Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-07
Masbiugtun ssntinsl.
From the Chicago Times, Sept. I'd.
Judge Douglas and the Mob.


meeting Of last night was the universal topic
OF conversation. Crowds of visiters arrived
by the several trains from the surrounding
cities and towns, even from as far as Detroit
aud ST. Louis, attracted by the announcement
that Judge Douglas was to address his con-
stituents.
During the afternoon, the Tribune, true to
its fendish instinct, issued, as last effort to
create IA disturbance, an indammatory nandbill,
headed by the exciting words:
Organization OF the Irish body guard =
Asserting that an Irish body had been or
gaai.ed to prevent Americans from entering or
Partlcipatin, in the meeting
The effect produced by this aud other meta
r,ous means, on the public mind will be seen
hereafter.
In consequence of the extreme heat OF the
weather. it vas deemed advisable 70 hold the
meeting on the outside Of the hall, instead OF In
the inlerio., as had been announced.
81 early candlelight tnrong Of eight thou
sand persons had assembled at the south part
Of North Market Hall
AT the time announced, the mayor OF Chi
cago called the assemblage to Greer, AID Judge
Douglas then addressed the meeting. We Rave
been unable to prepare in time for this morn.
ing's paper full report o. the speech. Whal
follows Is bat the Elerest skeleton of what was
said.
Fellow.citizens, come before you to night
to explain 70 you the provisions of the act OF
Congress, known as the Nebraska and Kansas
act Groans and cheers.) If at any time to,
night, make any statement which you will
ask the authority for, / assure you will make
kind and respectful response. Cheers. All
| want is to present that measure in its true
light. / know that considerable excitement
exists in this city respecting the measure, but
! do not know whether you have had any OPP
portunity to read the bill. The whole press O..
this city have denounced this measure, but
never, I'LL this day, has any paper here ever
pIbished that act.
You have been told that the bill egislated
slavery into territory now free by act of Con
gress. l will read the fourteenth section of the
b Il to you, by which you will see that the acI
self declares that its true intent and meaning
Is not to legislatc slavery into any Territory o.
t, exclude it theretrom, but to leave the peopl,
thereof free to regulate that subject for them.
selves. Cheers and noise. II is perfectly
Consistent for those who have denounced and
sandered me, to seek to prevent me from be
lag heard in my own behalf Tremendous
cheering. l say that / have been charged
with legislating slavery into free territory.
say that The bill leaves the American people III
the Territory free to decide that question fo,
themselves. A voice-We knew that before |
you knew that before, then you knew thai
the charge against me was false. Great cheer
ing.
The BIZ is framed on the great principle o
the right OF the people to regulate their owl
government"
Great noise was here made in the crowd, in
tsr;ipting him for some time. When orde,
Was restored, Judge D. resumed By saving tina
the attempt to prevent him from speaking, III
dicated desire that the truth should not b.
discussed. a good cause needed no voenc,
to defend it. He said he knew his rights, ant
would not permit them to be violated. Fl,
knew that threats Of personal violence ha,
been made if lie attempted TO speak, or t.
offer any explanation.
After further confusion and remarks respect.
ing it by the speaker, he read the l4th section
OF the act, that slavery was not legisated int,
o. excluded from the Territories. He asked
was the correctness of that principle denied
\ Voice-We deny it Then you deny tn
right Of the people to selfgovernment. Tha
is the principle Of The Nebraska bill. Th
great objection you have is to the repeal of the
Missouri compromise. Cries CT yes. yes.
Well, what was the Missouri oupromise? i
was the prohibition of slavery north of liue
and the recognition Of slavery south of tina,
line. Was there, he asked, a man in this crow
who was in favor of recognizing slavery south
Of any line. Tremendous cheering
He would show that the abolitionists and
freesoilers in ls4s, were pledged to the repeal
OF the Missouri compromise, the candidate WIKI
was on the Buffalo platform was pledged fi
the total prohibition Of slavery in all the Terri
tories OF the United States, north and south OF
the line of go 30<; therefore the whole aboli
ton aud freesoil party who voted for Van
Bare.- in ls49, voted fol- the repeal of the Mis-
co ri compromise.
Having disposed Of the freesoiers and aboi
tioni,ts, he desired TO give them company The
wing party in all the free States in 1913 were
pledged to the Wilnot 2roviso, and the excu,
sion Of slavery in all the Territories Conse
euently taey TOO were il favor Of the repeal o
the Misso-r. compromise.
The whig party and the iraesoers ard aho
litionists all having becn ir favor Of its repea
in i84s. the democratic party nominated Levi,
Cass, who had previously proclaimed that TIA
compromise was uncor sttutiUnal, and ne re-
ceived the votes Of the democratic party VIII
then, in 1913 was in favor Of the Missouri com
promise? Not Que Of the crowd around him
A voicC-Stephen A. Dougles. Well, then
said ne, was the only man in Illinois in favor
of the Miss Duri compromise. He said that in
ls4s, he mad offered the Missouri compromise
Is q settlement Of the slavery question, and il
was resisted in the House Of Representative,
By northern votes A v0ice-why did you re
peal it? The reason for It's repeal, be sad
was because it had been repudiated by the
north, and new settlement was necessary.
he said that in lieu Of the Missouri compro
mise, was adopted principle Of allowing The
people to regulate their own institutions. In
1850 the people of Chicago, by an unanimou,
vote OF the city councils, endorsed the princi
pies vi the compromise measures Of 1850. The
III nui1 legislature endorsed the principles o
these measures, aud in the House Of Repre-
sentatiyes Of tne legislature Of Illinois, resou
tioas were ad pied nsructing him to vote tc
apply the pril clpe OF these compromise meas
ures TO all future territorial government, on
both sides of the line.
That resolution (which be ready was voted foI
BY all the representatives, except four. Not a
representative from Cook county voted against
it. He did not understand the justice Of The