Ì«×ÓүС˵Íø > Ó¢Óïµç×ÓÊé > the life of stephen a. douglas >

µÚ18½Ú

the life of stephen a. douglas-µÚ18½Ú

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£¡



vote¡£¡¡¡¡Governor¡¡Geary¡¡vetoed¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡bill¡¡was¡¡at¡¡once¡¡passed¡¡over¡¡the¡¡veto¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡election¡¡of¡¡delegates¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡was¡¡set¡¡for¡¡the¡¡15th¡¡of¡¡June¡£

Among¡¡the¡¡earliest¡¡acts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡new¡¡President¡¡was¡¡the¡¡appointment¡¡of¡¡Ex¡­Senator¡¡Robert¡¡J¡£¡¡Walker¡¡of¡¡Mississippi¡¡as¡¡Governor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Territory¡£¡¡¡¡Before¡¡going¡¡to¡¡his¡¡post¡¡of¡¡duty£»¡¡Walker¡¡visited¡¡Douglas¡¡at¡¡Chicago¡¡for¡¡counsel¡¡and¡¡showed¡¡him¡¡his¡¡inaugural¡¡address£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡he¡¡declared¡¡that¡¡any¡¡Constitution¡¡adopted¡¡must¡¡be¡¡submitted¡¡to¡¡a¡¡vote¡¡of¡¡the¡¡resident¡¡citizens¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Territory¡£¡¡¡¡Douglas¡¡heartily¡¡approved¡¡this¡¡and¡¡with¡¡all¡¡sincerity¡¡wished¡¡the¡¡new¡¡Governor¡¡God¡­speed¡¡in¡¡his¡¡perilous¡¡enterprise¡£¡¡¡¡Walker¡¡arrived¡¡late¡¡in¡¡May¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡the¡¡President¡¡he¡¡promised¡¡that¡¡the¡¡election¡¡of¡¡delegates¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡should¡¡be¡¡free¡¡from¡¡fraud¡¡and¡¡violence¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Constitution¡¡should¡¡be¡¡fairly¡¡submitted¡¡to¡¡a¡¡vote¡£¡¡Buchanan¡¡assured¡¡him¡¡that¡¡on¡¡the¡¡question¡¡of¡¡submitting¡¡the¡¡Constitution¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bona¡¡fide¡¡resident¡¡settlers¡¡he¡¡was¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡stand¡¡or¡¡fall¡£

When¡¡the¡¡election¡¡was¡¡held¡¡the¡¡Republicans£»¡¡who¡¡numbered¡¡at¡¡least¡¡two¡­thirds¡¡of¡¡the¡¡voters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Territory£»¡¡committed¡¡the¡¡blunder¡¡of¡¡refusing¡¡to¡¡vote¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡within¡¡their¡¡power¡¡to¡¡control¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡and¡¡dictate¡¡the¡¡Constitution¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡their¡¡bitter¡¡experience¡¡had¡¡produced¡¡utter¡¡distrust¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Federal¡¡Government¡¡and¡¡silent¡¡rebellion¡¡against¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡had¡¡organized¡¡themselves¡¡into¡¡a¡¡band¡¡of¡¡rebels¡¡bent¡¡on¡¡maintaining¡¡their¡¡free¡¡State¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡election¡¡resulted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡choice¡¡of¡¡a¡¡majority¡¡of¡¡rabid¡¡pro¡­slavery¡¡delegates¡£

