Year: 1860

to commit tho inexoteble folly Of voting for this
doctrinej we cannot see. The northern man who


does il has not even the poor excuse of blindnosc


or Ignorance to offer. A vote for Breckenridee is


vote for slavery without mitigation or subterfuas.


Tho .hlrd party before the people is the Douglas
j Democracy. This party processes to base itsclf,


with regard to the slavery question, upon the let
alone principle But the profession is not borne out
in practice; while pretending to give the people the
right to settle the glavery question with one hand,
it completely takes away that right with the other
The artul lodges of the great leader and embodi.
ment OF this party have been too often exposed in
these columns to need further discussion here-
Suffice it to say-while holding out the heartless
doctrine-'I don't care whether slavery is voted
up or voted down. Mr. Douglas has surrendered
the whole principle of popular control over slave
ry into the inexorable hands of the Federal Su-
preme Court This tribunal which was never in
tended to exercise any influence in shaping the in.
stitu'ious OF the country, and which has no bust.
ness whatever to decide any political question, is
made by the DJuglas platform, the supreme repos-
itory of territorial sovereignty, and as everybody
knows that it is at present the cherished purpose
of the Supreme Court to foster the claims of sav
ry in all possible direc,ions it is foregoue conclu,
sion that the Douglas doctrine is slavery extend.
ing doctrine, until the constitution Of the Court
IS changed.


Such would unquestonably DO the policy of his
administration also, were it not that happily there
! is not the remotest chance of his election. Mr..
! Douglas, personally, represents the don't care
principle regarding slavery. lie has no prefer
ence for free labor over slavery. Both are to him
equally and profoundly indifferent. 1t is not
question of human rights at all, but, as between
freedom and slavery, he wishes It distinctly un,
derstood that he goes for both. But Mr.. Douglas,
potHicallH represents the doctrine Of Supreme
Court sovereignty yer the Territories which is
nothing more nor less than an indefinite extension
ct slavery in them, irrespective of the will Of the
inhabitants, or TIE voice tf the nation. Whoever


is willing to give up popular government to the
government OF the Supreme Court, whoever desires
to make nine supetanuneG old gentlemen dictators
of the institutions Of all future States whoever, IN
short, is disposed to extend slavery while pretend


ing not to whether it is extended or restricted
should vote for Mr.. Douglass.


The Republican party and their candidates stand
on the firm ground Of opposition to the further ex
tension of slavery, 1t is very true that all shades
fof this sentiment of opposition are to be found in
their ranks. From the rigid restrictive policy by
Federal power, of Seward and Uhasa to the gehu-
inc Popular Sovereignty doctrines of Eli Thayer
and John Hickman there is quite an interval
But both wings, and all that lie between, are
agreed in one thing: the extension Of $labe1y IS to
Je preccnted. We have got enough of it now; and


it s best to have it settled that no more land is to
be covered with the mischief. 1t matters not that
some in favor of Wimot Provisos and the
immediate exercise Of Congressional prohibition,
while others favor leaving it to the nhimpeded
action of the people of the Territories in full as
surance of the result. All Republicans I've think
hold that Congress has tho power to legslate; but
they differ widely as to the expedency Of It's exer
cise They are all heartily willing to 90 for that
course Of policy which will most effectively secure
the result. When law Of Congress would be a
work of supercrogation, when the question is sure
to be settled right by the law Of emigration, and
freedom from outside restraint Of whatever kind
we presume all Republicans will agree that the
people may be let alone. This is probably the
condition of our territories at the present time: nor
do we apprehend any danger of the establishment
of slavery in any OF them unless an actively pro-
slavery administration obtains POSSESSION Of the
Government. To prevent this is now the ruling
aim OF the Republican organization. We have
shown that the success Of either one of the three
other parties would be a triumph of the principle
of slavery extension. just certainly would
the success of LINCOLN and HAMLiN be triumph
of the opposite principle