The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-08-09

ON1UO1 OOON L i, OlllO,
SPEECH OF
| SENATOR DOUGLAS,
At the Democratic Celebration of the An.
niuersary of american Freedom. in
Independence Square, Philadelphia.
| July 4, 1854.
Mr.. PREsIDENx AND FELLow-C1TIzENs:
While am profoundly grateful for the
received tho kind remarks Of my friend
General Dawson, know not whether
ought to make my Acknowledgements to
him for having created in your minds ex.
pecta,ions which it is impossible for me to
fulfil. feel that it is good for US to be
here on this day. The day and the place
are consecrsted TO liberty. II is hallow.
ed spot. enter Independence Square
| approach Independence Hall on the 4th
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 Inde-
pendence was first promulgated-here the
Constitution Of the United States was
formed. On this very spot were proclaim
ed 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 mos,
precious of all earthly blessings. Great
In these days, when efforts are being
made to stir up sectional strife. and organ
ize political parties on geographical lines
when religious intolerance and persecu-
ton are being practiced through the
| agency of secret asociations-And when
men in high places sacriliglously deny all
obligations to carry into effect the plain
and imperative injunctions of the Consti.
tuition which they have sworn 10 support.
| i, is well for good men and true patriots to
assemble on our national birthday, at the
birthplace OF oursliberties, and unite their
efforts TO preserve our republican sinstitu.
,ions by perpetuating the principles upon
which they rest. [Applauss. ;:
On the 4th Of July, rs, from the place
whore now stand, our forefalhers declar-
ed 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 independent Amer.
ican States. The language is clear and
explicit. The causes which led tothe sep
aration, and the insiructions which the
several colonies gave to their delegates in
the Congress, prescribing the conditions
agss agoa which h @ !, the Declaration Of lndePen,
this emphatic languages was used. The
colonies did not, in the frs, instance, de.
ma2d Independence. They were willing
to acknowledge their allegiance to the
British-crown, provided they were left free
to manage and regulate their own intern al
affairs and domestic concerns in their own
way. without the interference or dictation
of the imperial government. They we're
willing to recognize the right Of Grea,
Britain 10 grant colonial charters, like the
organic laws of our territorial governments
by which the. people Of the colonies might
make their own laws through their. repre-
sentatives in their local legislatures; bu.
they solemnly protested against the right
OF the imperial parliament. in which they
had no representation, to make laws, af.
fecting their persons and property wi,hou,
their consent. Upon this point the sepa.
ration took place. and the Declaration Of
Independence which you have jus, heard
read. declared the thirteen colonies to be
free and independent States" But be-
fore the declaration was made, the colo.
MES gave instructions to their delegates,
prescribing the conditions upon which
each would consent to such declaration.
These instructions all prescribe the funda.
mental condition that the people of each
colony shall haze the right to manage their
Internal affairs and domestic concerns as
to them shall seem meet and proper
Hearty cheers. ls
The instructions which Pennsylvania
gave to her delegates a. the condition up.
on which they were to vote for the Decla.
ration Of Independence contained this en-.
phatic clause:
"Reserving to the people of this colony
the sole and exclusive right Of regulating
the rral government and police of the
same"
The Constitution Of tho United States
was formed and adopted by the people ofI
these thirteen States, each acting for itself
.-N ~tSHs 80 o"u s0SPofAoiOuityS do us.
tinct and independent sovereignties. By
the Constitution thus formed, and under
which we now live, each State was left en-.
tirely free to form and control its own do
mestic institutions in accordance with the
great fundamental principle of selfgov-
ernment, asserted in the Declaration Of In.
depence. and in vindication of which all |
the battles Of the revolution were fought.
Applause.
We are frequently told by the abolition.
ists that the Constitution of the United
States is an anti.slavery instrument-de.
vised and formed for the purpose of pre-.
venting the extention Of African slavery.
and Of eradica.ing and extermin a,ing II
where it was found to exist. Those who
make this statement furnish conclusive ev.
dence that they do not understand the
principles of the Constitution, nor the his. /
'ory Of the times whom it was adopted. Atl
he period Of the adoption Of the ! Con stitu.
ion twelve of the thirteen States by which
I was formed. were slaveholdinQ States,
ls 1t reasonable TO expect us 10 nresnme. II