The¡¡Convention¡¡which¡¡met¡¡on¡¡October¡¡19th¡¡produced¡¡a¡¡unique¡¡Constitution£»¡¡declaring¡¡that¡¡the¡¡right¡¡of¡¡property¡¡was¡¡before¡¡and¡¡higher¡¡than¡¡any¡¡constitutional¡¡sanction£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡right¡¡of¡¡the¡¡owner¡¡of¡¡a¡¡slave¡¡to¡¡such¡¡slave¡¡and¡¡his¡¡increase¡¡was¡¡the¡¡same¡¡and¡¡as¡¡inviolable¡¡as¡¡the¡¡right¡¡of¡¡the¡¡owner¡¡of¡¡any¡¡property¡¡whatever£»¡¡and¡¡provided¡¡that¡¡it¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡amended¡¡before¡¡1865£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡could¡¡not¡¡interfere¡¡with¡¡slavery¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡exquisite¡¡ingenuity¡¡it¡¡was¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡call¡¡an¡¡election¡¡on¡¡December¡¡21st¡¡and¡¡let¡¡the¡¡people¡¡vote¡¡on¡¡the¡¡question¡¡whether¡¡they¡¡were¡¡¡¨for¡¡the¡¡Constitution¡¡with¡¡slavery£»¡¨¡¡or¡¡¡¨for¡¡the¡¡Constitution¡¡with¡¡no¡¡slavery¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡No¡¡vote¡¡against¡¡the¡¡Constitution¡¡was¡¡permitted¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡make¡¡assurance¡¡doubly¡¡sure£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡provided¡¡that£»¡¡if¡¡¡¨the¡¡Constitution¡¡with¡¡no¡¡slavery¡¨¡¡carried£»¡¡slavery¡¡should¡¡not¡¡exist¡¡in¡¡the¡¡State¡¡except¡¡that¡¡the¡¡right¡¡of¡¡property¡¡in¡¡slaves¡¡then¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Territory¡¡should¡¡in¡¡no¡¡measure¡¡be¡¡interfered¡¡with¡£

Walker¡¡denounced¡¡it¡¡as¡¡a¡¡fraud¡£¡¡¡¡Buchanan¡¡in¡¡his¡¡feeble¡¡way¡¡intended¡¡at¡¡fist¡¡to¡¡support¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡Southern¡¡hotspurs£»¡¡who¡¡understood¡¡the¡¡vacillating¡¡old¡¡man£»¡¡threatened¡¡secession¡¡and¡¡general¡¡ruin¡¡unless¡¡he¡¡adopted¡¡their¡¡program¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡yielded¡¡and¡¡threw¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡influence¡¡of¡¡his¡¡office¡¡for¡¡the¡¡admission¡¡of¡¡the¡¡State¡¡with¡¡this¡¡Constitution¡£

But¡¡this¡¡was¡¡too¡¡much¡¡for¡¡the¡¡patient¡¡Northern¡¡Democrats¡£¡¡¡¡Murmurs¡¡of¡¡criticism£»¡¡swelling¡¡to¡¡shouts¡¡of¡¡denunciation£»¡¡were¡¡heard¡¡in¡¡the¡¡North¡¡without¡¡much¡¡regard¡¡to¡¡politics¡£¡¡¡¡Douglas£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡in¡¡Chicago¡¡when¡¡the¡¡news¡¡arrived¡¡of¡¡the¡¡attempted¡¡swindle£»¡¡immediately¡¡denounced¡¡it¡¡and¡¡promised¡¡his¡¡strenuous¡¡opposition¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡situation¡¡of¡¡Kansas¡¡was¡¡tragical¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡that¡¡of¡¡Douglas¡¡was¡¡still¡¡more¡¡so¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡staked¡¡his¡¡standing¡¡as¡¡a¡¡statesman¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡establishment¡¡of¡¡the¡¡right¡¡of¡¡the¡¡settlers¡¡to¡¡mould¡¡their¡¡own¡¡institutions¡¡and¡¡had¡¡successfully¡¡urged¡¡the¡¡election¡¡of¡¡Buchanan¡¡on¡¡the¡¡solemn¡¡pledge¡¡that¡¡the¡¡principle¡¡of¡¡popular¡¡sovereignty¡¡would¡¡be¡¡faithfully¡¡applied¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡parting¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ways¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡the¡¡last¡¡election¡¡Michigan¡¡had¡¡defeated¡¡Cass¡¡for¡¡his¡¡political¡¡sins¡¡and¡¡elected¡¡the¡¡radical¡¡Chandler¡¡in¡¡his¡¡place¡£¡¡¡¡Would¡¡Illinois'¡¡patience¡¡last¡¡forever£¿¡¡¡¡Was¡¡it¡¡certain¡¡that¡¡the¡¡cool£»¡¡deep¡­plotting¡¡Lincoln¡¡would¡¡not¡¡succeed¡¡in¡¡overthrowing¡¡his¡¡power¡¡if¡¡he¡¡accepted¡¡the¡¡program¡¡of¡¡his¡¡party£¿¡¡He¡¡must¡¡stand¡¡for¡¡reelection¡¡next¡¡year¡¡and¡¡Illinois¡¡sentiment¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡trifled¡¡with¡¡now¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡rebellion¡¡of¡¡Northern¡¡Democrats¡¡against¡¡Southern¡¡policies¡¡was¡¡not¡¡limited¡¡to¡¡Michigan¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡he¡¡would¡¡be¡¡President£»¡¡he¡¡must¡¡retain¡¡his¡¡Northern¡¡Democratic¡¡support¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡would¡¡gladly¡¡have¡¡the¡¡South£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡must¡¡have¡¡Illinois¡£

