°®°®Ð¡ËµÍø > ÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > the life of stephen a. douglas >

µÚ29ÕÂ

the life of stephen a. douglas-µÚ29ÕÂ

С˵£º the life of stephen a. douglas ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×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£¡



¡¡of¡¡the¡¡French¡¡King£º¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡will¡¡outlast¡¡my¡¡time¡£¡¨

Congress¡¡met¡¡on¡¡the¡¡third¡¡of¡¡December¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡his¡¡message¡¡the¡¡President¡¡charged¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡trouble¡¡to¡¡the¡¡aggressive¡¡anti¡­slavery¡¡activity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡North£»¡¡which¡¡had¡¡at¡¡last¡¡driven¡¡the¡¡South¡¡to¡¡open¡¡rebellion¡£¡¡He¡¡protested¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡powerless¡¡to¡¡act¡¡and¡¡referred¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡matter¡¡to¡¡Congress¡£¡¡¡¡Three¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Cabinet¡¡were¡¡serving¡¡the¡¡enemy¡¡and¡¡many¡¡seats¡¡in¡¡the¡¡House¡¡and¡¡Senate¡¡were¡¡held¡¡by¡¡unblushing¡¡traitors¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡forts¡¡in¡¡Charleston¡¡harbor¡¡were¡¡besieged¡¡by¡¡South¡¡Carolina¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Government¡¡at¡¡first¡¡dared¡¡not¡¡and¡¡later¡¡could¡¡not¡¡relieve¡¡them¡£

Congress£»¡¡if¡¡not¡¡as¡¡completely¡¡palsied¡¡as¡¡the¡¡President£»¡¡was¡¡without¡¡remedy¡¡for¡¡the¡¡fearful¡¡evils¡¡of¡¡the¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡Besides¡¡its¡¡quota¡¡of¡¡positive¡¡traitors£»¡¡many¡¡of¡¡its¡¡members¡¡were¡¡infected¡¡with¡¡the¡¡mild£»¡¡moonshiny¡¡political¡¡philosophy¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡currently¡¡in¡¡Washington¡¡for¡¡a¡¡quarter¡¡of¡¡a¡¡century¡£¡¡¡¡Many¡¡were¡¡about¡¡to¡¡retire¡¡to¡¡private¡¡life£»¡¡and£»¡¡like¡¡Buchanan£»¡¡thought¡¡the¡¡Government¡¡would¡¡outlast¡¡their¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡famous¡¡Senate¡¡Committee¡¡of¡¡Thirteen£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡corresponding¡¡House¡¡Committee¡¡of¡¡Thirty¡­three£»¡¡were¡¡appointed¡¡to¡¡consider¡¡the¡¡state¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Nation£»¡¡both¡¡of¡¡which¡¡toiled¡¡much¡¡and¡¡accomplished¡¡nothing¡£

The¡¡Committee¡¡of¡¡Thirteen¡¡reported¡¡late¡¡in¡¡December¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡agree£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡January¡¡3rd¡¡Douglas¡¡addressed¡¡the¡¡Senate¡¡upon¡¡this¡¡report¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡reviewed¡¡at¡¡great¡¡length¡¡the¡¡history¡¡of¡¡slavery¡¡legislation¡¡and¡¡drew¡¡from¡¡it¡¡all¡¡the¡¡conclusion¡¡that¡¡the¡¡trouble¡¡had¡¡arisen¡¡from¡¡unwarrantable¡¡interference¡¡in¡¡the¡¡local¡¡affairs¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Territories£»¡¡and¡¡that£»¡¡had¡¡popular¡¡sovereignty¡¡been¡¡given¡¡a¡¡chance¡¡it¡¡would¡¡have¡¡solved¡¡the¡¡problem¡¡long¡¡since¡¡and¡¡would¡¡do¡¡it¡¡yet¡¡if¡¡fairly¡¡tried¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡ascribed¡¡the¡¡trouble¡¡to¡¡the¡¡pernicious¡¡agitation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Republicans£»¡¡and¡¡recalled¡¡Lincoln's¡¡most¡¡radical¡¡anti¡­slavery¡¡utterances¡¡in¡¡the¡¡famous¡¡campaign¡¡of¡¡1858¡£¡¡He¡¡assured¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡the¡¡South¡¡that¡¡Lincoln¡¡would¡¡be¡¡powerless¡¡to¡¡hurt¡¡them¡¡if¡¡they¡¡remained¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Union£»¡¡for¡¡there¡¡would¡¡be¡¡a¡¡majority¡¡against¡¡him¡¡in¡¡both¡¡the¡¡Houses¡¡of¡¡Congress¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡denied¡¡utterly¡¡the¡¡right¡¡of¡¡South¡¡Carolina¡¡to¡¡secede¡¡and¡¡repudiate¡¡its¡¡constitutional¡¡duties£»¡¡and¡¡insisted¡¡on¡¡the¡¡right¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Federal¡¡Government¡¡to¡¡enforce¡¡the¡¡law¡¡in¡¡all¡¡of¡¡the¡¡States¡£¡¡¡¡Yet£»¡¡while¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡ray¡¡of¡¡hope£»¡¡war¡¡must¡¡not¡¡be¡¡resorted¡¡to¡£

