The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-10-04
z5a.yf, From tho Davenport Banner.
SENATOR DOUGLA AT ROCK
ISLAND ErtrEz rs.s..-


men in the nation, agreeable To prrvi' v
notice, addressed tremendous cnncourse q
people in the grove in front o. the Court House
at Rock Island, on Saturday afternoon las il
SPEECH OF nearly thr.e hours in length, IL
defence of the Nebraska ni.'asur., and the
course Oi himself and colleague as Senators
from llinnis
!, Ling before the appointed hour Tor the
+ meeting, the Court House was Fl led to over
Il wing with the hardy yeomanry OF this vi
cnlty, and yet not one hall Of the people as
semblrd could gain admission. A stand vas
accordingly erected in the grove in iroh. Of The
Court House, and the vast mul i,ude of anxi'ns
hearers gathered around to hear the graf
statesman and orator, who had been denied the
privilege OF an American CITIZEN and public
servant, by an organized band of abolition
iowdi-s, to be heard in self defence in the
met, opel Of that S ate.
Senator Douglas assembled the staad, and
was introduced by Mayor F'rizzeil t, the as
senblrd people, who received him in respect
full and cordial manner, and at intervals
Throughout. his entire remarks, the great mass
Of his auditors gave ample evidence IF the
force OF his arguments and the power OF his
eloquence, by their OFT repeated loud and
hearty applause. II is not our purpose to at
tempt even 10 give a synopsis of the remarks
"f Mr.. Douglas, on this occasion. It was one
Of those speeches which must be heard from
the lips OF tie speaker to be fully appreciated
and properly judged. In Or mind, it was an
able, dighihed and respectful vindlcation of his
Senatorial conduct, and OF the principles "
self government, as confined in the net for the
organisation Of the territories Of Kansas and
Nebraska, and a gentlemanly, but plain and
iorclble rebuke Of the Abolition fanatics and
fu>ionists who traduce his character, villfy and
misrepresent his motives and actions, aud those
of the whole democratic party lie also paid
his respects, in his closing remarks, to that
dangerous secret political organization, which
is springng up in our country, styled Know
Nothing, in such a manner as must have caus-
ed its members, if any were present, to hang
'heir heads in very shame, Tor the disunlon and
anti i-repubcan tendencies OF their order.
In vindication OF his introduction and ad-
vocacy Of the now celebrated bill passed by
Congress for the organization Of the territories
Of Kansas and Nebraska, to say nothing Of the
correct ness of the principle Of lis, TO some,
objectionable provisions, Senator Douglas
showed concIus'vry 10 all unbiased minds, by
the annexed resolution OF instruction passed by
the illinois Legislature, at the session ot 81 .,
with only four dissenting votes, a'ter the pas.
sage Of the great compromise measures OF 1850,
and in comme ndation OF them, thai he but
pressed by their assembled Legislative rep
resenia'ives, sl.nGst o th- letter as veil as The
spirit of their instructions.
Res0tred, That our liberty aud independence
are based upon the right IF the people to form
for Themselves such g0cernmtnt as they choose,
and that this great privilege, the birthrisht OF
Freedom the gift OF heaven, secured to Us by
the blood Of our ancestors, ought to be extended
TO future generations, and no timitati"n ought
to be applied to this power in the organiza i"n
of any territory Of the Uni:ed States, or either
a territorial government, or State cor stitutIon.
provided the government established shall
be republican,, and in conformity with the con. |
slitution of the United States
After hearing the remarks OF Senator Dou-
glas On last Saturday, we are not at all surpr-
ed that the abolitionsts and enemies Of this
great man. prevented him from addressing the
people at Chicago r-cently.-Fruth and right
are t"opowerfui for them to combat, except by |
rowdyism and the sitting OF stree speech
During the early part OF the meeting at Rock
Island, disturbance similar to thai OF Chicago
it seems was contemplated, and even attempted
by some of the abpli,ion bulles, but to the |
honor, be it said, Of both wings and democrats
of Rock Island, that no5pcracy in that city was
not tolerated 10 prevent an American Senator
from exercising he right OF addressing his con-
or oil the people peaceaoIy nearing |
their public servants give an account of their
ste stewardship Every effort to create distur-
bance was speedily checked and Mr.. Douglas
proceeded TO the close of his remarks without
urt:'er Interruption, except the occasiona!
plaudi,s of his hearers.
II Is painful, nay, disgusting and revolving t"
hear men and public journals, VIII" advocate |
the "substi,u ion of the cartridge box for the
ballot box" and proclaim it on the stump, at
temp ing 10 brow The blame Of these dlsiur-
Dances of public gatherings upon Senator
Douglas. by charging him with ''ou'rag'ng the
feel ngs" of those assembled 10 hear h'm, or
atttibu,ing the "exc,ement and sectional teel- !
ing which is being aroused throughout the
n nth, TO his advocacy Of the great national
principles Of ths democratic party. They know
It is false and as base as il Is false. While |
Senator Douglas procaims that he will stand
BY no party which is not national in lis pin
clples and urges the people against countenan
cling any sectional or religious party in our
these vrry men. though endeavoring
to cover their own iniquty by charging him
with the dsgracefu proceedings in the north
during The past winter and spring and more
recently at Chcag ), are at the same time ~.
flaming the minds "f the people and their
followers to deeds of violence and
bloodshed.