±´¿Çµç×ÓÊé > Ó¢ÎÄÔ­Öøµç×ÓÊé > the life of stephen a. douglas >

µÚ22ÕÂ

the life of stephen a. douglas-µÚ22ÕÂ

С˵£º the life of stephen a. douglas ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



f¡¡Minnesota¡¡in¡¡which¡¡he¡¡took¡¡care¡¡to¡¡provide¡¡in¡¡express¡¡terms¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Constitution¡¡must¡¡be¡¡submitted¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡he¡¡then¡¡thought¡¡general¡¡principles¡¡of¡¡law¡¡secured¡¡the¡¡submission¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Kansas¡¡Constitution¡¡without¡¡providing¡¡for¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡enabling¡¡act£»¡¡why¡¡this¡¡care¡¡to¡¡expressly¡¡provide¡¡for¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Minnesota¡¡act£¿

He¡¡was¡¡now¡¡swimming¡¡amid¡¡perilous¡¡breakers¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡thrown¡¡down¡¡the¡¡gage¡¡of¡¡battle¡¡to¡¡his¡¡party¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡twinkling¡¡of¡¡an¡¡eye¡¡he¡¡was¡¡transformed¡¡from¡¡recognized¡¡chief¡¡to¡¡a¡¡rebel£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡was¡¡isolated¡¡and¡¡unsupported¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡could¡¡not¡¡consort¡¡with¡¡Republicans¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡rankling¡¡wounds¡¡of¡¡the¡¡by¡­gone¡¡years¡¡could¡¡not¡¡heal¡¡so¡¡suddenly¡£¡¡Moreover£»¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡want¡¡their¡¡society¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡a¡¡Democrat¡¡and¡¡hoped¡¡to¡¡force¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡party¡¡such¡¡policies¡¡that¡¡Illinois¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Northwest¡¡would¡¡be¡¡solidly¡¡at¡¡his¡¡back¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡the¡¡Democratic¡¡States¡¡of¡¡the¡¡North¡¡standing¡¡firmly¡¡with¡¡him¡¡he¡¡could¡¡still¡¡dictate¡¡terms¡¡to¡¡the¡¡South£»¡¡which¡¡would¡¡have¡¡to¡¡choose¡¡between¡¡Northern¡¡Democrats¡¡and¡¡Northern¡¡Republicans¡£





Chapter¡¡XII¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Lecompton¡¡Constitution¡£




On¡¡February¡¡2nd¡¡Buchanan¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡Congress¡¡his¡¡message£»¡¡transmitting¡¡the¡¡Lecompton¡¡Constitution¡¡and¡¡urging¡¡its¡¡approval¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡apology¡¡for¡¡his¡¡change¡¡of¡¡front¡¡and¡¡excuse¡¡for¡¡a¡¡like¡¡change¡¡in¡¡others¡¡he¡¡drew¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡picture¡¡of¡¡the¡¡disturbed¡¡condition¡¡of¡¡affairs¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Territory£»¡¡portraying¡¡the¡¡Topeka¡¡free¡¡State¡¡enterprise¡¡as¡¡a¡¡vast¡¡insurrectionary¡¡movement¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡told¡¡Congress¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡submit¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡instrument¡¡to¡¡a¡¡vote¡¡because¡¡the¡¡free¡¡State¡¡faction£»¡¡who¡¡were¡¡the¡¡majority£»¡¡would¡¡vote¡¡against¡¡any¡¡Constitution£»¡¡however¡¡perfect£»¡¡except¡¡their¡¡own¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡commended¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡regularity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lecompton¡¡Convention¡¡and¡¡the¡¡fairness¡¡with¡¡which¡¡the¡¡slavery¡¡question¡¡had¡¡been¡¡submitted¡¡to¡¡a¡¡vote¡¡and¡¡urged¡¡immediate¡¡admission¡£

When¡¡the¡¡motion¡¡to¡¡print¡¡and¡¡refer¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Committee¡¡on¡¡Territories¡¡was¡¡made£»¡¡Trumbull¡¡denounced¡¡the¡¡message¡¡with¡¡great¡¡energy¡¡and¡¡at¡¡some¡¡length¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡asked¡¡sneeringly¡¡what¡¡had¡¡become¡¡of¡¡the¡¡once¡¡celebrated¡¡principle¡¡of¡¡popular¡¡sovereignty£¿¡¡¡¡The¡¡people¡¡of¡¡Kansas¡¡were¡¡denied¡¡the¡¡right¡¡of¡¡voting¡¡on¡¡their¡¡Constitution¡¡at¡¡all¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Dred¡¡Scott¡¡decision¡¡had¡¡settled¡¡that¡¡at¡¡no¡¡stage¡¡had¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Territory¡¡power¡¡to¡¡interfere¡¡with¡¡slavery¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡whole¡¡doctrine£»¡¡he¡¡declared£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡absolutely¡¡repudiated¡£

