held to the decision IN good faith
be had no hope Of more aid from that
luarter than he had already received |
Il was therefore the part OF wisdom TO
et him alone as to that point Mr.
on the contrary. looked for
ward 20 1890 and was determined that
he south should understand the an
between Mr. Douglas' latest
conception OF ''squatter sovereignty"