ued only the other day in the Senate of the United States.
Mr. Douglas quoted from one of the speeches of Mr. Lincoln that
passage so familiar to us all, that, in his opinion, that states
would at some day be all slave or all free. Sir, in this time when
the people of the southern states are in a storm of excitement,
that speech of the Senator from Illinois is sent over those states
as tending to show that Mr. Lincoln would in some way interfere
with slavery in the states. Mr. Lincoln answered this inference
with a solemn disclaimer over and over again on the same 'stump'
with that Senator. I ask whether it was just to quote the opinion
without giving the disclaimer? It certainly was not. We might
answer all you say by declaring that the Republican party does not
propose to interfere with your constitutional rights. I have no
doubt that the administration of Mr. Lincoln will carry out the
doctrines of the Chicago platform; but not the platform as you
pervert it. Sir, it will convince the southern people that all
the things said about us are unfounded. What, then, will be the
fate of hundreds of politicians in the southern states who have
stirred their people up to the present intense excitement?

"Yet the baptism of misrepresentation, through which this Republican
party has thus far advanced, does not excuse us from doing all in
our power to produce conciliation, harmony, peace, quiet, a fair
and honest adjustment of all the difficulties that surround us. . . .

"Now, Mr. chairman, I have gone over the whole field. I have given
my views, speaking for no other man, frankly and fearlessly, and
I will stand by them now and in the future. I have given you my
opinion upon all these points. I tell you that this whole controversy
was fought and won by us two years ago, and all you have to do now
is to admit Kansas. That is the only act of power now needed.
There let it stand. Let us live together like a band of brothers.
If we cannot agree with you about slavery, why, you do not agree
with us. I know there has been a great deal of intemperance of
language on this subject; but I ask, if it has been used upon our
side, has it not been used upon yours? If there has been harsh
and violent words used, I have not uttered them that I know of.
If I have, I beg every man's pardon; because I think that violent
language, calculated to stir up excitement and agitation, ought
not be used in a deliberative assembly. I ask