Year: 1861

slave property stands on an equal footing
with all other kinds of property in the
Territories of the United States II now
stands on an equal footing in all the Ter
ritories for the first slime. | have shown
you that, up to 1859, little more than
year ago, it was prohibited in part of the
Territories. 1t is not prohibited anywhere
now. For the first time, under RepubIi-
can rule, the Southern States have Sc
cured that equality of rights in the Terri
tories for their slave property which they
have been demanding so long.


Mr.. Wade We are very generous.


,,-.r. Douglas. The Senator from Ohio
says they are generous. | agree, you are
generous You have acted both gener
ously and magnauimously y on this occa
sion. You have come forward and done
for the South just what | have been ur-
ging you to do for twelve years what
you would not do when you were in a mi
pority; what you abused me for doing
when was in the majority; what you
are compelled to d. yourselves, by sense
Of justice, the moment you get in the
majority. | submit, therefore, to the
Senate and to the country, whether the
Southern States have not reason to rejoice
in the liberal policy that is being extended
to them by the Republicans, in the Terri,
tories. | rejoice at the establishment of
this policy; although it is done by party
to which | am opposed. The only mo-
tive | had for desiring to be President,
was to carry out this policy. You &c
'eated me and then adopted the principle,
and | am magnanimous enough to give
you credit for patriotism in adopting it
do not taunt you with this change. 1t
is the highest evidence Of your capacity
to govern this country, that you have
changed according to the necessity Of
the case. That man is not tit to rule a
great people who boasts that he never
changed an opinion or reversed his action
Wise statesmen always conform their &C
ton to the existing condition Of things,
and change it just as far as the safety, the
prosperity. the honor of their country re
quire. | give you credit for having aban
doned the doctrine of congressional pro.
hibtion. Ever since 1916, when the
Wilmot Proyiso was offered in the other
House by gentleman now holding q sea.
on this floor, up to this day. thera has
been a struggle on the part of what are
now called Republicans, to prohibit sla
very in the Territories by act Of Congress
During that whole time, the new Senator
from Pennsylvania was leading the host,
with his name as the symbol OF the party
creed. Tne Nimot Proyiso was their
shibooleth. 1t meant prohibition Of sla
very by Congress in all the Territories
He has triumphed after lis !!&&tors Of four
teen years in that cause, and he has ar
rived here just time enough to find that
his own party, by unanimous vote in
the Senate, and unanimous vote in the
House Of Representatives, have repudiated
the NiImot Proviso; have given up the
distinctive feature of their policy have
rejected the corner stone of the temple.
and have all come to non intervention
and popular sovereignty, which they SO
long professed to abhor, and | have no
doubt very sincerely


Mr. Howe. Will the Senator allow
me TO ask why there is not peace, if we
have adopted the peaceful policy!


Mr.. Douglas Yes will tell you. 1t
is just because you have not satisfied the
people of the South that you have done
so. 1t is on your statute book; it Is on
the Journals; but the laws and Journals
have not been published, and you gentle
men over there, from pride of opinion,
refuse to acknowledge the truth, even af-
ter you have done the act; and Senator
on this side, taking it for granted that you
had not done that which you would no.
admit that you had done, testifies that YOU
have not abated an inch. Hence, by Joint
testimony of both sides of the Chamber
the southern people are kept in the dark
in regard TO the fact that your Wilmot
proviso is abandoned ; that congressional
prohibition is given up; that the aggres
sive policy is repudiated and hereafter
the southern man and the northern man
may move into the Territories with their
property on terms Of entire equality, with
out excepting slaves or any other kind OF
property.


What more do the southern States
"dHL w hdt more can any man demand
Non-interven,ion is all they asked. Will
it be said the South required, in addition
to this, laws Of Congress to protect slavery
in the Territories That cannot be said;
for last May the Senate, by nearly unan
imous vote of the southern men, with one
or two exceptions declared that afirma.
tive Legislation WAS not needed at this time
lnasmuch, then as no legislation bv Con
gress for the protection of slavery is nee
| essary; lnasnuch, as no occasion has ever
| arisen to render it necessary and mas
much as the prohibiiive policy of The Re
publicans is abandoned, and non-interven-
ton now established by law in all the Ter.
rltories, without exception, what cause is
there for further alarm in the Southern
States, SO far as the Territories are con,
cerned


Mr.. Wilson. VIII the Senator give
way for motion to go into executive
session, and finish bis speech to- morrow
Mr. Douglas. l shall conclude in a
very few minutes, | know that this is
rather an infiction, but Senators must
pardon me. shall be through very
soon.


repeat, the South have got all they
ever claimed in all the Territories and