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itory for the extension of slavery； but that the nature of the country had defeated； in large part； the hopes of the South。 He declared that the whole question of slavery was settled by a higher law than that of Congress and that there was not then a foot of territory whose status was not already fixed by the laws of the several States or the decree of the Almighty； that； by the irrepealable laws of physical geography； slavery was already excluded from California and New Mexico。 He 〃would not take pains uselessly to reaffirm an ordinance of Nature； nor to reenact the will of God。〃 He denounced the Abolitionists and urged upon the Northern States the duty of faithfully and energetically enforcing the abhorred Fugitive Slave Law。
Seward； speaking a few days later； insisted that it was their clear duty to admit California under any Constitution adopted by it； republican in form； and assured then that had its Constitution permitted slavery he would still have deemed it his duty to vote for its admission。 He protested against the Fugitive Slave Law as necessarily nugatory and utterly impossible of execution because unanimously condemned by the public sentiment of the North。 In answer to the crushing argument that the Constitution carried slavery into the Territories and that cheerful obedience must be yielded to the supreme law； he announced the startling doctrine that there was a HIGHER LAW than the Constitution； to which their first duty was due； that slavery was a violation of this HIGHER LAW and hence the Constitution itself was powerless to establish it in the Territories。
On the 13th and 14th Douglas spoke。 The speech was able and adroit。 It was marred by the introduction of party…politics into a discussion of such gravity。 He was always prone to lapse from statesmanlike dignity to the level of the politician and viewed most matters primarily in their relation to he transient questions of party politics。 He undertook the ambitious task of replying to the speeches of Webster； Seward； and Calhoun。 He repelled the charge made by Webster that the Northern Democracy had surrendered to the slave power in supporting the annexation of Texas and the Mexican War； declaring that they had supported those measures from patriotic motives； and that he was 〃one of those Northern Democrats who supported annexation with all the zeal of his nature。〃 〃With a touch of the Northwestthe Northwestern Democracy；〃 sneered Webster； who contemptuously looked upon him as a crude blustering youth from the far West。 But Webster； whose contempt for his coarse taste was justified； had misjudged his resources and power。
〃Yes； sir；〃 replied Douglas； 〃I am glad to hear the Senator say 'With a touch of the Northwest'； I thank him for the distinction。 We have heard so much talk about the North and South； as if those two sections were the only ones necessary to be taken into consideration * * * that I am gratified to find that there are those who appreciate the important truth that there is a power in this Nation； greater than either the North or the Southa growing； increasing； swelling power； that will be able to speak the law to this Nation and to execute the law as spoken。 That power is the country known as the great West； the Valley of the Mississippi； one and indivisible from the Gulf to the Great Lakes； stretching on the ones side and the other to the extreme sources of the Ohio and the Missourifrom the Alleghenies to the Rocky Mountains。
〃There； sir； is the hope of this Nation； the resting…place of the power that is not only to control but to save the Union。 We furnish the water that makes the Mississippi and we intend to follow； navigate and use it until it loses itself in the briny ocean。 So with the St。 Lawrence。 We intend to keep open and enjoy both of these great outlets to the ocean； and all between them we intend to take under our especial protection and keep and preserve as one free； happy； and united people。 This is the mission of the great Mississippi Valley； the heart and soul of the Nation and the continent。 We know the responsibilities that devolve upon us； and our people will show themselves equal to them。 We indulge in no ultraism； no sectional strifes； no crusades against the North and the South。 * * * We are prepared to fulfill all our obligations under the Constitution as it is； and determined to maintain and preserve it inviolate in its letter and spirit。 Such is the position； the destiny and purpose of the great Northwest。〃
He told Webster that； according to the doctrine of his 7th of March speech； to permit Texas to be divided into several States would be harmless； because slavery was excluded from a large part of it by the ordinance of Nature； the will of God。 He taunted him for not having discovered his now celebrated principle of the ordinance of Nature and will of God until after Taylor's election； and reminded him that prior to the election Cass and Buchanan； the recognized heads of the Democratic party； had advocated leaving the question to the decision of the settlers in the Territories or； in other words； leaving the ordinance of Nature and will of God to manifest themselves。 But Webster had then opposed Cass' election and denounced his doctrines and proposed policies。 The Whigs； having run counter to the overwhelming popular sentiment in their unpatriotic opposition to the Mexican War； found themselves ruined。 They chose a distinguished soldier of that war President； and hoped to rally by adopting this Democratic doctrine。
He accused Seward of carrying New York for the Whigs in the late election by assuring them that Taylor； though a slave…holder； would approve the legislative monstrosity known as the Wilmot proviso； excluding slavery forever from the new Territories。 But Taylor had ignored Seward's promise。 New York's vote had elected Taylor and a few weeks later Seward was chosen Senator。 Taylor was made President and Seward Senator by the latter's successful fraud。
Calhoun's charge of Northern aggression and encroachment he met with a sweeping denial。 Neither the North nor the South as such had any right in the Territories； but all the people of the States had equal rights there。 The Ordinance of 1787； denounced by Calhoun as a Northern aggression on Southern rights； was voted for by every Southern State。 That Ordinance did not； in fact； exclude the South； or even slavery； from the Northwest Territory。 A majority of the settlers in Ohio； Indiana and Illinois were from the South。 Slavery had actually existed in Indiana and Illinois and had but recently disappeared。 The Missouri Compromise was not an act of Northern aggression； but was passed by a united South which had made repeated efforts to extend it to the Pacific。 The exclusion of slavery from Oregon was not an act of Northern aggression； but the work of the settlers during the period of joint occupancy under the treaty with Great Britain； and should be accepted by the anti…slavery agitators as proof of the wisdom of popular sovereignty。 the objection that the people of the South were forbidden to emigrate with their property to the new Territories was simply a complaint that they could not carry the laws of their States with them； but must be governed by the laws of their new domicile。 Calhoun's project of maintaining an equilibrium between free and slave States or of compelling States to accept or retain slavery against their will was impossible。
At the organization of the Government twelve of the thirteen States had slavery。 but six of them voluntarily abolished it。 Delaware； Maryland； Missouri； Kentucky； North Carolina； and Tennessee would yet adopt the system of gradual emancipation。 Seventeen free States would soon be formed out of the territory between the Mississippi and the Pacific。 Where would they find slave territory with which to balance these States？ If Texas were divided into five States； three of them would be free。 If Mexico were annexed； twenty of her twenty…two States would be free by the ordinance of Nature or the will of God。 He urged the duty of promptly providing governments for the unorganized domain and closed with a graceful tribute to Clay and the prediction that the Territories would