¡¨In¡¡my¡¡opinion£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡continued£»¡¡¡¨war¡¡is¡¡disunion£»¡¡certain£»¡¡inevitable£»¡¡and¡¡irrevocable¡£¡¡¡¡*¡¡*¡¡*¡¡We¡¡have¡¡reached¡¡a¡¡point¡¡where¡¡disunion¡¡is¡¡inevitable¡¡unless¡¡some¡¡compromise£»¡¡founded¡¡upon¡¡mutual¡¡concession£»¡¡can¡¡be¡¡made¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡prefer¡¡compromise¡¡to¡¡war¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡prefer¡¡concession¡¡to¡¡a¡¡dissolution¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Union¡£¡¨

He¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡Republicans¡¡to¡¡consent¡¡to¡¡the¡¡reestablishment¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Missouri¡¡Compromise¡¡line£»¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡swept¡¡away¡¡six¡¡years¡¡before¡¡amid¡¡their¡¡earnest¡¡protestations¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡also¡¡proposed¡¡to¡¡establish¡¡popular¡¡sovereignty¡¡by¡¡constitutional¡¡amendment£»¡¡such¡¡sovereignty¡¡to¡¡begin¡¡when¡¡a¡¡Territory¡¡had¡¡50£»000¡¡inhabitants£»¡¡and£»¡¡by¡¡another¡¡amendment£»¡¡to¡¡prohibit¡¡future¡¡acquisition¡¡of¡¡territory¡¡without¡¡a¡¡concurrent¡¡vote¡¡of¡¡two¡­thirds¡¡of¡¡each¡¡House¡¡of¡¡Congress¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡purpose£»¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡was¡¡not¡¡to¡¡settle¡¡the¡¡slavery¡¡question£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡expel¡¡slavery¡¡agitation¡¡from¡¡the¡¡arena¡¡of¡¡Federal¡¡politics¡¡forever¡£