The¡¡message¡¡having¡¡been¡¡referred¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Committee¡¡on¡¡Territories¡¡after¡¡six¡¡days'¡¡debate£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡18th¡¡of¡¡February¡¡a¡¡bill¡¡was¡¡reported¡¡by¡¡a¡¡majority¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Committee¡¡for¡¡the¡¡admission¡¡of¡¡Kansas¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Union¡¡under¡¡the¡¡Lecompton¡¡Constitution¡¡and¡¡Douglas¡¡presented¡¡a¡¡minority¡¡report¡¡protesting¡¡against¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡two¡¡weeks¡¡he¡¡was¡¡confined¡¡to¡¡his¡¡room¡¡by¡¡sickness£»¡¡but£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡day¡¡for¡¡the¡¡vote¡¡was¡¡near£»¡¡notice¡¡was¡¡given¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡speak¡¡on¡¡the¡¡22nd¡¡of¡¡March¡£

On¡¡that¡¡day¡¡the¡¡Senate¡¡met¡¡at¡¡the¡¡early¡¡hour¡¡of¡¡ten¡£¡¡¡¡Already¡¡the¡¡galleries¡¡were¡¡crowded¡£¡¡¡¡Long¡¡before¡¡noon¡¡the¡¡passages¡¡leading¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Chamber¡¡were¡¡thronged¡¡with¡¡men¡¡and¡¡women¡¡vainly¡¡seeking¡¡admission¡£¡¡In¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡of¡¡graceful¡¡gallantry¡¡the¡¡Senators¡¡admitted¡¡the¡¡ladies¡¡to¡¡the¡¡floor¡£¡¡¡¡Through¡¡long¡¡hours¡¡of¡¡debate¡¡the¡¡crowd¡¡waited¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Senate¡¡adjourned¡¡until¡¡seven¡¡o'clock£»¡¡at¡¡which¡¡time¡¡Douglas¡¡was¡¡to¡¡speak¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡visitors¡¡who¡¡were¡¡lucky¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡have¡¡gained¡¡admission¡¡waited¡¡with¡¡patient¡¡good¡¡humor¡¡for¡¡the¡¡return¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Senators£»¡¡who¡¡at¡¡last¡¡began¡¡to¡¡force¡¡their¡¡way¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Chamber¡¡through¡¡the¡¡dense¡¡throngs¡£

A¡¡little¡¡before¡¡seven¡¡the¡¡short¡¡figure¡¡of¡¡Douglas¡¡was¡¡observed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡greeted¡¡with¡¡loud¡¡applause¡¡from¡¡the¡¡galleries¡£¡¡The¡¡session¡¡resumed¡¡and¡¡he¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡speak¡£¡¡¡¡Cheered¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sympathy¡¡and¡¡admiration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡visitors£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡to¡¡him¡¡a¡¡stern¡¡enough¡¡hour¡¡when¡¡he¡¡must¡¡finally¡¡break¡¡with¡¡his¡¡powerful¡¡party¡¡and¡¡battle¡¡with¡¡his¡¡utmost¡¡strength¡¡against¡¡its¡¡cherished¡¡program¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡must¡¡attack£»¡¡not¡¡Buchanan£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡organized¡¡Democracy£»¡¡now¡¡more¡¡powerfully¡¡entrenched¡¡than¡¡ever¡¡before¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡controlled¡¡the¡¡President¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Supreme¡¡Court¡¡and¡¡had¡¡bent¡¡them¡¡to¡¡its¡¡will¡¡in¡¡this¡¡precise¡¡quarrel¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Senate¡¡was¡¡Democratic¡¡nearly¡¡two¡¡to¡¡one£»¡¡and¡¡but¡¡two¡¡of¡¡the¡¡majority¡¡followed¡¡him¡¡in¡¡his¡¡revolt¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡House¡¡the¡¡Democrats¡¡had¡¡a¡¡majority¡¡of¡¡twenty¡­five¡£

