Life of Stephen A. Douglas, United States Senator from Illinois: With His Most Important Speeches and Reports |
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abolition abolitionism abolitionists admission adopted amendment American authority Buchanan carry Central America cheers citizens clause Committee on Territories compact Compromise measures Compromise of 1850 Congress convention decide declared Democracy Democratic party doctrine domestic institutions Douglas duty election England established fact faith favor Federal Freesoil friends Fugitive Slave Fugitive Slave Law gentlemen habeas corpus Hise treaty honor Illinois Judge Kansas Kansas-Nebraska 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 passed pledged political popular sovereignty President privilege prohibit slavery proposed proposition protection provisions referred repeal reply Republican Republican party resolutions respect senator from Delaware senator from Ohio slaveholding slavery slavery question South speech submitted Supreme Court Territorial government Territorial legislature Texas tion Union United violation vote Wilmot Proviso wish York
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Page 151 - 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 58 - 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 67 - New States, of convenient size, not exceeding four in number, in addition to said State of Texas, and having sufficient population, may hereafter, by the consent of said State, be formed out of the territory thereof, which shall be entitled to admission under the provisions of the federal constitution. And such States as may be formed out of that portion of said territory lying south of...
Page 59 - ... and each of the said district courts shall have and exercise the same jurisdiction in all cases arising under the constitution and laws of the United States...
Page 152 - It is an irrepressible conflict between opposing and enduring forces, and it means that the United States must and will, sooner or later, become either entirely a slaveholding nation, or entirely a free-labor nation.
Page 50 - 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 58 - 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 152 - ... 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...
Page 57 - There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory otherwise than in the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted; Provided, always, That any person escaping into the same, from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed in any one of the original States, such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed and conveyed to the person claiming his or her labor or service as aforesaid.
Page 155 - 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 limits.