Year: 1861

Mr.. Douglas of Illinois asked that the
report of the Committee of Thirteen be
taken up. Mr.. Douglas proceeded to ad
dress the Senate. He said no act of his
public life ever gave him SO much pain
as to vote for the resolution. The COM
mittee could not agree. In order to see
the real cause of the troubles, we must go
back to the late election. We should as
sumo that whenever Congress undertook
to act on the question of slavery, discord
and agitation were sure to follow. When
Congress let the question alone there was
peace. He referred to the excitement at
the time the Missouri Compromise was
enacted. The fearful agitation of 1920
was settled by the establishment of the
compromise line. So long as that ad-
iustment was carried out there was peace
and quiet. Texas was admitted quietly
under this rule, though there was great
contrariety of opinion. But no one OBJ
iected because it extended that line
Again, California and New Mexico were
acquired, and the extension of the line to
the Pacific Ocean was demanded. The
records show that he reported, as chair
man of the Committee on Territories, a
resolution to extend the line to the Pacif-
ic. This was adoptedin the Senate, but
when it was sent to the House it was re-
jected by Northern votes. That opened
the food gates of the agitation of lS4S,
which was only settled by the compro-
mise of 1850. When we settle this ques-
tion in the Territories, then we shall set
tie 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 ex-
tension of that line in 1S48 that reopened
the agitation. The arguments of 1873
and 1920 were repeated. The positions
of the North and South were the 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
Missouri line was abandoned, because its
friends said they could not carry it out in
good faith. Then they turned to see what
next was best. There was desirC to
take the question out of Congress, and Sc
cure peace to the country.


At last it was decided to leave the ques-
ton to the people of the Territories them
selves. The records show that he sup
ported both compromises, and for the
same reasons. Peace followed all over
the country. But in 1884 it became
necessary to organize the Territories ol
Kansas and Nebraska. The Committee,
in forming the bill, determined to carry
out the compromise measures of 1850
though they had all been in favor of the
Missouri Compromise as long as it could
be carried out. A hue.and-cry was i'm


mediately raised that the Committee were
violating sacred compromise. But the
bill did not mention the Missouri Com


promise. but did give the people the pow
er OF settling the question for themselves
The history of the Government might b
divided into three parts. Before 1872
the Government admitted many Terrific
ries. but all was peace. After the agi
tation of 1920 was settled oil was pesc


again till 1850. Since then we have ha'
a continued controversy, and the resul
Of the late election has convinced tn


South that it is the fixed policy Of tn
dominant party of the North to invad
their constitutional rights. We nov
come to the consideration of that part


which has plunged the country into thi
state of discord. 1t is folly for any ma


not to see facts which do exist. The re
suit Of the recent election. in connectio


with all the circumstances with which