按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
acquired should be brought in upon condition that slavery should be
forever prohibited therein； upon the terms and in the language that
slavery had been prohibited from coming into this country。 That was
insisted upon constantly and never failed to call forth an assurance
that any territory thus acquired should have that prohibition in it；
so far as the House of Representatives was concerned。 But at last
the President and Senate acquired the territory without asking the
House of Representatives anything about it； and took it without that
prohibition。 They have the power of acquiring territory without the
immediate representatives of the people being called upon to say
anything about it； and thus furnishing a very apt and powerful means
of bringing new territory into the Union； and； when it is once
brought into the country； involving us anew in this slavery
agitation。 It is therefore； as I think； a very important question
for due consideration of the American people； whether the policy of
bringing in additional territory； without considering at all how it
will operate upon the safety of the Union in reference to this one
great disturbing element in our national politics； shall be adopted
as the policy of the country。 You will bear in mind that it is to be
acquired； according to the Judge's view； as fast as it is needed； and
the indefinite part of this proposition is that we have only Judge
Douglas and his class of men to decide how fast it is needed。 We
have no clear and certain way of determining or demonstrating how
fast territory is needed by the necessities of the country。 Whoever
wants to go out filibustering； then； thinks that more territory is
needed。 Whoever wants wider slave…fields feels sure that some
additional territory is needed as slave territory。 Then it is as
easy to show the necessity of additional slave…territory as it is to
assert anything that is incapable of absolute demonstration。
Whatever motive a man or a set of men may have for making annexation
of property or territory； it is very easy to assert； but much less
easy to disprove； that it is necessary for the wants of the country。
And now it only remains for me to say that I think it is a very grave
question for the people of this Union to consider； whether； in view
of the fact that this slavery question has been the only one that has
ever endangered our Republican institutions； the only one that has
ever threatened or menaced a dissolution of the Union； that has ever
disturbed us in such a way as to make us fear for the perpetuity of
our liberty；in view of these facts； I think it is an exceedingly
interesting and important question for this people to consider
whether we shall engage in the policy of acquiring additional
territory； discarding altogether from our consideration； while
obtaining new territory； the question how it may affect us in regard
to this； the only endangering element to our liberties and national
greatness。 The Judge's view has been expressed。 I； in my answer to
his question； have expressed mine。 I think it will become an
important and practical question。 Our views are before the public。
I am willing and anxious that they should consider them fully； that
they should turn it about and consider the importance of the
question； and arrive at a just conclusion as to whether it is or is
not wise in the people of this Union； in the acquisition of new
territory； to consider whether it will add to the disturbance that is
existing amongst uswhether it will add to the one only danger that
has ever threatened the perpetuity of the Union or our own liberties。
I think it is extremely important that they shall decide； and rightly
decide； that question before entering upon that policy。
And now； my friends； having said the little I wish to say upon this
head； whether I have occupied the whole of the remnant of my time or
not； I believe I could not enter upon any new topic so as to treat it
fully； without transcending my time； which I would not for a moment
think of doing。 I give way to Judge Douglas。
SIXTH JOINT DEBATE；
AT QUINCY； OCTOBER 13； 1858。
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN： I have had no immediate conference with Judge
Douglas； but I will venture to say that he and I will perfectly agree
that your entire silence； both when I speak and when he speaks； will
be most agreeable to us。
In the month of May； 1856； the elements in the State of Illinois
which have since been consolidated into the Republican party
assembled together in a State Convention at Bloomington。 They
adopted at that time what； in political language； is called a
platform。 In June of the same year the elements of the Republican
party in the nation assembled together in a National Convention at
Philadelphia。 They adopted what is called the National Platform。 In
June； 1858；the present year；the Republicans of Illinois
reassembled at Springfield； in State Convention； and adopted again
their platform； as I suppose not differing in any essential
particular from either of the former ones； but perhaps adding
something in relation to the new developments of political progress
in the country。
The Convention that assembled in June last did me the honor； if it be
one； and I esteem it such； to nominate me as their candidate for the
United States Senate。 I have supposed that； in entering upon this
canvass； I stood generally upon these platforms。 We are now met
together on the 13th of October of the same year； only four months
from the adoption of the last platform； and I am unaware that in this
canvass； from the beginning until to…day； any one of our adversaries
has taken hold of our platforms； or laid his finger upon anything
that he calls wrong in them。
In the very first one of these joint discussions between Senator
Douglas and myself； Senator Douglas； without alluding at all to these
platforms； or any one of them； of which I have spoken； attempted to
hold me responsible for a set of resolutions passed long before the
meeting of either one of these conventions of which I have spoken。
And as a ground for holding me responsible for these resolutions； he
assumed that they had been passed at a State Convention of the
Republican party； and that I took part in that Convention。 It was
discovered afterward that this was erroneous； that the resolutions
which he endeavored to hold me responsible for had not been passed by
any State Convention anywhere； had not been passed at Springfield；
where he supposed they had； or assumed that they had； and that they
had been passed in no convention in which I had taken part。 The
Judge； nevertheless； was not willing to give up the point that he was
endeavoring to make upon me； and he therefore thought to still hold
me to the point that he was endeavoring to make； by showing that the
resolutions that he read had been passed at a local convention in the
northern part of the State； although it was not a local convention
that embraced my residence at all； nor one that reached； as I
suppose； nearer than one hundred and fifty or two hundred miles of
where I was when it met； nor one in which I took any part at all。 He
also introduced other resolutions； passed at other meetings； and by
combining the whole； although they were all antecedent to the two
State Conventions and the one National Convention I have mentioned；
still he insisted； and now insists； as I understand； that I am in
some way responsible for them。
At Jonesboro； on our third meeting； I insisted to the Judge that I
was in no way rightfully held responsible for the proceedings of this
local meeting or convention； in which I had taken no part； and in
which I was in no way embraced； but I insisted to him that if he
thought I was responsible for every man or every set of men
everywhere； who happen to be my friends； the rule ought to work both
ways； and he ought to be responsible for the acts and resolutions of
all men or sets of men who were or are now his supporters and
friends； and gave him a pretty long string of resolutions； passed by
men who are now his friends； and announcing doctrines for which he
does not desire to be held responsible。
This still does not satisfy Judge Douglas。 He still adheres to his
proposition； that I am responsible for what some of my friends in
different parts of the State have done； but that he is not
responsible for what his have done。 At least； so I understand him。
But in addition to that； the Judge； at our meeting in Galesburgh；
last week； undertakes to establish that I am guilty of a species of
double dealing with the public； that I make speeches of a certain
sort in the north； among the Abolitionists； which I would not make in
the south； and that I make speeches of a certain sort in the south
which I would not make in the north。 I apprehend； in the course I
have marked out for myself； that I shall not have to dwell at very