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They are estopped from denying it； and being estopped from denying
it； the conclusion follows that； the Constitution of the United
States being the supreme law； no constitution or law can interfere
with it。 It being affirmed in the decision that the right of
property in a slave is distinctly and expressly affirmed in the
Constitution； the conclusion inevitably follows that no State law or
constitution can destroy that right。 I then say to Judge Douglas and
to all others that I think it will take a better answer than a sneer
to show that those who have said that the right of property in a
slave is distinctly and expressly affirmed in the Constitution； are
not prepared to show that no constitution or law can destroy that
right。 I say I believe it will take a far better argument than a
mere sneer to show to the minds of intelligent men that whoever has
so said is not prepared； whenever public sentiment is so far advanced
as to justify it； to say the other。 This is but an opinion； and the
opinion of one very humble man； but it is my opinion that the Dred
Scott decision； as it is； never would have been made in its present
form if the party that made it had not been sustained previously by
the elections。 My own opinion is； that the new Dred Scott decision；
deciding against the right of the people of the States to exclude
slavery； will never be made if that party is not sustained by the
elections。 I believe； further； that it is just as sure to be made as
to…morrow is to come； if that party shall be sustained。 I have said；
upon a former occasion； and I repeat it now； that the course of
arguement that Judge Douglas makes use of upon this subject （I charge
not his motives in this）； is preparing the public mind for that new
Dred Scott decision。 I have asked him again to point out to me the
reasons for his first adherence to the Dred Scott decision as it is。
I have turned his attention to the fact that General Jackson differed
with him in regard to the political obligation of a Supreme Court
decision。 I have asked his attention to the fact that Jefferson
differed with him in regard to the political obligation of a Supreme
Court decision。 Jefferson said that 〃Judges are as honest as other
men； and not more so。〃 And he said； substantially； that whenever a
free people should give up in absolute submission to any department
of government； retaining for themselves no appeal from it； their
liberties were gone。 I have asked his attention to the fact that the
Cincinnati platform； upon which he says he stands； disregards a
time…honored decision of the Supreme Court； in denying the power of
Congress to establish a National Bank。 I have asked his attention to
the fact that he himself was one of the most active instruments at
one time in breaking down the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois
because it had made a decision distasteful to him；a struggle ending
in the remarkable circumstance of his sitting down as one of the new
Judges who were to overslaugh that decision； getting his title of
Judge in that very way。
So far in this controversy I can get no answer at all from Judge
Douglas upon these subjects。 Not one can I get from him； except that
he swells himself up and says； 〃All of us who stand by the decision
of the Supreme Court are the friends of the Constitution； all you
fellows that dare question it in any way are the enemies of the
Constitution。〃 Now； in this very devoted adherence to this decision；
in opposition to all the great political leaders whom he has
recognized as leaders； in opposition to his former self and history；
there is something very marked。 And the manner in which he adheres
to it；not as being right upon the merits； as he conceives （because
he did not discuss that at all）； but as being absolutely obligatory
upon every one simply because of the source from whence it comes； as
that which no man can gainsay； whatever it may be；this is another
marked feature of his adherence to that decision。 It marks it in
this respect； that it commits him to the next decision； whenever it
comes； as being as obligatory as this one； since he does not
investigate it； and won't inquire whether this opinion is right or
wrong。 So he takes the next one without inquiring whether it is
right or wrong。 He teaches men this doctrine； and in so doing
prepares the public mind to take the next decision when it comes；
without any inquiry。 In this I think I argue fairly （without
questioning motives at all） that Judge Douglas is most ingeniously
and powerfully preparing the public mind to take that decision when
it comes； and not only so； but he is doing it in various other ways。
In these general maxims about liberty； in his assertions that he
〃don't care whether slavery is voted up or voted down；〃； that
〃whoever wants slavery has a right to have it〃； that 〃upon principles
of equality it should be allowed to go everywhere〃； that 〃there is no
inconsistency between free and slave institutions 〃… in this he is
also preparing （whether purposely or not） the way for making the
institution of slavery national！ I repeat again； for I wish no
misunderstanding； that I do not charge that he means it so； but I
call upon your minds to inquire； if you were going to get the best
instrument you could； and then set it to work in the most ingenious
way； to prepare the public mind for this movement； operating in the
free States； where there is now an abhorrence of the institution of
slavery； could you find an instrument so capable of doing it as Judge
Douglas； or one employed in so apt a way to do it？
I have said once before； and I will repeat it now； that Mr。 Clay；
when he was once answering an objection to the Colonization Society；
that it had a tendency to the ultimate emancipation of the slaves；
said that：
〃those who would repress all tendencies to liberty and ultimate
emancipation must do more than put down the benevolent efforts of the
Colonization Society： they must go back to the era of our liberty and
independence； and muzzle the cannon that thunders its annual joyous
return； they must blow out the moral lights around us； they must
penetrate the human soul； and eradicate the light of reason and the
love of liberty！〃
And I do thinkI repeat； though I said it on a former occasionthat
Judge Douglas and whoever； like him； teaches that the negro has no
share； humble though it may be； in the Declaration of Independence；
is going back to the era of our liberty and independence； and； so far
as in him lies； muzzling the cannon that thunders its annual joyous
return； that he is blowing out the moral lights around us； when he
contends that whoever wants slaves has a right to hold them； that he
is penetrating； so far as lies in his power； the human soul； and
eradicating the light of reason and the love of liberty； when he is
in every possible way preparing the public mind； by his vast
influence； for making the institution of slavery perpetual and
national。
There is； my friends； only one other point to which I will call your
attention for the remaining time that I have left me； and perhaps I
shall not occupy the entire time that I have； as that one point may
not take me clear through it。
Among the interrogatories that Judge Douglas propounded to me at
Freeport； there was one in about this language：
〃Are you opposed to the acquisition of any further territory to the
United States； unless slavery shall first be prohibited therein？〃
I answered； as I thought； in this way： that I am not generally
opposed to the acquisition of additional territory； and that I would
support a proposition for the acquisition of additional territory
according as my supporting it was or was not calculated to aggravate
this slavery question amongst us。 I then proposed to Judge Douglas
another interrogatory； which was correlative to that： 〃Are you in
favor of acquiring additional territory； in disregard of ho