the life of stephen a. douglas-第10章
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！
nd angry； he withdrew。 One admiring biographer declares that he yelled to the mob as a parting valediction； 〃Abolitionists of Chicago； it is now Sunday morning。 I will go to church while you go to the devil in your own way。〃 The irrepressible conflict was approaching the muscular stage of its development； when the aroused passions of the people must find some other vent than words； when the game of politics could no longer be safely played with the strongest emotions of a deeply moral race。
It was not possible to treat the matter lightly。 Evidently a tide of fanatical passion had set against him； not only in the old North； but in the new Northwest； the field of his undisputed mastery。 It was necessary to bestir himself in earnest and turn back this rising flood which threatened to engulf him just as he came in sight of his goal。 The symptoms were decidedly bad。 The elections thus far held indicated a surprising revolt against his new Democratic gospel of popular sovereignty。 As the autumn advanced the omens grew worse。 New Hampshire and Connecticut had already manifested their disapproval。 Iowa； hitherto staunchly Democratic； was carried by the Whigs。 The later New England elections showed the most amazing Democratic defection。 Pennsylvania elected to Congress twenty…one pronounced opponents of popular sovereignty and slavery extension。 Ohio and Indiana had both cast their votes for Pierce。 But at this election Ohio rejected the revised Democratic platform by 75；00 and Indiana by 13；000。
After his rebuff in Chicago he plunged into the Illinois campaign； which was fought on the Kansas…Nebraska issue。 In the northern part of the State his receptions were chilly and his audiences unfriendly； sometime indulging in boisterous demonstrations of hostility。 〃Burning effigies； effigies suspended by robes； banners with all the vulgar mottoes and inscriptions that passion and prejudice could suggest； were displayed at various points。 Whenever he attempted to speak； the noisy demonstrations which had proved so successful in Chicago were repeated。〃
But as he moved southward the people became more cordial。 The great center of political activity was Springfield； where the State Fair； lasting through the first week of October； attracted thousands of people； and the politicians assembled to make speeches and plan campaigns。 He spoke on October 3rd at the State House。 The most important matter pending was the choice of the legislature which should elect a Senator to succeed his colleague Shields； who was a candidate for reelection。 The opposition was a heterogeneous compound of Whigs； anti…Nebraska Democrats and all other political elements opposed to the revised Democratic creed。 The leading candidates of this fusion party for Senator were Lyman Trumbull； a Democrat opposed to the new program of slavery extension； and Abraham Lincoln； the recognized leader of the Whig party of the State。 It was expected that Lincoln would answer Douglas on the following day。
This political tourney held in the little Western Capital was in many ways a rather notable event。 The great question of human slavery had now definitely passed from the region of mere moral disquisition into that of active statesmanship。 It had become the decisive practical problem of the time； the attempt to solve which was revolutionizing party politics and sweeping away the political philosophy of the past。 The opinions of men on this question were determining their associations and directing their conduct； regardless of minor matters； which are now forgotten。 The South was united for the support and extension of slavery。 The North was tending to unity in the resolve to prevent its further spread。 Already the new generation of Southern statesmen were plotting to divide the Union and were bent on extending the slave holding States across the continent； believing that when the separation occurred； California would join the Southern Confederation and thus give them a Republic extending from ocean to ocean and controlling the mouth of the Mississippi。
The first step in this plan had already been taken by opening to slavery the Territory of Kansas； which then contained a large part of Colorado。 The remaining task of pushing their western border on to the Pacific seemed comparatively easy。 Already treason was festering in the heart of the South； but Douglas； now the most powerful ally of these plotting traitors； was entirely devoted to the Union。 He neither felt nor thought deeply on any question。 The symptoms of coming revolution were merely disclosures of political strategy to him。 The South held out the bait of the Presidency； and he led its battle。 In his attachment to the Union and his subordination of both morals and statecraft to its preservation as the supreme end； he was a faithful echo of the great statesmen of the preceding age。 But a generation of statesmen had appeared in the North with a large and growing following who were reluctantly reaching the conclusion that the primary rights of man were even more sacred than the Union。 Political expediency was not their ultimate test of right。