Already¡¡history¡¡has¡¡rendered¡¡a¡¡divided¡¡verdict¡¡upon¡¡this¡¡period¡¡of¡¡his¡¡life¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡heartily¡¡abhorred¡¡the¡¡Kansas¡¡fraud¡¡and¡¡would¡¡really¡¡have¡¡liked¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡people¡¡given¡¡a¡¡fair¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a¡¡government¡¡for¡¡themselves¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡believed¡¡in¡¡fair¡¡play¡¡and¡¡despised¡¡sharp¡¡practice¡¡and¡¡pettifogging¡¡tricks¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡the¡¡sincere¡¡faith¡¡in¡¡popular¡¡wisdom¡¡and¡¡virtue¡¡characteristic¡¡of¡¡the¡¡West¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡cherished¡¡doctrine¡¡had¡¡been¡¡embodied¡¡in¡¡a¡¡ghastly¡¡abortion¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡pledge¡¡to¡¡the¡¡people¡¡had¡¡been¡¡shamelessly¡¡broken¡£¡¡¡¡While¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡honor¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡be¡¡that¡¡of¡¡prudence£»¡¡Douglas¡¡was¡¡not¡¡incapable¡¡of¡¡choosing¡¡it¡¡from¡¡pure¡¡and¡¡unselfish¡¡patriotism¡£

The¡¡people¡¡of¡¡Kansas£»¡¡outraged¡¡by¡¡the¡¡proceedings¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Convention£»¡¡in¡¡large¡¡numbers¡¡petitioned¡¡the¡¡Governor¡¡to¡¡call¡¡a¡¡special¡¡session¡¡of¡¡the¡¡legislature¡¡to¡¡remedy¡¡the¡¡wrong¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡summoned¡¡it¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡December¡¡7th¡¡and¡¡it¡¡at¡¡once¡¡ordered¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡Constitution¡¡submitted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡people¡¡on¡¡January¡¡4th¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡election¡¡ordered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡was¡¡held¡¡on¡¡December¡¡21st¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡free¡­State¡¡people¡¡declined¡¡to¡¡vote¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡Constitution¡¡with¡¡slavery¡¨¡¡carried¡¡by¡¡a¡¡vote¡¡of¡¡6£»143¡¡to¡¡589¡£¡¡On¡¡January¡¡4th¡¡the¡¡pro¡­slavery¡¡men¡¡took¡¡part¡¡in¡¡the¡¡election¡¡of¡¡State¡¡officers£»¡¡but¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡vote¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Constitution£»¡¡holding¡¡that¡¡the¡¡legislature¡¡had¡¡no¡¡power¡¡to¡¡submit¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡More¡¡than¡¡ten¡¡thousand¡¡votes¡¡were¡¡cast¡¡against¡¡the¡¡Constitution¡¡and¡¡another¡¡set¡¡of¡¡officers¡¡for¡¡an¡¡imaginary¡¡state¡¡selected¡£

