The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-03-18
senator Dousias' Ciosiug Speech.

The closing speech upon the N,braska Bill IN
the U. : senate was one Of the most cxeitirg
ever had in thai body. The Washington Union
thus speaks Of The closing speech Of the Illinois
dis.r Su,h senator.
Senator Douglas followed in the greatest
sperci If bis liie. lie spoke ior more than
tLrss hour in reply to Ihs adversari,s Of his
hill. No one slept while he spoke. lie touk
his opponents up one 10y one, answering every
Injection with "A skill anl an elect before which
they could make no head. Even I SO who had
observed aud appreciated the intellect Of the
senator form Illinois on other occasions, were
surprised at his exhibition Of logic and gcnious,
on Saturday morning. We have Saiuly eideav
Ored to recall the numerous striking points Ofa
speech so useful in in lis facts aud in It's figures
and so inspiring in it vigorous aud surprising
eloqueuce One Of his re Oris rpon the aboll.
tiuu;sts will long be remembered. Abiding to
their poor special plea, hat the Missouri com
promise was n compact, he said it was nc cora
pact. He defended the North against the al.
legation which, If true, would deeply d-honor
her. Hit were compact, she bad violated l.;
nulllhed it; ;rampled j, in The dust, and to say
that WAS to insult and degrade her especially
If she could now be seduced into demanding
Others TO respect what she bad never regarded
her self Turning To Mr. Seward, ho said,
What did Now York, III treating Of the So
called, and falsley SO called compact, which now
by her whlg Legislature, "a o.hor result Of
democratic dIvIsor-.) she appeals to US to guard
and to save. For years. yes, for more than thirty
years-she has sent men here to disregard il;
It was no compact. for when the Missouri com.
promise Of 1920 became law, it provided that
when Missouri was admitted into tue onion,
she should be admitted as slave state; and
eleven months after that, chiefly because she had
slavery in her constitution, New. York refused 10
vote for her admission, and so disregardtd the
sw or bargain, or what was then sort Of com
pact" Mr.. Seward attempted to answer this
powerful point but he took his seat abashed and
confused Turning next TO the trio Of abolition
senators lie spoke to them, and Of their unboly
plots, and theirappeals 10 violence, and the dem
onstrations against himself with defiant and
scorCbing eloquence that cannot be Icpeated-
They gUailed before bis wilhering iebukes. T.
Senator Sumner lie said, slluding to the infa
nous attempt recently made TO insult him in tha,
city, THAT Boston which clpsed Fareoil Hal!
10 the immortal Webster for daring to defy her
prrjudices against the south, aud turned him
him into the streets to yndicate himself and
c onyinCe heIhad slso outraged him, not through
her masses, but through m3chinations Of men
sent here by corrupt and dishonorab!e COM
binations; men who effect the airs aud graces OF
gentlemen who aspire 10 lltetary distinction
while they coolly plot their coun.ry's ruin. !
am honOred by the persecution and violence of
such men. His aiusion to another abolition
leader, almos, led US to anticipates asenatorial
| suicide! lie was abua.y justified in his casti-
cation, for never before has man been so hun
. tod aud bpppIpI gnrua nnuuins k,t f,lv
his character as a senator, but his reputation rs
man, has been vlley traduced, and 80 f-r
has this tiendish war been conducted that his en-
cmies have not scruplcd the foulest alluaion tc
his recent domestic fflliction. His pungeht re
/ tort upon senator Wade, las not often beer
equalled, That senator" said he, signed al
address filed with the f1ulest assertions, anC
| yet be conf.s--s he nsvsr read i.i" But l bav.
since read it, replied the Ohio senator ans
/ found it true' /" And now responded senatoi
douglas. did you not say that free negro wa.
as good as n white manl' Yes, especially il
Ohio" said Wa'e. well" said Douglas. If ;hre,
/ free negroes had signed that infamous document
which preceded this discussion, should hav,
lad more respect than have shown for it, en-
dorsed as it has been"
/ But it is vain TO attempt description OF thi
really great effort of the Illinois senator: tn,
readiness Of his replies, the correctness Of b
authorities, the extent Of his information, thI
/ olearness Of his views, and tha new points pre-
sented, have elevated among the finest of loren
sic trumrhs. II NAV well be ranked with tho
/ proud memorable achievements of intellects
which have given TO the American senate tn,
| Just renown of being the ablest deliberatve bod,
in the world. /" Sir said he to the presiden
Of the senate, "the MOTH and the south have in
dissoiublc inttests. There are tariff men nortl
and south; there are distribution men north anc
and south; there are free trade men north ant
south. Slavery is the only line that devides us
Let us be just and generous. Thus far. the peo
pie have treated it with eminent wisdom an,
sagactv. Congress has never acted upon it sav,
to devide the people-the people are Away
sure 10 unite and protect themselves. Let u
leave il to them 1'hey sre proper Judges am
.he only Jurors The bill under discussion for
ever removes it from congress, bv reassertin!
hat principle for the future which has been the
only source OF our happiness and glory in tb
past" But We must bring this long article to
close.