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that it should not be abolished before that time； for reasons which I
suppose they thought to be sound ones； but which I will not now try
to enumerate before you。
But while； they expected the slave trade would be abolished at that
time； they expected that the spread of slavery into the new
Territories should also be restricted。 It is as easy to prove that
the framers of the Constitution of the United States expected that
slavery should be prohibited from extending into the new Territories；
as it is to prove that it was expected that the slave trade should be
abolished。 Both these things were expected。 One was no more
expected than the other； and one was no more a compromise of the
Constitution than the other。 There was nothing said in the
Constitution in regard to the spread of slavery into the Territory。
I grant that； but there was something very important said about it by
the same generation of men in the adoption of the old Ordinance of
'87； through the influence of which you here in Ohio； our neighbors
in Indiana； we in Illinois； our neighbors in Michigan and Wisconsin；
are happy； prosperous； teeming millions of free men。 That generation
of men； though not to the full extent members of the convention that
framed the Constitution； were to some extent members of that
convention； holding seats at the same time in one body and the other；
so that if there was any compromise on either of these subjects； the
strong evidence is that that compromise was in favor of the
restriction of slavery from the new Territories。
But Douglas says that he is unalterably opposed to the repeal of
those laws because； in his view； it is a compromise of the
Constitution。 You Kentuckians； no doubt； are somewhat offended with
that。 You ought not to be！ You ought to be patient！ You ought to
know that if he said less than that； he would lose the power of
〃lugging〃 the Northern States to your support。 Really； what you
would push him to do would take from him his entire power to serve
you。 And you ought to remember how long； by precedent； Judge Douglas
holds himself obliged to stick by compromises。 You ought to remember
that by the time you yourselves think you are ready to inaugurate
measures for the revival of the African slave trade； that sufficient
time will have arrived； by precedent； for Judge Douglas to break
through； that compromise。 He says now nothing more strong than he
said in 1849 when he declared in favor of Missouri Compromise；and
precisely four years and a quarter after he declared that Compromise
to be a sacred thing； which 〃no ruthless hand would ever daze to
touch；〃 he himself brought forward the measure ruthlessly to destroy
it。 By a mere calculation of time it will only be four years more
until he is ready to take back his profession about the sacredness of
the Compromise abolishing the slave trade。 Precisely as soon as you
are ready to have his services in that direction； by fair
calculation； you may be sure of having them。
But you remember and set down to Judge Douglas's debt； or discredit；
that he； last year； said the people of Territories can； in spite of
the Dred Scott decision； exclude your slaves from those Territories；
that he declared； by 〃unfriendly legislation〃 the extension of your
property into the new Territories may be cut off； in the teeth of the
decision of the Supreme Court of the United States。
He assumed that position at Freeport on the 27th of August； 1858。 He
said that the people of the Territories can exclude slavery； in so
many words： You ought； however； to bear in mind that he has never
said it since。 You may hunt in every speech that he has since made；
and he has never used that expression once。 He has never seemed to
notice that he is stating his views differently from what he did
then； but by some sort of accident； he has always really stated it
differently。 He has always since then declared that 〃the
Constitution does not carry slavery into the Territories of the
United States beyond the power of the people legally to control it；
as other property。〃 Now； there is a difference in the language used
upon that former occasion and in this latter day。 There may or may
not be a difference in the meaning； but it is worth while considering
whether there is not also a difference in meaning。
What is it to exclude？ Why； it is to drive it out。 It is in some
way to put it out of the Territory。 It is to force it across the
line； or change its character so that； as property； it is out of
existence。 But what is the controlling of it 〃as other property〃？
Is controlling it as other property the same thing as destroying it；
or driving it away？ I should think not。 I should think the
controlling of it as other property would be just about what you in
Kentucky should want。 I understand the controlling of property means
the controlling of it for the benefit of the owner of it。 While I
have no doubt the Supreme Court of the United States would say 〃God
speed〃 to any of the Territorial Legislatures that should thus
control slave property； they would sing quite a different tune if； by
the pretence of controlling it； they were to undertake to pass laws
which virtually excluded it；and that upon a very well known
principle to all lawyers； that what a Legislature cannot directly do；
it cannot do by indirection； that as the Legislature has not the
power to drive slaves out； they have no power； by indirection； by
tax； or by imposing burdens in any way on that property； to effect
the same end； and that any attempt to do so would be held by the Dred
Scott court unconstitutional。
Douglas is not willing to stand by his first proposition that they
can exclude it； because we have seen that that proposition amounts to
nothing more nor less than the naked absurdity that you may lawfully
drive out that which has a lawful right to remain。 He admitted at
first that the slave might be lawfully taken into the Territories
under the Constitution of the United States； and yet asserted that he
might be lawfully driven out。 That being the proposition； it is the
absurdity I have stated。 He is not willing to stand in the face of
that direct； naked； and impudent absurdity； he has； therefore；
modified his language into that of being 〃controlled as other
property。〃
The Kentuckians don't like this in Douglas！ I will tell you where it
will go。 He now swears by the court。 He was once a leading man in
Illinois to break down a court； because it had made a decision he did
not like。 But he now not only swears by the court； the courts having
got to working for you； but he denounces all men that do not swear by
the courts； as unpatriotic； as bad citizens。 When one of these acts
of unfriendly legislation shall impose such heavy burdens as to； in
effect； destroy property in slaves in a Territory； and show plainly
enough that there can be no mistake in the purpose of the Legislature
to make them so burde