Lincoln； though yet comparatively obscure； was destined soon to become the leader of this new school of ethical statesmen； as distinguished from the old school of political temporizers and opportunists to which Douglas belonged。 Lincoln； as Douglas well knew； was a man of finer intellectual gifts than any of the great senatorial triumvirate whom he had successfully met。 His moral feelings were tuned to as high a key as Sumner's。 He had a firmer grasp of the central truths of the new politico…moral creed than Chase。 He had more tact and sagacity than Seward。 He had more patience with temporary error； more serene faith in the health and sanity of human nature than any of the three。 He was a greater master of the art of popular oratory than any of them。 Above all he had the power； dangerous to Douglas； of seizing the most ingenious and artfully concealed sophism and good naturedly dragging it to the light。 Endowed with the most exuberant flow of genial humor； he was yet sternly earnest in his belief in the inviolable sanctity of moral right。 During his recent years he had read much and thought deeply。 He had mastered a style rarely equaled in clearness； simplicity and power。 Without the prejudices and entanglements of a past political career； he entered the arena in the ripeness of his slow…maturing powers。 Not only his temperament and intellect but his experience and training admirably fitted him for the high task which he was destined to perform。
When Douglas opened his speech at the State House； he unconsciously lent new importance to Lincoln by announcing that he understood that he was to answer him； and requesting him to come forward and arrange terms for the debate。 But Lincoln was not present and he plunged into his argument； defending the Kansas…Nebraska bill； his own course and that of his party。 Lincoln spoke the next day and among his most eager listeners was Douglas； who occupied a seat in front and was generously invited to reply。 The speech； four hours long； was an agreeable surprise to Lincoln's friends； a startling revelation to Douglas and an astonishing event to the crowd； who recognized in the awkward country lawyer a dangerous antagonist for the great Senator； the incomparable master of the art of political debate。 He realized that this obscure adversary had clutched him with a power never felt in his great struggles with the giants of the Senate。 He indicated his sense of the importance of the contest by devoting two hours to a reply。 The chief interest of this meeting now is in the new prominence which it gave to Lincoln。 The long duel lasted intermittently through four years； and finally gave Lincoln such fame that he was chose over Seward and Chase to lead the anti…slavery forces which they had roused from lethargy and organized into unity。
The Illinois campaign continued with great spirit and Douglas had the mortification of seeing what he regarded as a wave of fanaticism engulf the State。 The anti…Nebraska fusion carried the legislature； defeated Shields and； after a brief contest between Trumball； the anti…Nebraska Democrat； and Lincoln； the anti…slavery Whig； elected the former Senator。
Chapter VIII。 Decline of Popular Sovereignty。
Congress had confessed its incompetency to deal with the Kansas problem and referred it to the decision of rude squatters on the frontier。 They dealt with this grave congressional question in characteristic fashion。 An Emigrant Aid Society； organized in Massachusetts； was among the means adopted by the North to colonize the Territory and mold its institutions。 The adventurous frontiersmen of western Missouri were chiefly relied on by the South to shape the new State。 The Emigrant Society founded the town of Lawrence and established there a formidable anti…slavery colony。 The Missouri squatters organized a 〃Self…Defensive Association〃 and attempted to drive out the Northern settlers。 Elections were held by the colonists from the North and their Missouri neighbors in which the Missourians outnumbered their rivals and captured the territorial government。 The Northern colonists organized a State and attempted to run it。 Irregular warfare was maintained between the Lawrence squatters and the invading Missourians to determine which faction was entitled to exercise the sovereignty delegated by Congress。
The House passed a bill to admit Kansas with the Constitution adopted at Topeka by the Northern settlers in their abortive effort to organize a State。 It failed in the Senate and a few days later the Federal troops dispersed the usurping State legislature。 The Governor seeing that all civil authority was ended； negotiate a truce between the warring factions； resigned and hastened away from the scene of the disastrous experiment of Squatter Sovereignty。
The meeting of Congress on December 3rd； 1855； marked another stage in the great struggle。 So completely were the parties disorganized that it was found impossible to classify this Congress。 From December 3rd to February 2nd the House was unable even to organize itself。 On December 31st the President sent in his message。 He disposed of the overshadowing problem in a few brief words and devoted the message to ephemeral matters long since as completely forgotten as himself。 Although civil war had been raging in Kansas for many months and the carnival of crime was still in progress on that frontier； he gravely assured Congress that it was a matter of congratulation that the Republic was tranquilly advancing in a career of prosperity and peace。 He told them that the people of the Territory were clothed with the power of self…government and that he had not felt justified in interfering with their exercise of that right。 But on January 24th he sent another message announcing in general terms the disappointment of his hopes and recommending an enabling act for the admission of Kansas as a State。
The Senate consisted of thirty…four Democrats； twelve Whigs and thirteen Republicans。 Douglas was the recognized leader of the majority； without whose presence they were unwilling to take any decisive action。 But he was