This¡¡was¡¡his¡¡last¡¡important¡¡speech¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Senate¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡delivered¡¡under¡¡circumstances¡¡of¡¡awful¡¡solemnity¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡seemed¡¡not¡¡deeply¡¡impressed¡¡with¡¡the¡¡gravity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡situation¡¡and¡¡was¡¡still¡¡interested¡¡in¡¡it¡¡chiefly¡¡as¡¡a¡¡party¡¡problem¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡expect¡¡the¡¡baptism¡¡of¡¡blood¡¡that¡¡followed£»¡¡but¡¡cheerfully¡¡looked¡¡forward¡¡to¡¡compromise¡¡and¡¡reconciliation¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Northern¡¡Democrats¡¡might¡¡yet¡¡rescue¡¡the¡¡country¡¡by¡¡mediating¡¡a¡¡truce¡¡between¡¡radical¡¡Republicans¡¡and¡¡radical¡¡Southern¡¡Democrats¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡present¡¡state¡¡of¡¡affairs¡¡who£»¡¡but¡¡himself£»¡¡the¡¡chief¡¡of¡¡these¡¡neutrals£»¡¡could¡¡lead¡¡this¡¡great¡¡movement£¿¡¡¡¡His¡¡mental¡¡habits¡¡were¡¡those¡¡of¡¡the¡¡politician¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡saw¡¡all¡¡event¡¡primarily¡¡in¡¡their¡¡relation¡¡to¡¡party¡¡tactics¡£¡¡¡¡Now¡¡that¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡began¡¡to¡¡rock¡¡beneath¡¡his¡¡feet£»¡¡he¡¡suspected¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡only¡¡a¡¡theatrical¡¡earthquake¡¡and¡¡prepared¡¡to¡¡seize¡¡upon¡¡every¡¡advantage¡¡that¡¡might¡¡be¡¡gathered¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡confusion¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡could¡¡not¡¡comprehend¡¡the¡¡deep¡¡and¡¡unappeasable¡¡passions¡¡that¡¡rent¡¡the¡¡Nation¡£¡¡The¡¡grim¡¡earnestness¡¡of¡¡his¡¡fellow¡­countrymen¡¡was¡¡as¡¡inconceivable¡¡to¡¡him¡¡as¡¡the¡¡demoniac¡¡enthusiasm¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡Apostle¡¡was¡¡to¡¡the¡¡scoffing¡¡Athenians¡¡who¡¡heard¡¡him¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Hill¡¡of¡¡Mars¡£¡¡¡¡But£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡great¡¡tragedy¡¡deepened¡¡and¡¡darkened£»¡¡he¡¡quit¡¡his¡¡political¡¡speculations¡¡and¡¡began¡¡to¡¡think£»¡¡not¡¡of¡¡the¡¡success¡¡of¡¡his¡¡party£»¡¡but¡¡of¡¡the¡¡possibility¡¡of¡¡saving¡¡the¡¡Union¡¡from¡¡imminent¡¡wreck¡£

He¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡Illinois¡¡and¡¡addressed¡¡the¡¡legislature£»¡¡urging¡¡energetic¡¡support¡¡of¡¡the¡¡war£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡May¡¡1st¡¡was¡¡welcomed¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Chicago¡¡by¡¡an¡¡immense¡¡assembly¡¡of¡¡all¡¡parties¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡escorted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡great¡¡hall¡¡in¡¡which¡¡Lincoln¡¡had¡¡been¡¡nominated¡¡and¡¡there¡¡addressed¡¡the¡¡people¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡spoke¡¡not¡¡as¡¡a¡¡politician¡¡but¡¡as¡¡a¡¡generous¡¡patriot¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡denounced¡¡in¡¡unmeasured¡¡terms¡¡the¡¡Southern¡¡conspiracy¡¡which¡¡had¡¡resulted¡¡in¡¡secession¡¡and¡¡now¡¡had¡¡ripened¡¡into¡¡open¡¡and¡¡bloody¡¡rebellion¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡treason¡¡of¡¡the¡¡South¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡as¡¡a¡¡mere¡¡element¡¡in¡¡an¡¡interesting¡¡political¡¡game£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡the¡¡blackest¡¡of¡¡human¡¡crimes¡¡and¡¡an¡¡awful¡¡menace¡¡to¡¡the¡¡life¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Republic¡£

¡¨There¡¡are¡¡only¡¡two¡¡sides¡¡to¡¡the¡¡question£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Every¡¡man¡¡must¡¡be¡¡for¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States¡¡or¡¡against¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡can¡¡be¡¡no¡¡neutrals¡¡in¡¡this¡¡war£»¡¡only¡¡patriots¡¡or¡¡traitors¡£¡¡¡¡*¡¡*¡¡*¡¡It¡¡is¡¡a¡¡sad¡¡task¡¡to¡¡discuss¡¡questions¡¡so¡¡fearful¡¡as¡¡civil¡¡war£»¡¡but¡¡sad¡¡as¡¡it¡¡is£»¡¡bloody¡¡and¡¡disastrous¡¡as¡¡I¡¡expect¡¡it¡¡will¡¡be£»¡¡I¡¡express¡¡it¡¡as¡¡my¡¡conviction¡¡before¡¡God¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡the¡¡duty¡¡of¡¡every¡¡American¡¡citizen¡¡to¡¡rally¡¡around¡¡the¡¡flag¡¡of¡¡his¡¡country¡£¡¨

