The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1854-08-23
Speech of Hon. S. A. Douglas,

fee, tina: it is good for US to be here or
this day. The day and place are consecrated
to liberty. Its hallowed spot, | enter
Independence square-I approach lndePen'
dence Hall or the Fourth of July, with feel
ings akin to those Of the pilgrim when he
approaches the holy places. 1t IS the birth
place Of American liberty, Here the Deciar.
alton of Indepenpence was first promulgated
here the constitution of the United States
was formed. On this very spot were pro-
claimed in that declaration, and embodied
in that constitution those glorious principles
of civil and religious freedom which our ia
theirs have transmitted to us as the most
precious of all earthly blessings. Great
applause. -.
In these days, when efforts are being
made TO stir up sectional strife, and organ
ize political parties on geographical lines
when religious persecution ard intolerance
are being practised through the agency oI
secret assocations-and when men IN Elgh
places sacriligeously deny all obligation to
carry into effect the plain injunctons of
the constitution which they have sworn
to support, it is we'll for good men and true
patriots 70 assemble on our national birth
day, at the birth place of our Liberties,
and unite their efforts to preserve our repub-
lican institutions by perpetuating the prln-
cples upon which they rest. [Applauce. ]
On the 4th of July, I77G, from the place
where | now stand, our forefathers declared
that these "Colonies are, and Of right ought
to be. Free and Independent States. >
Tlat was the starting point. Thirteen Brit
ish colonies were on that day converted in
t., thirteen Independent American States.
The language is clear and explicit. The
causes which led to separation, and the In
s.ru:lions that the several colonies gave to
their delegates in the Congress 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
to acknowledge their allegiance to the Brit
ish Crown, provided they were lett free to
manage and regulate the own internal at
fairs ard domestic concerns in their own
way, without the Interference or dlctatlon oil
the imperial government. They We're Will
ling to recognise the right OF Great Britain
to 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 representatives, IN
their local legislatures; but they soIemnly
protested against the imperial Parliament,
in which they had no representation to make
laws affecting their persons aud property
without consent. Upon this point the sep
Grafton took place, and the Declartlon OF
independence, which you have just heard
read, declared the thirteen colonies to be
'Free and. Independent States" But be
fore the declaration was made, the co onles
gave instructions to their delegates, prescri
bins the conditions on which each wond
consent to such declaration. These ln-
structions all prescribe the fundamental con
diLion that eacA col0ay Sha}I hace tile right 10
manage their i@teraM c6airs and domestic
concerns as to them shaiE seem meet 0ad pro
per. Heraty cheers
The instructions Pennsylvania gave to
ner delegates as the condition upoa which
they we've to vote for the Declaration Of In
dependence contained this emphatic clause:
Preserving to the people OF this coIony
the sole and exclusive right OF regulating
the internal government and fabric OF the
same" Cheers and applause
The constitution of the Uni,e,- States was
formed and adopted by the people of these
thirteen States, each acting for itself and up,
ON its own responsibility, as distinct and
independent soverignlies. BY the constltn-
ton thus formed, and under which we now
live, each State was left entirely free to
form and control its own domestic nstitu-
tons in accordncea with the great fundamen-
tai principle of self government, asserted
in the Declaration of Iudepend, nee, an IN
yindicatiou of which all the battles of the
revolution were fought. Applause.
We are frequently told Dy the Abolition
lists that the constitution of the United States
is an anti slavery instrument, devised and
formed for the purpose of preventing the ex
tension of African slavery, and of eradlca-
ting and exterminating it where ii was found
to exist Those who made this statement
b furnish conclusive evidence that they d. no
understand the principles of the constitution
nor the history Of the times when 1t was
adopted. At the period of the adoption o
the constitution, twelve of the thirteer
States by which it was formed were slave
holding States. Is it reasonable TO expec
US to presume, on mere assertion and with
out evidence, that these twelve slavehold
ing States devised and ratified the constitu
ton with the view of destroying domestic
institution which was interviewer with thei
whole social system, and expressly recog
nize4 as one Of the legitimate elements 0
political power in the federal representation
WHY that clause in the federal constitution
providing for the surrender of fugitive
fromservice, if twas the object OF that instru
ment to abolish slavery and release th'
slaves from bondage? The pretensions o
the abolitionists in this respect are render
ed prepasterous by the terms OF the con
stitution itself. The idea Of either estab
fishing or abolishng, extending or circum
scribing slavery, by the constitution Of th'
United States, OF by the action of the feder
al government, never entered the brain o
the trainers of the constitution. African
slavery, whether right OF wrong, wise or un
wise, was at thattim existing in Twelve OF tn
thirteen States The institution was plant
ed by the British government in each Q
the thirteen colonies without their consen
and against their remonstrances. The wa
Of the revolution converted the dependen
colonies into Independent States, withou
changing or affecting the relations existing