Life of Stephen A. Douglas: To which are Added His Speeches and Reports |
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abolition abolitionism abolitionists admission adopted agitation amendment American annexation authority carry Central America citizens clause Committee on Territories compact Compromise measures Compromise of 1850 Congress convention debate declared Democratic party doctrine domestic institutions Douglas duty election England exclusive fact faith favor Federal Freesoil friends Fugitive Slave Fugitive Slave Law gentlemen habeas corpus Hise treaty honor Illinois Kansas Kansas-Nebraska Act labor Lecompton constitution legislation measures of 1850 ment Mexico Missouri Compromise nation Nebraska Bill negro never Nicaragua North northern object opinion organization Pacific Ocean passed peace pledged political popular sovereignty President principle privilege prohibit slavery proposed proposition protect provisions question of slavery referred repeal reply Republican party resolutions self-government senator from Delaware senator from Ohio slaveholding slavery question South southern speech Supreme Court Territorial legislature Texas tion ultimate extinction Union United violation vote Wilmot Proviso York
Popular passages
Page 107 - A house divided against itself cannot stand." I believe this Government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved, I do not expect the house to fall, but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other. Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push...
Page 60 - That the legislative power of the Territory shall extend to all rightful subjects of legislation, consistent with the Constitution of the United States and the provisions of this act ; but no law shall be passed interfering with the primary disposal of the soil; no tax shall be imposed upon the property of the United States ; nor shall the lands or other property of non-residents be taxed higher than the lands or other property of residents.
Page 60 - The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible.
Page 26 - The inhabitants of the ceded territory shall be incorporated in the Union of the United States and admitted as soon as possible according to the principles of the federal Constitution to the enjoyment of all the rights, advantages and immunities of citizens of the United States, and in the mean time they shall be maintained and protected in the free enjoyment of their liberty, property and the Religion which they profess.
Page 161 - In my opinion, it will not cease until a crisis shall have been reached and passed. 'A house divided against itself cannot stand.' I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved. I do not expect the house to fall, but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other.
Page 62 - Kansas, and when admitted as a state or states, the said territory, or any portion of the same, shall be received into the union with or without slavery, as their constitution may prescribe at the time of their admission...
Page 164 - That the constitution and all laws of the United States which are not locally inapplicable, shall have the s*ame force and effect within the said territory of Nebraska as elsewhere within the United States...
Page 61 - States; and the said Supreme and District Courts of the said Territory, and the respective judges thereof, shall and may grant writs of habeas corpus in all cases in which the same are granted by the judges of the United States in the District of Columbia...
Page 166 - The recent legislation of Congress respecting domestic slavery, derived as it has been from the original and pure fountain of legitimate political power, the will of the majority, promises ere long to allay the dangerous excitement. This legislation is founded upon principles as ancient as free government itself, and, in accordance with them, has simply declared that the people of a Territory, like those of a State, shall decide for themselves whether slavery shall or shall not exist within their...
Page 129 - ... Those 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...