Not¡¡long¡¡after¡¡his¡¡return¡¡home¡¡he¡¡was¡¡stricken¡¡with¡¡serious¡¡sickness¡£¡¡The¡¡disease¡¡was¡¡not¡¡of¡¡such¡¡a¡¡character¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡expected¡¡to¡¡prove¡¡fatal£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡highest¡¡medical¡¡skill¡¡and¡¡most¡¡tender¡¡nursing¡¡were¡¡unavailing¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡truth¡¡was£»¡¡although¡¡unsuspected£»¡¡that¡¡his¡¡vital¡¡energies¡¡were¡¡completely¡¡exhausted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡enormous¡¡labors¡¡and¡¡deep¡¡agitations¡¡of¡¡the¡¡past¡¡ten¡¡years¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡just¡¡passed¡¡his¡¡48th¡¡birthday¡¡but¡¡was¡¡already¡¡gray¡¡and¡¡prematurely¡¡old¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡dwelt¡¡amid¡¡the¡¡tempest¡¡for¡¡twenty¡¡years¡¡and¡¡had¡¡felt¡¡more¡¡of¡¡severe¡¡strain¡¡than¡¡most¡¡men¡¡who¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡the¡¡Psalmist's¡¡three¡¡score¡¡years¡¡and¡¡ten¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡told¡¡that¡¡his¡¡end¡¡was¡¡near£»¡¡and¡¡asked¡¡what¡¡message¡¡he¡¡would¡¡send¡¡to¡¡his¡¡boys£º

¡¨Tell¡¡them£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨to¡¡obey¡¡the¡¡laws¡¡and¡¡support¡¡the¡¡Constitution¡¡of¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States¡£¡¨

On¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡of¡¡June¡¡3rd¡¡he¡¡died¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡remains¡¡lie¡¡buried¡¡in¡¡Chicago¡¡on¡¡the¡¡shore¡¡of¡¡Lake¡¡Michigan£»¡¡a¡¡spot¡¡fitly¡¡chosen¡¡as¡¡the¡¡last¡¡resting¡¡place¡¡of¡¡this¡¡most¡¡ceaselessly¡¡active¡¡and¡¡inexhaustibly¡¡resourceful¡¡of¡¡American¡¡statesmen¡£

