Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-07-31

| Speech of Hon s. A. Douglas, Of Illinois
Atthe Democratic Celebration Of the Annversa
ry of American Freedom, in independence
Square, July A 1884,. -
Mr.. President and Fello,c- Citizens:
| While am profoundly grateful for the
generous enthusiasm with which you have
received the kind remarks Of my friend
Gen. Dawson, | know not whether ought
to make my Acknowledgements to him for
having created III your minds expectations
which it Is impossible for. me 70 fol6l. |
feel that 1t is good for US to be here OH thia
day. The day and the place are consecra,
ted to liberty. 1t IL d hallowed ste..
enter Independence Square, approach
independence Hall on the Fourth Of July
with feelings akin to those OF the pilgrim
when he approaches the hols places. 1t
is the birth place Of American liberty
Here the Declaration of Independence vas
first pronaulgated--Eere the Constitution Of
the Uuited States was formed. On this
very spot were proclaimed in that dtclara-
ton aid embodied in that Constitution
those glorious principles Of civil and reli
gioi:s freedom which our fathers have trans
mitted to us as. the most precious Of al!
earthly blessings. [Great applause.
In these days, When efforts are being
made TO stir up sectional strife, and organ
ize political parties on geographical lines
when religious intoiefahee and perseeu-
ton are being pract,eed through the agen-
cy OF secret associations---and when men
t in high places sacrlegiousIy deny all OBJ
legation to carry into effect the plain and
imperative ipjunc,ions Of the Constitution
which they have sworn to support, it is
well for good men and true patriots to as
semble ON our national birthday, at the
birthplace Of our Liberties, aud unite
their efforts to preserve our republic
can institutions BY perpetuating the prin-
ciples upon which they rest Ap-
plause. h. ss.s,s q
On the 4tll of July, rs. from the place
where now stand, our torefathers declar-
ed that these COLONIES ARE, AND OF RIGHT
STATES" That was the starting point
Thirteen British colonies were on that
day converted into thirteen independent
American States. The language is clear
and explicit. The causes which led to the
separation, and the Instructions which the
several colonies gave to their delegates in
the Congtess, prescribing the conditions
upon which the Declaration Of Indeprn-
dence IVES TO be made, clearly show why
this emphatic language was used. The
colonies did not in the first instance, de-
msnd independence. They were willing
to acknowledge their allegiance 10 the
Hrificb ,,rnc,A.,l H.. L. Il
free TO manage and regulate their own in
ternal affairs and domestic concerns in their
own way without the int, ference or dicta-
ton of the imperial government. They
were willing to recognize the right. OF
Great Britain to grant colonial charters,
like the organic laws OF cur territorial 60
vefnments, by which the people Of the
colonies might make their own laws
through their representatives III their
local legislatures; but they solemnly pro-
tested against the right of the imperial
parliament, in which they had no represent
Iaton, to make laws, affecting their per-
sons and property without tkes- conseiit.--
Upon this poin, the separation took place,
and the Declaration Of Independence
which you have just heard read, declared
the thirteen colonies to be 'iree aud inde-
pendent States" But before the declara-
ton was made, the colonies gave instruc-
tions to thei. delegates, prescribing the
conditions upon which each would con-
sent to sucL declaration. These instruc.
tons all prescribe the fundamental condi-
ton, that the people of each colony shalt
hare the ,ighl to manage their internal af-
fairs and domestic concerns as TO them
shall seem meet and proper. Hearty
cheers. Bal
! The instructions which Pennsylvania
gave to her delegates as the condition upon
which they were to vote for the peclara-
ton of Independence contained this en-
phatic clause : g g
"Reserving to the people Of tits colony
the sole and exclusive right OF regulating
the internal government and policy of the
same" &ne
The Constitution of the United States
was formed and adopted by the people of
these thirteen States, each acting for itself
and upon its own esponsibility, as distinct
and independent sovereignties. BY the
! Constitution thus formed, and under which
we now live, each State was left entirely
I free to form and control lis own domestic
institutions in accordance with the great
fundamental principle of self gosernment,
asserted in the Declaration Of Indepen-
dence, and in vindication Of which all the
battl OF the revolution were fought. APP
Eplause.
We are frequently told by the abolition
lists that the Constitution Of the United
States is an anti.slavery instrument-de-
vised and formed for the purpose Of pre-.
venting the extension Of African slavery,
and OF eradicating aud exierminating it
where it was found to exist. Those wht
make this statement furnish conclusive ev.
idence that they do not understand the
principles of the Constitution, nor the his.
tory of the times when j. was adopted
At the period of the adoption Of the Con,
stitution twelve OF the thifteen States by
which it was formed, were slasehoIding
States. Is 1t reasonable to expect MS &c
presume, Oh mere assertion aud without
evidence, that these twelve slayeholding
States IL 1ised and ratified the Constitution
With the view Of destroying a domestic in
stitution which was interwoven with thei)
whole social system, and expressly lecog
nized as one OF the legitimate elements o