The Benson signal., 1920-03-27

United States territory in any law
full way, against the wish of any
citizen of the United States exclude slavery from
its limits prior to the formation of a state
Stitution?
AnSwer.-It matters not what way the Supreme
court may hereafter decide to the abstract ques-
ton whether slavery may may not go into
territory under the constitution, the people have
the lawful means to introduce it exclude it
they please, for the reason that slavery cannot
exist day hour anywhere, unless it is
supported by local police regulations Those po-
lice regulations only be established by the
local legislature; and if the people are opposed to
slavery, they will elect representatives to that
body who will by unfriendly legislation effectually
prevent the Introduction of it into their midst If.
on the contrary. they are for it, their Legislation
will favor it's extension Hence. matter what
the decision of the Supreme court may be on that
abstract question still the right of the people to
make Slave Territory a Free Territory is per-
feet and complete under the Nebraska BILL
These Lincoln Douglas debates-sometime they
are called the "Freeport Debates" because of the
momentOus results of the foregoing question and
ansWer-are unique in our history. Never DefOre
since have two citizens engaged in d series of
public discussions under such remarkable clrcum-
stances. While the nominal issue was the election
of members of the Illinois state legislature, which
was fill the United States senatorship for which
the two debaterS candidates, the real issue
was one tremendous in Importance that 1t was
destined within few years to plunge the country
into the greatest civil war of all history. SO Lin
con did not exaggerate when at Quincy, with
the prophets vision he spoke of the seven debates
as successive acts of drama to be enacted not
mereiy in the face of audiences like this, but in
the face of the nation and to extent of the
face of the world"
To be sure, the two Od-tme rivals.
They had competed in the courts, for the hand of
the same maiden and for political favors. Douglas
had become nationally famous; Lincoln was To-
cal celebrity. Douglas was the leader of great
national party; Lincoln was an organizer of a new
and untried party Douglas the aggressive
creator of the policy of popular sovereignty,
pretending to be Indifferent whether the people
voted slavery up voted it down." Lincoln was
the earnest defender of the proposition that "all
men are created free and equal" And this time
it was contest between them for the United
States senatorshp from Illinois.
But Lincoln knew-whether or not Douglas
realized the stuaton-that the contest between
them involved more than election to the senate.
This is made clear in his speech of acceptance
of the nomination made by the Republican state
convention the preceding June. Here are his i'm
mortal words. which sounded the keynote of the
whole momentous issue which confronting
the nation:
"If we could first know where we are, and
whittier we are tending, we could better judge
what to do now. and how to do it. We are now far
into the fifth year since policy was initiated
with the avOWed object and confident promise OF
putting end to slavery agitation Under the
operation of that policy, that agitation has not
only not ceased but has constantly augmented.
In my opinion it will not until crisis shall
have been reached and passed. "A house divided
against itself cannot stand. l believe this govern
ment can not endure permanently half slave and
half free. I do not expect the Union to be dis
solved; do not expect the house to fall !; but do
expect it will cease to be divided. 1t will become
all one thing, all the other Either the Op-
ponents of slavery will arrest the further spread
of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest
In the belief that it is the course of ultimate
tinctiOn or it's advocates will push it forward till
it shall become alike lawful in all the states, old
as well as new north as we'll SOUTH
u, And Illinois knew that this more than a
personal and local contest between two political
rivals Ottawa, aided by the rest Of the state,
started off the debates in blaze of glory. Rival
professions, the roar Of cannon, city decked with
flags and an enormous crowd marked the occa-
sion Each of the debates attracted the same
great crowds. Neither party spared pains
Dense Delegations marched in from every
roads within fifty miles Many of these professions
were mile long In the main parades were floats
hearing young women representing the states of
the Union; among the Republican beauties was
usually one in mournng-Kansas-and the
Democratic maidens foated a banner with the in
scription protect Us From Negro Husbands"
Finally they all assembled before the grand
stand: seats could be provided for comparatively