Foreseeing¡¡the¡¡personal¡¡consequences¡¡of¡¡his¡¡act£»¡¡he¡¡opened¡¡his¡¡speech¡¡with¡¡an¡¡elaborate¡¡review¡¡of¡¡his¡¡course¡¡in¡¡Congress¡¡in¡¡relation¡¡to¡¡slavery¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Territories£»¡¡showing¡¡that¡¡from¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡he¡¡had¡¡favored¡¡leaving¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡question¡¡fairly¡¡to¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡stood¡¡on¡¡the¡¡principle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Compromise¡¡of¡¡1850¡¡as¡¡approved¡¡and¡¡interpreted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡legislature¡¡of¡¡Illinois¡¡in¡¡1851¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡body¡¡had¡¡declared¡¡that¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Territory¡¡had¡¡a¡¡right¡¡to¡¡form¡¡such¡¡government¡¡as¡¡they¡¡chose¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Lecompton¡¡Constitution¡¡the¡¡act¡¡and¡¡deed¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡Kansas£¿¡¡¡¡Did¡¡it¡¡embody¡¡their¡¡will£¿¡¡If¡¡not£»¡¡Congress¡¡had¡¡no¡¡right¡¡to¡¡impose¡¡it¡¡on¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡Where¡¡was¡¡the¡¡evidence¡¡that¡¡it¡¡did¡¡embody¡¡their¡¡will£¿¡¡¡¡By¡¡a¡¡fraudulent¡¡vote¡¡on¡¡December¡¡12th¡¡it¡¡was¡¡adopted¡¡by¡¡5£»500¡¡majority¡£¡¡¡¡By¡¡a¡¡fair¡¡vote¡¡on¡¡January¡¡4th¡¡it¡¡was¡¡defeated¡¡by¡¡10£»000¡¡majority¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡election¡¡on¡¡December¡¡21st¡¡was¡¡ordered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Lecompton¡¡Convention£»¡¡deriving¡¡its¡¡authority¡¡from¡¡the¡¡territorial¡¡legislature¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡legislature¡¡itself¡¡ordered¡¡the¡¡election¡¡on¡¡January¡¡4th¡£¡¡¡¡Granting¡¡the¡¡argument¡¡that¡¡the¡¡organic¡¡act¡¡was¡¡in¡¡effect¡¡an¡¡enabling¡¡act£»¡¡then¡¡the¡¡territorial¡¡legislature¡¡had¡¡power¡¡to¡¡authorize¡¡the¡¡Lecompton¡¡Convention¡¡and¡¡also¡¡to¡¡order¡¡it¡¡work¡¡submitted¡¡to¡¡a¡¡vote¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡legislature¡¡either¡¡had¡¡the¡¡full¡¡power¡¡of¡¡Congress¡¡over¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡or¡¡it¡¡had¡¡none¡£

But£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡claimed£»¡¡the¡¡Constitution¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡voted¡¡down¡¡if¡¡submitted¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡right¡¡had¡¡Congress¡¡to¡¡force¡¡it¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡people£¿¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡mockery¡¡to¡¡call¡¡it¡¡an¡¡embodiment¡¡of¡¡their¡¡will¡¡and¡¡a¡¡crime¡¡to¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡enforce¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡it¡¡ever¡¡became¡¡the¡¡Constitution¡¡of¡¡Kansas¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡the¡¡act¡¡of¡¡Congress¡¡that¡¡made¡¡it¡¡so¡¡and¡¡not¡¡the¡¡decision¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡it¡¡could¡¡be¡¡changed¡¡thereafter¡¡was¡¡no¡¡apology¡¡for¡¡this¡¡outrage¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡as¡¡much¡¡a¡¡violation¡¡of¡¡fundamental¡¡principle£»¡¡a¡¡violation¡¡of¡¡popular¡¡sovereignty£»¡¡to¡¡force¡¡a¡¡Constitution¡¡on¡¡an¡¡unwilling¡¡people¡¡for¡¡a¡¡day¡¡as¡¡for¡¡a¡¡year¡¡or¡¡for¡¡a¡¡longer¡¡time¡£

