The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-05
SERENADE TO SENATOR DOUGLAS.
HIS Speech to the People on the Nebraska
Bill, &c, Sc.

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HIS Speech to the People the Nebraska
Bill, &c, Sc.
The Young Mems Democratic Union Club sere
nsded Senator Douglas, on Saturday evening, at
the st. Nicholas Hotel, where he is now stopping.
At an early hour in the evening the report of the
intended serenade was rnmored about the city, and
at II o'clock 9 large company Of citizens were ga
thered In front Of the hotel waiting to see the sena-
tor. little after midnight, Dodworths brass band.
numbering thirty pieces, arrived upon the ground
under the escort Of the Union Club, and opened
with "Hsil Columbia" played in admirable style.
Following this was played the Overture to Stra-
dels," and the Camp Quickstep," and at the close
Of each performance, the cheering and calls for
Douglas" douglas" were vociferous When the
third piece was finished, John Cochrane, President
Of the Union Club, conducted Mr.. Douglas to the
balcony Of the hotel and introduced him to the COM
pany below, now numbering about two thousand.
He was received with nine hearty cheers for which
he gracefully bowed his Acknowledgements. When
silence had been gained Mr.. CocHRANE addressed the
Senator as follows:-
Senator Douglas-The Democratic Young Mems
Union Club are proud on this occasion to tender to
you through me, the expression Of their high esteem
IOr yourself, anu OF tnelr APPRECIATION OF your great
services TO the country. They have observed with
interest your course in defending the great principle
Of popular sovereignty in the Nebraska BILL Gap
plause) The democratic young men Of the city and
full champion of this principle, aud however much
they may regret the popular excitement which in
some localities has attended the triumph Of this
principle, they know and feel tn at the people will
patriotic course. We tender to you this expression
Of our high esteem and respect.
To this brief address Senator DOUGLAS responded
as follows -
Gentlemen-I am very grateful for this demon
stration which you have made of your esteem, re-
gard and confidence.
voIoE.-We are sorry there are not more here,
Judge.
Mr.. DouaLAs.-I must admit to you frankly, that
/ think the gentleman (Mr. Cochrane) who has been
your organ upon this occasion, has done me more
than justice for my efforts to carry out the great
principles we have at heart. have endeavored to
perform what conceived to be my duty fearlessly
and without regard to consequences, 80 far as was
your approval, am well rewarded for my endeayors;
1t Is all desire, and next to the approval of my
own conscience, prize it most highly. (Cheers)
As much as the Nebraska bill has been as
sailed and misrepresented, and as little 1t was
correctly understood in the outset | have never
for moment. doubted that it would receive the
approval of the American people, when its
principles were thoroughly known and apprecia-
ernment, so long as we shall recognise the princ-
pie that the people capable of self government,
long is 1t right to carry that principle into effect
throughout the length and breadth Of the Union.
(Applause) need not remind you that the great
feature of the Nebraska bill is simply the admission
of the right Of the people Of Territory to decide
for themselves what kind Of laws and institutions
they viii live under If that principle is wise in
New York, is it not just and wise in Nebraska?
A voIcE-No, sir.
Mr.. DIFF it be right and proper in Illinois, why
should 1t not be extended to Kansas2 (Cheers.)
The right Of the people to govern themselves, and
to determine the character OF their local institutions
according to their own judgment, and the dictates Of
| their conscierces, is the great principle for
| which our fathers fought. lRepewed cheers) The
issue then was whether q British Parliament should
be allowed to regulate and interfere with Local
affairs in the colonies; and because that principle
was violated our revolutionary fathers separated
from the tyranny that threatened to oppress them
Shall we now permit that principle, to the sue
cessful vindcation of which we owe our
libertes-the principle that stands ut the founda-
tion of the Nebraska BILL against which all this
citement has been raised, and in support Of which
| put forth all my energy-shall we permit this
principle to be violated? (Applause.) This is the
issue upon which intend to stand before the Ame-
rican people, and to meet either their approval or
dsapproval. (Renewed applause). When this
principle shall be carried into effect you will hear
of no further excitement upon the question Of
slavery. Once in New York you had slavery, it is
true but you abolished it yourselves you didn't ask
an dCI OI congress, ueLlcr ulu you look lor iSsst-
from others, but yon acted independent Of all
outside influence Now, If New York had a right TO
do that for herself why should not Nebraska, Cali
forna, New Mexico, Utah, and all the Territories
and States, be allowed the exercise of the same
right. Equality among the States is the cardinal
principle of our
VoIcE-Three cheers for Benton.
Here a small portion of the crowd responded, but
the attempt was rather feeble.
ANOTHER VoIcE-Three groans for Douglas.
This demand appeared to meet with less favor
than the first, when some individual called out
"Three cheers for Fred Douglass" 1t appeared
however, that Fred had very few friends in the
crowd, and the unlucky individual by whom they
were proposed, had his hat knocked over his eyes.
What became of him afterwards we could not dis
cover but it is fair to presume that he left in state
OF extreme disgust, for we did not hear Of him az
forwards. Another individual, nothing intimidated
by this exhibition, had the bodness to propose three
cheers for the same obnoxious person.
"If did not like anything heard" said a man
at his elbow, al would leave"
"well, and why don't you leave, them" responded
the other. "Three cheers" he cried again, "for
Fred Douglass" but the crowd were obstinate, and,
instead, gave three cheers for the Senator.
A voIcE-What about the Missouri compromise |?
way asking about the Missouri compromise. Now,
have been accustomed to this kind Of tactics be-
fore. When was in the Senate explaining the
principle Of the Nebraska bill, and when its enc
mics found themselves unable to answer me, they
raised the cry Of missouri compromise" which
was nothing more than restriction upon the right
of the people to govern themselves. The Nebraska
bill was intended to give them the Tree and unre-
sricted exercise Of that right, and any man who is
opposed to it is opposed to tho great principle Of
self government. (Enthusiastic cbeering) Letns,
then, understand this question distinctly. The OBJ
striction, to give equal rights to every State
and Territory in the Union, to allow the peo-.
pie TO exercise all those rights which are guaranteed
by the constitution. (Cheers) find that the Ne
braska bill Is growing in the popular favor as it is
becoming more thoroughly understood. hear men
now say that although they opposed IT at first, that
they are now willing to acquesce In II; and Il
they are, let rs take them at their word,
bat let us first understand what they mean
by acouiescence. II is not sufficient that