The¡¡Constitution¡¡was¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡Buchanan¡¡to¡¡be¡¡submitted¡¡to¡¡Congress¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡of¡¡Douglas'¡¡official¡¡relation¡¡to¡¡the¡¡affair¡£

Congress¡¡met¡¡on¡¡the¡¡5th¡¡of¡¡December¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡Douglas¡¡reached¡¡Washington¡¡he¡¡called¡¡on¡¡the¡¡President¡¡to¡¡discuss¡¡the¡¡program¡¡for¡¡the¡¡winter¡£¡¡He¡¡told¡¡him¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡never¡¡do¡¡to¡¡send¡¡the¡¡Constitution¡¡to¡¡Congress¡¡for¡¡approval¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡violated¡¡the¡¡plighted¡¡faith¡¡of¡¡the¡¡President¡¡and¡¡his¡¡party¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡advice¡¡was¡¡that¡¡it¡¡be¡¡summarily¡¡rejected¡£¡¡¡¡Buchanan¡¡must¡¡submit¡¡it¡¡and¡¡recommend¡¡its¡¡approval¡£¡¡¡¡Douglas¡¡told¡¡him¡¡he¡¡would¡¡denounce¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Senate¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡President£»¡¡excited¡¡and¡¡alarmed£»¡¡rose¡¡from¡¡his¡¡seat¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡with¡¡great¡¡solemnity£º

¡¨Mr¡£¡¡Douglas£»¡¡I¡¡desire¡¡you¡¡to¡¡remember¡¡that¡¡no¡¡Democrat¡¡ever¡¡yet¡¡differed¡¡from¡¡an¡¡Administration¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡choice¡¡without¡¡being¡¡crushed£»¡¨¡¡then¡¡he¡¡bade¡¡him¡¡beware¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fate¡¡of¡¡certain¡¡noted¡¡insurgents¡¡in¡¡the¡¡old¡¡Jackson¡­VanBuren¡¡days¡£

¡¨Mr¡£¡¡President£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡Douglas£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡wish¡¡you¡¡to¡¡remember¡¡that¡¡General¡¡Jackson¡¡is¡¡dead¡£¡¨

On¡¡the¡¡8th¡¡of¡¡December¡¡Buchanan¡¡transmitted¡¡his¡¡first¡¡message¡¡to¡¡Congress£»¡¡which¡¡satisfied¡¡the¡¡world¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡abandoned¡¡such¡¡faint¡¡convictions¡¡as¡¡he¡¡had¡¡theretofore¡¡had¡¡and¡¡surrendered¡¡unconditionally¡¡to¡¡the¡¡South¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡confessed¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡formerly¡¡pledged¡¡himself¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Constitution¡¡should¡¡be¡¡submitted¡¡to¡¡a¡¡vote¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡said¡¡he¡¡had¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡conclusion¡¡that¡¡the¡¡only¡¡question¡¡upon¡¡which¡¡it¡¡was¡¡important¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the¡¡popular¡¡judgement¡¡was¡¡that¡¡of¡¡slavery¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡question¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡more¡¡clearly¡¡or¡¡distinctly¡¡submitted¡¡than¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡under¡¡the¡¡ordinance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡on¡¡December¡¡21st¡£¡¡¡¡Should¡¡the¡¡Constitution¡¡without¡¡slavery¡¡be¡¡adopted£»¡¡it£»¡¡of¡¡course¡¡guarded¡¡the¡¡right¡¡of¡¡property¡¡in¡¡all¡¡slaves¡¡then¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Territory£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡was¡¡only¡¡common¡¡justice¡£

