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thereafter； that it is one of those little things that is so trivial
in its nature that it has nor effect upon anybody save the few men
who first plant upon the soil； that it is not a thing which in any
way affects the family of communities composing these States； nor any
way endangers the General Government。 Judge Douglas ignores
altogether the very well known fact that we have never had a serious
menace to our political existence； except it sprang from this thing；
which he chooses to regard as only upon a par with onions and
potatoes。
Turn it； and contemplate it in another view。 He says that； according
to his popular sovereignty； the General Government may give to the
Territories governors； judges； marshals； secretaries； and all the
other chief men to govern them； but they； must not touch upon this
other question。 Why？ The question of who shall be governor of a
Territory for a year or two； and pass away； without his track being
left upon the soil； or an act which he did for good or for evil being
left behind； is a question of vast national magnitude； it is so much
opposed in its nature to locality that the nation itself must decide
it： while this other matter of planting slavery upon a soil；a thing
which； once planted； cannot be eradicated by the succeeding millions
who have as much right there as the first comers； or； if eradicated；
not without infinite difficulty and a long struggle； he considers the
power to prohibit it as one of these little local； trivial things
that the nation ought not to say a word about； that it affects nobody
save the few men who are there。
Take these two things and consider them together； present the
question of planting a State with the institution of slavery by the
side of a question who shall be Governor of Kansas for a year or two；
and is there a man here； is there a man on earth； who would not say
the governor question is the little one； and the slavery question is
the great one？ I ask any honest Democrat if the small； the local；
and the trivial and temporary question is not； Who shall be governor？
while the durable； the important； and the mischievous one is； Shall
this soil be planted with slavery？
This is an idea； I suppose； which has arisen in Judge Douglas's mind
from his peculiar structure。 I suppose the institution of slavery
really looks small to him。 He is so put up by nature that a lash
upon his back would hurt him； but a lash upon anybody else's back
does not hurt him。 That is the build of the man； and consequently he
looks upon the matter of slavery in this unimportant light。
Judge Douglas ought to remember； when he is endeavoring to force this
policy upon the American people； that while he is put up in that way；
a good many are not。 He ought to remember that there was once in
this country a man by the name of Thomas Jefferson； supposed to be a
Democrat；a man whose principles and policy are not very prevalent
amongst Democrats to…day； it is true； but that man did not take
exactly this view of the insignificance of the element of slavery
which our friend judge Douglas does。 In contemplation of this thing；
we all know he was led to exclaim； 〃I tremble for my country when I
remember that God is just！〃 We know how he looked upon it when he
thus expressed himself。 There was danger to this country；danger of
the avenging justice of God； in that little unimportant popular
sovereignty question of judge Douglas。 He supposed there was a
question of God's eternal justice wrapped up in the enslaving of any
race of men； or any man； and that those who did so braved the arm of
Jehovah； that when a nation thus dared the Almighty； every friend of
that nation had cause to dread his wrath。 Choose ye between
Jefferson and Douglas as to what is the true view of this element
among us。
There is another little difficulty about this matter of treating the
Territories and States alike in all things； to which I ask your
attention； and I shall leave this branch of the case。 If there is no
difference between them； why not make the Territories States at once？
What is the reason that Kansas was not fit to come into the Union
when it was organized into a Territory； in Judge Douglas's view？ Can
any of you tell any reason why it should not have come into the Union
at once？ They are fit； as he thinks； to decide upon the slavery
question；the largest and most important with which they could
possibly deal： what could they do by coming into the Union that they
are not fit to do； according to his view； by staying out of it？ Oh；
they are not fit to sit in Congress and decide upon the rates of
postage； or questions of ad valorem or specific duties on foreign
goods； or live…oak timber contracts； they are not fit to decide these
vastly important matters； which are national in their import； but
they are fit； 〃from the jump；〃 to decide this little negro question。
But； gentlemen； the case is too plain； I occupy too much time on this
head； and I pass on。
Near the close of the copyright essay； the judge； I think； comes very
near kicking his own fat into the fire。 I did not think； when I
commenced these remarks； that I would read that article； but I now
believe I will：
〃This exposition of the history of these measures shows conclusively
that the authors of the Compromise measures of 1850 and of the
Kansas…Nebraska Act of 1854； as well as the members of the
Continental Congress of 1774。； and the founders of our system of
government subsequent to the Revolution； regarded the people of the
Territories and Colonies as political communities which were entitled
to a free and exclusive power of legislation in their provisional
legislatures； where their representation could alone be preserved； in
all cases of taxation and internal polity。〃
When the judge saw that putting in the word 〃slavery〃 would
contradict his own history； he put in what he knew would pass
synonymous with it；〃internal polity。〃 Whenever we find that in one
of his speeches； the substitute is used in this manner； and I can
tell you the reason。 It would be too bald a contradiction to say
slavery； but 〃internal polity〃 is a general phrase； which would pass
in some quarters； and which he hopes will pass with the reading
community for the same thing。
〃This right pertains to the people collectively； as a law…abiding and
peaceful community； and not in the isolated individuals who may
wander upon the public domain in violation of the law。 It can only be
exercised where there are inhabitants sufficient to constitute a
government； and capable of performing its various functions and
duties；a fact to be ascertained and determined by 〃who do you
think？ Judge Douglas says 〃by Congress！〃 〃Whether the number shall
be fixed at ten； fifteen or twenty thousand inhabitants； does not
affect the principle。〃
Now； I have only a few comments to make。 Popular sovereignty； by his
own words； does not pertain to the few pers