American politics (non-partisan) from the beginning to date : $b embodying a history of all the political parties, with their views and records on all important questions. Great speeches on all great issues, and tabulated history and chronological events.Cooper, Thomas V. (Thomas Valentine)
History
American politics (non-partisan) from the beginning to date : $b embodying a history of all the political parties, with their views and records on all important questions. Great speeches on all great issues, and tabulated history and chronological events.
Cooper, Thomas V. (Thomas Valentine)
Political parties -- United States; United States -- Politics and government
2. “It matters not what way the Supreme Court may hereafter decide, as
to the abstract question whether slavery may or may not go into a
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 a day, or an hour, anywhere, unless it is supported by
local police regulations. These police regulations can only be
established by the local legislature, and if the people are opposed to
slavery, they will elect representatives to that body, who will, by
unfriendly legislation, effectually prevent the introduction of it into
their midst. If, on the contrary, they are for it, their legislation
will favor its 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 a slave Territory or a free Territory is perfect and
complete under the Nebraska bill.
“3. The third question which Mr. Lincoln presented is, if the Supreme
Court of the United States shall decide that a State of this Union
cannot exclude slavery from its own limits, will I submit to it? I am
amazed that Mr. Lincoln should ask such a question.
“He casts an imputation upon the Supreme Court of the United States by
supposing that they would violate the constitution of the United States.
I tell him that such a thing is not possible. It would be an act of
moral treason that no man on the bench could ever descend to. Mr.
Lincoln, himself, would never, in his partisan feelings, so far forget
what was right as to be guilty of such an act.
“4. With our natural increase, growing with a rapidity unknown in any
other part of the globe, with the tide of emigration that is fleeing
from despotism in the old world, to seek refuge in our own, there is a
constant torrent pouring into this country that requires more land, more
territory upon which to settle, and just as fast as our interests and
our destiny require an additional territory in the North, in the South,
or on the Island of the Ocean, I am for it, and when we require it, will
leave the people, according to the Nebraska bill, free to do as they
please on the subject of slavery, and every other question.”
The bitterness of the feelings aroused by the canvass and boldness of
Douglas, can both be well shown by a brief abstract from his speech at
Freeport. He had persisted in calling the Republicans “_Black_
Republicans,” although the crowd, the great majority of which was there
against him, insisted that he should say “_White_ Republican.” In
response to these oft repeated demands, he said:—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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