Washington sentinel., 1854-07-18
Wasbingtnn gsntinel.
SPEECH OF HON. s. A. DOUGLAS,
OF ILLINOIS,


sary of american Freedom, IN Independence
Square, Lly 4, 1854.
The Hon. s. A. Douglas, senator from Illi-
nois was introduced by the Hon. John l..
Dawson, amid great cheering. Mr.. Dawson
said that he had the honor of presenting the
Hon. Stephen A. Douglas of the United States
Senate. Judge Douglas, as you well know,
represents with high distinction in the councils
of the nation, one of that noble cluster of
States, in the Ohio valley, whose transition
from the condition ofprimeval solitudes to that
of populous and foprishing empires, is one of
the marvels of the times. His presence among
us upon this occasion is an agreeable monitor
of the extent of that glorious march Of repub
lican liberty, which began three-quarters of
century ago under the banner ofindependence,
first reared upon the very spot on which we are
now gathered. Conspicuous for his high abili
ties and indomitable energy, which have won
for him an honorable fame at an early age, his
patriotism has been illustrated by the sternest
trials, and, to borrow the language of another
in reference to brother senator, upon very
different occasion, may say, without fear of
exaggeration, that :" he would have done for q
senator of Rome when Rome survived
Mr.. Douglas then spoke as follows
Mr. President and Fellou-citizens:
While am profoundly grateful for the gener-
ous enthusiasm with which you have received
the kind remarks of my friend General Daw-
son, know not whether ought to make my
Acknowledgements to him for having created in
your minds expectations which it is impossible
for me to fulfil. l feel that it is good for us to
be here on this dav. The day and the place
are consecrated to liberty. 1t is hallowed
spot. / enter Independence Square, ap-
proach Independence Hall on the Fourth of
July, with feelings akin to those of the pilgrim
when he approaches the holy places. 1t is the
birth place of American liberty. Here the
Declaration Of Independence was first promul-
gated-here the Constitution of the United
States was formed. On this very spot were
proclaimed in that declaration and embodied
In that Constitution those glorious principles Of
civil and religious freedom which our fathers
have transmitted to us as the most precious Of
all earthly blessings. IGreat applause.
In these days, when efforts are being made
to stir up sectional strife, and organize political
parties on geographical lines-when religious
intolerance and persecution are being prac-
ticed through the agency of secret associa-
tions-and when men in high places sacrile-
giously deny all obligation to carry into effect
the plain and imperative injunctions 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 birth
place OF our liberties, and unite their efforts to
preserve our republican institutions by perpet
mating the principles upon which they rest.
Applause.
On the 4th of July, &c, from the place where
now stand, our foreathers declared that these
COLONIES ARE, AND OF RIGHT OUGHT TO BE,
FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES That was
the starting point. Thirteen British colonies
were on that day converted into thirteen indie
pendent American States. The language Is clear
and explicit. The causes which led to the sep
Dararion, and the instructions which the several
colonies gave to their delegates in the Con.
gress, prescribing the conditions upon which
the Declaration of Independence was to be
made, clearly show why this emphatic language
was used. The colonies did not, in the first
instance, demand independence. They were
willing 10 acknowledge their allegiance to the
British crown, provided they we're left free to
manage and regulate their own internal affairs
and domestic concerns in their own way, with
out the interference or dictation Of the imperiar
government. They were willing to recognize
the right of Great Britain to grant colonial
charters, like the organic laws of our territorial
governments, by which the people of the colo
nies might make their own laws through their
representatives in their local legislatures; but
they solemnly protested against the right Of the
imperial parliament, in which they had no
representation, TO make laws, affecting their
.rA IL
Upon this point the separation took place, and
the Declaration Of Independence which you
have just heard read, declared the thirteen
colonies to be Stree and independent States"
But before the declaration was made, the colo
nies gave instructions to their delegates, pre-
scribing the conditions upon which each would
consent TO such declaration. These instruc.
tions all prescribe the fundamental condition
that tie people o each colony shall hare the Tighf
to manage their internal affairs and domestic
concsrns as TO them shall seem meet and proper.
Hearty cheers.
The instructions which Pennsylvania gave to
her delegates as the condition upon which they
were to vote for the Declaration Of Independ.
ence contained this emphatic clause:
{" "Reserving 10 the people OF this colony the sole
and exclusive right of regulating the internal gov
srnment and police OF the same"
The Constitution Of fhe United States was
formed and adopted by the people Of these thir
teen States, each acting for itself and upon its
own responsibility, as distinct and independent
sovereignties. By the Constitution thus formed
and under which we now live, each State was
left entirely free to form and control its own
domestic institutions in accordance with the
great fundamental principle Of self government,
asserted in the Declaration Of Independence,
and in vindication OF which all the battles Of
revolution we're fought. Applause.
We are frequently told BY The aboltionists
that the Constitution of the United States is an
anti-slavery nstrument-devised and formed
for the purpose Of preventing the extention Of
African slavery, and OF eradicating and exter.
minating it where it was found 10 exist. Those
who make this statement furnish conclusive
evidence that they do not understand the prin-
ciples Of the Constitution, nor the history of
the times when it was adopted. At the period
Of the adoption Of the Constitution twelve Of
the thirteen States by which it was formed, we're
slaveholding States. Is it reasonable 70 expect
us to presume, on mere assertion and without
evidence, that these twelve slayeholding States
devised and ratified the Constitution with the