It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡great¡¡day¡¡in¡¡Washington¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡a¡¡leading¡¡statesman¡¡declared£»¡¡¡¨the¡¡Administration¡¡had¡¡staked¡¡their¡¡all¡¡upon¡¡sustaining¡¡the¡¡Kansas¡¡Constitution£»¡¡*¡¡*¡¡*¡¡*¡¡but¡¡Douglas¡¡was¡¡against¡¡it£»¡¡decidedly£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡extravagantly¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡a¡¡great¡¡storm¡¡was¡¡brewing£»¡¡but¡¡of¡¡so¡¡uncertain¡¡and¡¡mysterious¡¡a¡¡character¡¡that¡¡no¡¡one¡¡knew¡¡what¡¡to¡¡expect¡£¡¡¡¡Douglas£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡theretofore¡¡scoffed¡¡at¡¡moral¡¡ideas¡¡in¡¡politics£»¡¡had¡¡turned¡¡stern¡¡moralist£»¡¡though¡¡still¡¡protesting¡¡his¡¡old¡¡cynical¡¡indifference£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡declaring¡¡inexpiable¡¡war¡¡on¡¡those¡¡whose¡¡champion¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡on¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡hard¡¡fought¡¡fields¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡strange¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡the¡¡allies¡¡with¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡was¡¡now¡¡to¡¡join¡¡hands£»¡¡were¡¡Seward¡¡and¡¡Hale£»¡¡perhaps¡¡even¡¡Chase¡¡and¡¡Sumner¡£

When¡¡the¡¡message¡¡was¡¡read¡¡on¡¡the¡¡8th£»¡¡he¡¡moved¡¡that¡¡15£»000¡¡extra¡¡copies¡¡of¡¡it¡¡be¡¡printed¡¡for¡¡the¡¡use¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Senate¡¡and¡¡announced¡¡his¡¡intention¡¡to¡¡attack¡¡that¡¡part¡¡of¡¡it¡¡relating¡¡to¡¡Kansas¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡next¡¡day¡¡when¡¡he¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡the¡¡galleries¡¡were¡¡thronged¡¡with¡¡an¡¡eager¡¡multitude¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡congratulated¡¡the¡¡country¡¡that¡¡the¡¡President¡¡had¡¡not¡¡endorsed¡¡the¡¡Constitution¡¡or¡¡recommended¡¡its¡¡approval£»¡¡but¡¡had¡¡only¡¡expressed¡¡his¡¡own¡¡satisfaction¡¡with¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡patronizingly¡¡apologized¡¡for¡¡Buchanan's¡¡error¡¡in¡¡supposing¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Kansas¡­Nebraska¡¡act¡¡provided¡¡only¡¡for¡¡the¡¡submission¡¡of¡¡the¡¡slavery¡¡question¡¡to¡¡a¡¡vote£»¡¡recalling¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time¡¡that¡¡act¡¡was¡¡passed¡¡he¡¡was¡¡representing¡¡the¡¡country¡¡with¡¡great¡¡wisdom¡¡and¡¡distinction¡¡at¡¡a¡¡foreign¡¡court¡¡and¡¡had¡¡never¡¡given¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡serious¡¡thought¡£

They¡¡had£»¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡repealed¡¡the¡¡Missouri¡¡Compromise¡¡and¡¡justified¡¡it¡¡everywhere¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡that¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Territories¡¡had¡¡the¡¡right¡¡to¡¡form¡¡all¡¡their¡¡institutions¡¡according¡¡to¡¡their¡¡will¡£¡¡The¡¡President's¡¡later¡¡doctrine¡¡was¡¡in¡¡error£»¡¡radical£»¡¡fundamental£»¡¡subversive¡¡of¡¡the¡¡platform¡¡on¡¡which¡¡he¡¡was¡¡elected¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡suggestion¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Convention£»¡¡throughout¡¡the¡¡territorial¡¡legislature£»¡¡had¡¡the¡¡implied¡¡sanction¡¡of¡¡Congress£»¡¡was¡¡wit

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

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