Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-12-02
POLITICS OF THE DAY.
BANQUET TO SENATOR DOUGLAS.

ylouS arrangements, the hon. STEPHEN a. D0U-
GLAs met some two hundred of his personal and po-
litical friends at the fremont House, in Chicago,
to participate in public entertainment which had
been got up in his honor.
Col r. j. HAMILTON presided, assisted by DIR.
Daniel Brainard, Major John L. Peyton, DIR. Viii
liam b. Egan, John b. Turner, Charles O'Conner,
and Morgan j.. Keith as Vice Presidents.
The substantials and other good things of boun-
tful feast having been fully discussed, the tables
were cleared and the regular toass announced, OF
which the first four in order were the following
The Constitution of the United States The only Anne
rcan boundary which ought not to be expanded
FRANKLrN PIERcE, President OF the u 81 Our present
foreign relations attest the wisdom Of his Administration
Respected abroad and prosperous at home, under the
guidance Of Democratic principles the Republic is tr-
umphantly progressing in the pathway marked out by
the trainers Of the Constitution
The memories of WASHINGTON, MADISON, and JErFEa-
May the wisdom Of their teachings be dsre-
garded!
sachusetts gave the Union her Webster Kentucky her
Clay South Carolina her Calhoun, Michigan her Cass
Each State is proud Of her usrous son. but cherish
with affection their great than Illinois
wears her heart the of Douglas The originator
and successful advocate of the Illinois Central RAILROAD
the champion of State rights and Constitutional liberty
Illinois has nober SON. the Great West friend
The last sentiment, especially, was received with
great cheering, which continued until after Mr.
DOUGLAS had risen and commenced addressing the
company in reply toit The following is bis Speech,
Us reported in the Chicago Times of the 18th No
yember:
GENTLEMEN To say that / am profoundly impressed
with the honor you have done me by this demonstration
of your confidence and regard is but eeby express
the deep emotions of my heart Among the many and
ot-repeated acts Of kindness which have received at
your hands through many years of public service
has been grateful to my feelings will leave
lasting impression upon my mind and heart 1t will be
treasured among the NEST sacred memories of my life;
and, while hope TO realize the hattering and too
sanguine ancipaons the sentiment which has just been
received enthusiastically implies give you the
of undated zeal and unceasng effort
and unyieding fidelity to those great principles which
have commanded your admiration and which have caused
you make this demonstration than from any per-
sonal regard for myself because your Partially has den
tilted with its Regarding this demonstration
them evidence Of your loyalty to the principles Of
the Constitution and the Unon and to the several of
Congress for the organization Of the Territories Of Kan
sas and Nebraska, it is far gratifying me than
any personal ovation whatsoever In Difference to the
motive which has induced you to assemble around this
festive board and in obedience what understand to
be your general DESIRE will proceed at once the haz
ard of being somewhat tedious to give outline of the
argument have presented every where in this State in
vndication Of the provisions and principles of that
sure and the which rendered it my imperative
duty to urge its passage through Congress. find very
and deny the correctness Of TIE principle upon which
the measure is founded w.t. That the people of each
State Of this Union and each Territory, Nth is
admission The Union, haze erigh and ought 10 sper
sstcd 70 enjoy lis exercise 10 form and regulate their does
tic institutions and Internal matters in their ray subject
only the Constitution of the United States While very
prepared to deny the Of this prin
cple and the proprey of its application when the
siy is acknowledged to exist for the organization of
Territories and the admission CT States, find many
who express serious doubts as to the necessity aud pro-
priey Of the organization Of Kansas and Nebraska at
this time Then let inquire did such necessity exist
You all know the location of these Terrtoresstaat-
ed upon the immediate frontier Of Missouri Iowa. and
Minnesota, and stretching westward the SUBMITS of
the Rocky Mountains and embracing within their limits
all the emigrant routes leading the Mississippi Val
ley California and the Territories Of Oregon and
Washington. All of this country was, by treaty and by
law dedicated forever barbarsm and secured the
possession of savage tribes BY the Indian intercourse
laws white could enter the Territories for settle
ment trade, transit without mourning penalty Of
thousand dollars fine and six months Imprisonment yet,
in defiance of these pains and penalties for the last few
years from Fifty to hundred thousand Of citizens
have been under the necessity Of travelling these
on their way to their new homes IN Pacific posses
sons, exposed all the tender mercies Of the toahaw
and the scapng knife without the protection of law
courts governmental authority for the want of any
other within the limits of jurisdiction. Was it
the wish the interest Of Illinois Of the Mississippi
Valley, Of any other portion Of widespread repub
c that this Indian barrier should have remained for
that direction Was it your wish or interest that the
tide of emigration, Of civilization and Of christianity,
which has been long and steadily rolling from the
East to the West should be stopped and damned up and
turned back by this barbarian wall? Was your wish
orinterest that magncentsystem of railroads, which,
commencing at various points the Atlantic and follow
ing different lines has already reached the Lakes and the
Mississippi and is rapidly progressing to the Missouri
should be stopped there by eternal barrier without
crossing the Rocky Mountains connecting with
the Pacific? had supposed that interest and hopes
and destiny all required that should extend set
Elements continuously aud steadily in that direction,
until the Mississippi Valley aud the Pacific
ell by States and Territories filled with intelligent aud
civilized people, building up towns snd cities bringing
into existence school systems and churches aud oil the
attributes and elements Of civilization of christianity,
and free institutions. Applause. Acting this sup
position first brought forward the bill to organize the
Nebraska Territory ten gears Ihaye renewed it each
Congress since In the time have been twice re-
elected to the House Of Representatives by the people Of
the fifth Congressional district twice elected to the Sc
of the United States by the action Of the whole State
without hearing word Of complaint mirmur that
was attempting to organize the Nebraska Territory
necessarily and improperly. Cheers. How does il
happen that during that period, and when the people
the whole State and the whole country witnessing
my efforts that who denies the necessity for
the organization of the Territories heard to raise his
voice against it forced to the conclusion that il
occurred them then that tho measure was unne
cessary mproper and surely the Of each day
have in their tendency rendered the opening Of those
grant Of travel indispensable to the full de-
velopment of our Pacific possessions and to vital
terest connected with those possessions there
fore be permitted to express the opinion that upon full
examination of the facts upon reflection every
man, including oil the enemies of the Nebraska BILL will