History¡¡has¡¡not¡¡been¡¡kind¡¡to¡¡Douglas¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡farther¡¡we¡¡recede¡¡from¡¡events¡¡the¡¡more¡¡trivial¡¡seem¡¡the¡¡temporary¡¡circumstances¡¡which¡¡influence¡¡them¡¡and¡¡the¡¡clearer¡¡appear¡¡the¡¡changeless¡¡principles¡¡which¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡mold¡¡men's¡¡conduct¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡to¡¡the¡¡eager£»¡¡impetuous¡¡man¡¡of¡¡action£»¡¡the¡¡temporary¡¡circumstances¡¡are¡¡apt¡¡to¡¡be¡¡of¡¡overmastering¡¡force¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡a¡¡practical¡¡man¡¡of¡¡action£»¡¡whose¡¡course¡¡was¡¡generally¡¡guided¡¡by¡¡the¡¡accidental¡¡circumstances¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hour£»¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡by¡¡fixed¡¡principles¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡education¡¡was¡¡defective¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡great¡¡arena¡¡with¡¡little¡¡of¡¡either¡¡mental¡¡or¡¡moral¡¡culture¡£¡¡¡¡Yet£»¡¡severely¡¡as¡¡we¡¡now¡¡judge¡¡him£»¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡fall¡¡below¡¡the¡¡prevailing¡¡standard¡¡of¡¡political¡¡morals¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡real¡¡sin¡¡was¡¡that¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡rise¡¡above¡¡the¡¡ethics¡¡of¡¡the¡¡times£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡remained¡¡deaf¡¡as¡¡an¡¡adder¡¡to¡¡the¡¡voices¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡reformers¡¡who¡¡sought¡¡to¡¡regenerate¡¡the¡¡age£»¡¡and¡¡who¡¡were¡¡compelled¡¡to¡¡grapple¡¡with¡¡him¡¡in¡¡deadly¡¡struggle¡¡before¡¡they¡¡could¡¡gain¡¡footing¡¡on¡¡the¡¡stage¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡time¡¡was¡¡out¡¡of¡¡joint¡¡and¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡no¡¡vocation¡¡to¡¡set¡¡it¡¡right¡£¡¡¡¡While¡¡his¡¡ethics¡¡has¡¡fared¡¡hard£»¡¡his¡¡mental¡¡gifts¡¡have¡¡been¡¡over¡­estimated¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡availability¡¡of¡¡all¡¡his¡¡resources£»¡¡his¡¡overwhelming¡¡energy¡¡and¡¡marvelous¡¡efficiency¡¡among¡¡men¡¡of¡¡intellect£»¡¡gave¡¡rise¡¡to¡¡the¡¡impression¡¡which¡¡still¡¡survives¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of¡¡original¡¡genius¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡of¡¡all¡¡his¡¡numerous¡¡speeches£»¡¡heard¡¡or¡¡read¡¡by¡¡millions£»¡¡not¡¡a¡¡sentence¡¡had¡¡enough¡¡vitality¡¡to¡¡survive¡¡even¡¡one¡¡generation¡£¡¡¡¡Though¡¡for¡¡ten¡¡years¡¡of¡¡stormy¡¡agitation¡¡he¡¡was¡¡the¡¡most¡¡commanding¡¡figure¡¡in¡¡our¡¡public¡¡life¡¡and¡¡wielded¡¡power¡¡of¡¡which¡¡Presidents¡¡and¡¡Cabinets¡¡stood¡¡in¡¡awe£»¡¡the¡¡things¡¡for¡¡which¡¡he¡¡is¡¡chiefly¡¡remembered¡¡are¡¡his¡¡unfortunate¡¡doctrine¡¡of¡¡popular¡¡sovereignty¡¡and¡¡the¡¡resistless¡¡power¡¡with¡¡which¡¡he¡¡defended¡¡his¡¡most¡¡dubious¡¡relation¡¡to¡¡the¡¡question¡¡of¡¡slavery¡£

His¡¡powerful¡¡influence¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡overshadowing¡¡question¡¡of¡¡the¡¡times£»¡¡his¡¡restless¡¡activity¡¡in¡¡shaping¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡great¡¡political¡¡events£»¡¡fast¡¡drifting¡¡into¡¡darkest¡¡tragedy£»¡¡have¡¡obscured¡¡his¡¡work¡¡in¡¡less¡¡conspicuous¡¡fields¡£¡¡¡¡While¡¡it¡¡does¡¡not¡¡come¡¡within¡¡the¡¡scope¡¡of¡¡this¡¡work¡¡to¡¡do¡¡more¡¡than¡¡portray¡¡his¡¡relation¡¡to¡¡the¡¡great¡¡national¡¡tragedy¡¡which¡¡was¡¡slowly¡¡evolving¡¡during¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡period¡¡of¡¡his¡¡political¡¡life£»¡¡it¡¡should¡¡not¡¡be¡¡forgotten¡¡that¡¡his¡¡activity¡¡covered¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡field¡¡of¡¡legislation¡¡and¡¡that¡¡no¡¡man¡¡responded¡¡more¡¡generously¡¡or¡¡efficiently¡¡to¡¡the¡¡countless¡¡demands¡¡upon¡¡time¡¡and¡¡energy¡¡which¡¡so¡¡greatly¡¡burden¡¡the¡¡American¡¡statesman¡£

It¡¡is¡¡pleasant¡¡to¡¡find¡¡a¡¡Lieutenant¡¡General¡¡of¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States¡¡army¡¡in¡¡his¡¡old¡¡age¡¡and¡¡retirement¡¡recalling¡¡a¡¡visit¡¡in¡¡his¡¡boyhood¡¡to¡¡Washington£»¡¡to¡¡seek¡¡redress¡¡of¡¡some¡¡West¡¡Point¡¡grievance£»¡¡and¡¡how¡¡the¡¡only¡¡man¡¡he¡¡could¡¡find¡¡who¡¡had¡¡the¡¡leisure¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡effectively¡¡interview¡¡the¡¡Secretary¡¡of¡¡War¡¡on¡¡his¡¡behalf¡¡was¡¡Douglas¡£

