The Benson signal., 1920-02-07

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 state con-
stitution?
AnSwer-It matters not what way the Supreme
court may hereafter decide to the abstract ques
tiOn whether slavery may or may not go into
territory under the constitution, the people have
the lawful means to introduce it or exclude it as
they please for the reason that slavery cannot
exist day or an hour anywhere, unless it is
supported by local police regulations. Those po
lice regulations can only be established by the
local legislature and if the people opposed to
slavery, they will elect representatives to that
body who will by unfriendly legislation efectually
prevent the introduction of it into their midst. IT,
the contrary, they are for it, their Legislation
will favor it's extension Hence. no matter what
the decision of the Supreme court may be on that
abstract question: still the right of the people to
make Slave Territory or Free Territory is per-
feet and complete under the Nebraska bill.
These Lincoln-Douglas debates-sometimes they
are called the 'Freeport Debates" because of the
mOmentous results of the foregoing question and
AnsWer-are unique in our history. Never before
or since have two citizens engaged in series OF
public discussions under such remarkable circum-
stances. While the nominal issue was the election
of members of the Illinois state legislature which
waa to fill the United States senatorship for which
the two debaters were candidates, the real issue
so 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
Ae prophets vision he spoke of the seven debates
RS successive acts of drama to be enacted not
merely 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 old-time 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 a To-
cal celebrity. Douglas was the leader of great
national party; Lincoln an organizer of 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 a 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 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:
FIf we could first know where are and
whittier we are tending could better judge
what to do now, and how to do 1t. We are now far
into the fifth year since a policy was initiated
with the aVOwed object and confident promise OF
putting an 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 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, or 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 Of ultimate
tinction or it's advocates will push it forward till
1t shall become alike lawful in all the states old
as well as new, north as well south"
And Illinois knew that this than
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 ex-
nense Delegations marched in from every cross
roads within fifty miles. Many of these professions
were mile long. In the main paradeS were floats
hearing young representing the states Of
the Union among the Republican beauties was
vauallv one in mOurning-Kansas- the
Damocratic maidens foated banner with the in
acr,ntion "PrOtect Us From Negro Husbands"
rna,v they all assembled before the grand
stand: seats could be provided for comparatively