If¡¡a¡¡few¡¡thousand¡¡Free¡¡Soilers¡¡had¡¡fabricated¡¡a¡¡Constitution¡¡in¡¡this¡¡fashion£»¡¡prohibiting¡¡slavery¡¡forever£»¡¡would¡¡the¡¡gentlemen¡¡from¡¡the¡¡South¡¡have¡¡submitted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡outrage£¿¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡asked¡¡to¡¡admit¡¡Kansas¡¡with¡¡a¡¡State¡¡government¡¡brought¡¡into¡¡existence¡¡not¡¡only¡¡by¡¡fraudulent¡¡voting¡¡but¡¡forged¡¡returns¡¡sustained¡¡by¡¡perjury¡£

He¡¡paused¡¡to¡¡comment¡¡on¡¡certain¡¡diatribes¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Washington¡¡Union¡¡which¡¡had¡¡denounced¡¡him¡¡as¡¡a¡¡renegade£»¡¡traitor¡¡and¡¡deserter£»¡¡and¡¡read¡¡from¡¡its¡¡columns¡¡an¡¡article¡¡presenting¡¡the¡¡extreme¡¡claims¡¡of¡¡the¡¡South£»¡¡arguing¡¡that¡¡all¡¡laws¡¡and¡¡Constitutions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡free¡¡States¡¡forbidding¡¡slavery¡¡were¡¡violations¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Federal¡¡Constitution£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the¡¡emancipation¡¡of¡¡slaves¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Northern¡¡States¡¡was¡¡a¡¡gross¡¡outrage¡¡on¡¡the¡¡rights¡¡of¡¡property¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡this¡¡article£»¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡was¡¡in¡¡harmony¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Lecompton¡¡Constitution£»¡¡which¡¡declared¡¡the¡¡right¡¡of¡¡property¡¡in¡¡a¡¡slave¡¡to¡¡be¡¡higher¡¡than¡¡Constitutions¡£¡¡This¡¡meant¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Constitutions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡free¡¡States¡¡forbidding¡¡slavery¡¡were¡¡in¡¡conflict¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Constitution¡¡of¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States¡¡and¡¡of¡¡no¡¡validity¡£¡¡¡¡Hence¡¡slavery¡¡had¡¡right¡¡to¡¡exist¡¡in¡¡all¡¡the¡¡States¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡this¡¡was¡¡not¡¡the¡¡authentic¡¡Democratic¡¡faith£»¡¡which¡¡left¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡question¡¡to¡¡the¡¡option¡¡of¡¡the¡¡several¡¡States¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡each¡¡one¡¡took¡¡care¡¡of¡¡its¡¡own¡¡affairs£»¡¡minded¡¡its¡¡own¡¡business¡¡and¡¡let¡¡its¡¡neighbors¡¡alone£»¡¡there¡¡would¡¡be¡¡peace¡¡in¡¡the¡¡country¡£¡¡Seward¡¡had¡¡proclaimed¡¡a¡¡higher¡¡law¡¡which¡¡forbade¡¡slavery¡¡everywhere¡£¡¡this¡¡instrument¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Administration¡¡paper¡¡proclaimed¡¡a¡¡higher¡¡law¡¡which¡¡established¡¡it¡¡in¡¡all¡¡the¡¡States¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡time¡¡to¡¡quit¡¡this¡¡folly¡¡and¡¡yield¡¡obedience¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Constitution¡¡and¡¡laws¡¡of¡¡the¡¡land¡£

It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡most¡¡arrant¡¡presumption¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Administration¡¡to¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡make¡¡this¡¡a¡¡party¡¡measure¡£¡¡¡¡By¡¡what¡¡right¡¡did¡¡these¡¡accidental¡¡and¡¡temporary¡¡holders¡¡of¡¡office¡¡prescribe¡¡party¡¡politics£¿¡¡¡¡There¡¡had¡¡been¡¡no¡¡Convention£»¡¡not¡¡even¡¡a¡¡caucus£»¡¡since¡¡this¡¡question¡¡arose¡£¡¡The¡¡party¡¡was¡¡not¡¡committed¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡President¡¡had¡¡no¡¡right¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡a¡¡Senator¡¡his¡¡duty¡¡and¡¡command¡¡his¡¡allegiance¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡no¡¡power¡¡to¡¡prescribe¡¡tests¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡Senator's¡¡first¡¡duty¡¡was¡¡to¡¡his¡¡State¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨If¡¡the¡¡will¡¡of¡¡my¡¡State¡¡is¡¡one¡¡way¡¡and¡¡the¡¡will¡¡of¡¡the¡¡P

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