Douglas addressed the Senate for some two and a half hours. Douglas began by berating his Illinois colleague. Lyman Trumbull. for having deserted the Democratic Party and allied himself with "Black Republicanism." He defended his report. and his theory of popular sovereignty. and taunted his opponents by noting that the freeState settlers in Kansas wanted to ban the immigration not only of slaves but of free blacks Into their territory. at the same time they claimed to be "especial friends of the negro." Popular sovereignty would work. he insisted. but it was being subverted by "two rival and hostile systems of emigration" being organized by extremists in the North and South to capture Kansas. Douglas remarks. Professor Johannsen concluded. "aroused admiration and praise. if not always agreement." But for all Douglas efforts. he could not bring the Kansas statehood bill to a quick vote. and the debate went on for months.18 The year 1856 was a presidential election year and Douglas was a leading candidate for the Democratic nomination.
Keywords matched
immigration emigration