It¡¡is¡¡sufficient¡¡for¡¡our¡¡purposes¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡for¡¡thirteen¡¡years¡¡he¡¡had¡¡practical¡¡control¡¡of¡¡all¡¡legislation¡¡affecting¡¡the¡¡Western¡¡Territories£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡drafted¡¡the¡¡bills¡¡establishing¡¡territorial¡¡governments¡¡for¡¡Minnesota£»¡¡Kansas£»¡¡Nebraska£»¡¡Utah£»¡¡New¡¡Mexico¡¡and¡¡Washington¡¡and¡¡prepared¡¡the¡¡acts¡¡for¡¡the¡¡admission¡¡of¡¡Wisconsin£»¡¡California£»¡¡Minnesota¡¡and¡¡Oregon¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡secured¡¡for¡¡his¡¡State¡¡an¡¡enormous¡¡grant¡¡of¡¡public¡¡land£»¡¡which¡¡resulted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡building¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Illinois¡¡Central¡¡Railroad¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡warmly¡¡advocated¡¡the¡¡building¡¡of¡¡a¡¡railway¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Pacific¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡consistently¡¡favored¡¡the¡¡most¡¡liberal¡¡appropriations¡¡for¡¡internal¡¡improvements£»¡¡and£»¡¡with¡¡that¡¡provincial¡¡patriotism¡¡and¡¡jealousy¡¡of¡¡Old¡¡World¡¡interference¡¡which¡¡was¡¡fashionable¡¡fifty¡¡years¡¡ago£»¡¡vigorously¡¡opposed¡¡the¡¡Clayton¡­Bulwer¡¡treaty¡¡as¡¡a¡¡practical¡¡annulment¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Monroe¡¡doctrine¡£

It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡set¡¡down¡¡in¡¡his¡¡list¡¡of¡¡sins¡¡that¡¡he¡¡failed¡¡to¡¡bridge¡¡over¡¡the¡¡widening¡¡chasm¡¡between¡¡the¡¡North¡¡and¡¡the¡¡South£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡charged¡¡to¡¡him¡¡as¡¡a¡¡mental¡¡defect¡¡that¡¡he¡¡hopelessly¡¡failed¡¡to¡¡comprehend¡¡the¡¡significance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡movements¡¡which¡¡he¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡lead£»¡¡that¡¡in¡¡the¡¡keenness¡¡of¡¡his¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡the¡¡evolutions¡¡of¡¡political¡¡strategy¡¡he¡¡failed¡¡to¡¡discern¡¡the¡¡symptoms¡¡of¡¡coming¡¡revolution¡£

When¡¡the¡¡storm¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡brewing¡¡before¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡for¡¡ten¡¡years¡¡broke¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡country¡¡it¡¡took¡¡him¡¡by¡¡surprise¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡ardor¡¡of¡¡his¡¡temperament£»¡¡the¡¡eagerness¡¡of¡¡his¡¡ambition£»¡¡make¡¡his¡¡conduct¡¡at¡¡times¡¡painfully¡¡resemble¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡selfish¡¡demagogue¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡range¡¡of¡¡his¡¡vision¡¡was¡¡small¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡erred¡¡less¡¡from¡¡corruption¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡than¡¡from¡¡deficiency¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mind¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡what¡¡statesman¡¡of¡¡note¡¡during¡¡those¡¡strange¡¡and¡¡portentous¡¡years¡¡preceding¡¡the¡¡war¡¡could¡¡safely¡¡expose¡¡his¡¡speech¡¡and¡¡conduct¡¡to¡¡the¡¡searchlight¡¡of¡¡criticism£¿¡¡¡¡The¡¡wisest¡¡walked¡¡in¡¡darkness¡¡and¡¡stumbled¡¡often¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡the

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨1£© ²È£¨2£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