The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-08-05

danger, 90 much of blood and treasured You
are the custodians now Of that great citadel OF
! liberty (pointing to Independence, Hall) Ali
Its trihmphs, It's memories its portraits, its his
tory, gratitude for the past thanks for the pres
ent, and hopes for the future, exhort you to
! perpetunte that vestal fame which was kindled
In 1776. Let it not 60 out here, If YOU would
escape the execrations of posterity for iuidelity
in guarding your sacred trust.
The great end of the revolution was to se.
cure civil and religious liberty. Nor did our
ancestors misudge its value in developing the
resources, physical, moral and intellectual. OF
man.
| Look TO its civil results. Under republican
government we have grown and prospered and
expanded far beyond the most sanguine imagi.
nation of the most hopeful devotee of liberty.
Our shores are now washed by the two great
oceans east and west Nearly one half Of the
North American continent bears upon its gen-
erous bosom teeming millions of American citi.
zens, who make their own laws and worsl,ip, at
their chosen shrines. From 5000, 900 we have
swelled to o.25.0o0.000. From poverty and igno.
rance and weakness. we have grown rich intel
llgen.. and strong. Our sails whiten every sea,
\ and onr enterprise and energy penetrate into
every land. No longer does the British lion
! strike terror into the hearts of our women and
children. We are now here equal in all the el
ements of national greatness and here superior
IN every CHARACTERISTIC of personal liberty and
to manage our local affairs BY assuming the
| right to legislate for us while we were colonies
The Parliament assumed that they were better
Judges OF our wants and necessities than our
own colonial legislatures. They undertook to
regulate the domestic policy of their distant de-
Pendeneiea- They imposed duties upon tea
without consulting us, and in every manner as.
serted their right to gorern Us. Our fathers
who had encountered the perils of the ocean,
and the greater perils of a savage wilderness,
who had fed from Europe to escape political
aud religious Intolerance, could not long brook
such an unjust assumption. They petitioued,
importuned, demonstrated the British govern
ment without avail; they took their rig ghts in
their own Keeping, and, after long and doubt
fut strugge, established new fundamental ar
tlcle in the science of government-the great
American doctrine of the right of the people
to rovern themselves fGreat chccring.l No
tenet in political science has more thoroughly
vindicated its wisdom than this, and when
brought INTO issue its orthodoxy has not been
questioned for seventy eight years until a few
months past. It is said BY some who have for
gotten or renounced the teachings and princi-
ples OF their fathers. now, that the people of
Kansas and Nebraska are incapable of govern
ing themselves aud that the Congress must as
snme the same guarda ship oyer these distant
territories rs the Parliament claimed over the
colonies Where is the American feeling in the
hosom OF any man, who. from fanatical zeal for
the African slave. Whose condition he cannot
improve, is willing to renoupce this great doc.
trine of our fathers : Cheers. Abolitionisu,
and iaDaticism mistake the heart of this coun,
try. in supposipg that, when they cry out a.
ga'nst slavery, IL will cause the people to- repu-
diate the principles upon which the government
is based. [Cheera The country owes. my
distinguished frie d,%who will follow me; the
Little Giant of the Great West" Senator
Douglas Immense applause, debt of graft.
tude for his powerful aud successful advocacy
of .hisprnciple have been discussing, and for
iis trippghalt sipdieati in the Kansas Ne
With ali tho Misrepresentation which has
been poured out upon that measure, tho people
ora now beginning to understand truly ITS pro-
visions and lie greatest principle-the one 80
aierceiy assailed BY wings and aboltionists-is
the very principle for which our fathers fought
the rsyolutiea,, Will you now take the side
the British Parliament
The people Of Kaneas and Nebraska have
had conferred upon them by Congress the right
to regulate their own domestic concerns accord.
ing to their own wishes aud inclipations, q Is it
right Who will say Il is wrougi Whok knows
best what are the. wants ;of our fellowcitia4ns
in the valley Of tho Kansas or the Upper His.
souri-the representatives they elect 70 their
Lown territorial Legislature, or tho Congress Of
tho United States, when not 70 single member,
perhhps; has Ads q iootE ftnt In Alias or No.
tbsaskeg and which would most likely ;iegisiate
wisely for thsM slie territorial iegislature. Or
CongFessi The: :staternent OF the anestion car
now has the right to: make his own laws here,
4whst5b th6re In the atmosphere sof Kansas,
when he remoy ea there, rendering him less com
/ petsns 70 do the same thing there This right,
conferred BY Congress on the Territories, Is sub
ieet tosut one imitat on, which all eoncede is
q. p - i. It