Year: 1861

MT. douglas OF lllincis asked that the re


port of the Committe of Thirteen be taken up


Mr.. Douglas proceeded to address the Senate


lie said no act of bis public life ever gave hin
so much pain as to vote for the resolution


The Committee could not agree. In order t.
see the real cause OF the troubles, we must g


back to the late election. We should assume


that whenever Congress undertook to act OF


the question of slavery. diseord and agitation


were sure to follow. When Congress let the


question alone there was peace. He referred t.


the excitement at the time the Missouri Com


promise was enacted. The fearful agitation


of 1920 was settled by the establishment


of the compromise line. So long as that ad
Ijustment was carried out, there was peace and
quiet. Texas was admitted quietly under this


rule, though there was great contrariety o


opinion. But no one objected because it ex


tended that line. Again, California and New


Mexico were acquired, and the extension ol the


line to the Pacific Ocean was demanded. Tie


records show that he reported, as chairman o


the Committee on Territories, resolution to


extend the line to tho Pacific. This was adopt
; ed in the Senate, but when It was sent to the
House it was rejected by Northern votes


That opened the floodgates OF the agitation ot


184S, which was only settled by the compro-


mise of 1850. When we settle this question in


the Territories, then we shall settle it entirely.
| The Abolitionists could never have brought the


Union to the verge OF dissolution, but for the
question in the Territories. 1t was rejection
of the extension of that line in 1848 that re :
opened the agitation. The arguments of 1919
and 1920 We're repeated The positions OF the
North and South we've che same. The purest
patriots in the land were alarmed, and Mr., Clay
came back to the Senate to see if he could not
bring back peace. He found no trouble with
the Southern members, but he could find no
support OF this line from the North. The Mis-
souri, line was abandoned, because its friends
said they could not carry it out in good Fifth
Then they turned 10 see what next was best
There was desire to take the question out OF
Congress, and secure the peace of the country.


At last it was decided to leave the question
to the people Of the Territories themselves -


Ehe records show that be supported both eom


promises, and for the same reasons Peace


followed all over the country. But in 1854
it became necessary to organize the Territories
Of Kansas and Nebraska The Committe, in
forming the BILL determined to carry out the
compromise measures Of 1850, thoulh they had
all been in favor Of the M ssouri Compromise
as long as it could be carried out A hue-and-
cry was Immediately raised that the Committe
NbIG FIOIdllliB u odCiGu COtl plUIllSG. l)uG TIE
bill did not mention the Nj ssouri Compromise,
but did give the people the power OF settling
the question for themselves. The history of the
Government might be divided into three parts
Before 1920 the Government admitted many
Territories, but all was peace. After the agi-
tation of the 1920 was settled all was peace a.
gain till 1860 Since then we have had a con
tinued crntrovefsey, and the result OF the late
election has convinced the South that it is the
fixed policy of the dominant party fthe North
to invade their constitutional rights We now
come TO the consideration Of that party which
has plunged the country into this state Of dis
cord. 1t is folly for any man not to see facts
which do exist. The result OF the recent elec.
ton, in connection with all the circumstances
with which it is surrounded, have led the peo-
pie OF the South to form the convection that it
is a fixed policy of the dominant party OF the
North to invade and destroy their constitution.
al rights, and they are ready to rush, rashly
think, into all the horrors OF revolution and DIS
union, rather than to submit to what they think
the impending blow which hangs over them. -
The Senator from Ohio (Mr Wade) acknowl-
edged the existence of this conviction in the
minds of the Southern people, and said he did
not blame them as he did the Northern De-
mocracy, who had misrepresented and talsited
the purposes and policy Of the Republican par
ty; yet he advocates policy which will not re.
lieve these apprehenSions, but threatens them
with war and coercion rather than to give them
security. 1t matter not wheth the dangers
were real or imaginary, if the Southern people
are prepared to take a position which will
plunge us into disunion and dlscord for ever
regret that any on this floor should have in
trOduced party politics and endeaYored to make
party capital out of any question offecting the
peace and safety OF this country. But since the
Senator has attempted to make the Northern
Democracy responsible for the resolution, | am
forced to inquire whether the charge be true?
There is no man living who would be better
pleased to learn chat he had misrepresented or
misunderstood the policy OF that parry. | would
like to know whether that Senator wilt now
say it is not the policy of that party to confine
slavery within its present limits by the action
Of the Federal Government? Whether it is not
the policy of that party to exclude slavery from
the Territories we now possess, or any we may
hereafter acquire? Wheh her, or not, that party
are in favor OF returning fugitiyes to their mas
ters from whom they escape? In hort, will
give him the opportunity Of saying now, wheth-
er it is not the policy Of that party to exert all
the powers Of the Federal Government, under
the Constitution, according to their interpre
tation OF that instrument to restrain and Grip
pie the institution OF slavery, with view to its
ultimate extinction in the States, old as well as
new, North as well as South?


Mr.. Wade, (Republican,) of Oho--All Il these
questions are most pertinently answered in the
speech to which he is protesting to make an
swer. l have nothing to add to it.


Mr. Douglass did not expect an uneouiyo-
cal ansMer. | know too we'll that the Sena-
tor will not deny that each of these interroga
tories does express his individual policy, and
the policy of the Republican party, as be un-
derstands it. The harshest thing | have said
Of the Republican party was what they intend
ed to nse the power of the government with a
view to the ultimate extinction Of slavery, not
only in the Territories but in the States ofthe
Union. have said, and have believed it, and
| would rejoice now to be corrected that it is
the policy of the party to prohibit slavery in all
the Territories OF the United States now own.
ward or hereafter acquired, with view to sur
rounding the slaves with Gordon OF Abolition
States, and thus keep slavery confined till the
number increases beyond the capacity OF the
soil to feel them, and thus force them to die of
starvation, as means of getting rid Of the evil
of slavery in the name of humanity and Chris
tiauity. have said that in Illinois, in the
Abolition portions of the State, but never
said it in slave State. | have always
been exceedingly mild in speaking Of that party
in the slavehoding States But inasmuch as
| did not get a direct answer from the Senator
who makes the charge against the Northern
Democracy, will refer to the sentiments Of the
President elect, and see what he sayson that
subject. Tho Republicans have taken pains to