The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-09-16
MORNING. SEPTEMBER IL. 1854.
Disturbance at Chicago--Douslas not allowed
to Speak.

would address his fellow-citizens of Chicago
his own home--on the evening of Friday. Sept. !
/, upon the principles of the Nebraska bill. As
a matter of course, an immense crowd assem-
bled. The proceedings were not marked by
that spirit of harmony and corliality toward
the rccreant Senator that he and his friends
thought they had right to expect. We copy
below a report Of the proceedings from the
Chicago Journal of Saturday evening. The
Journal commenting upon the proceedings,
says:
We regret very much that Mr.. Douglas was
not suffered to proceed without interruption.
and conclude what he had TO say upon the sub
ject. but at the same time do not hold him
blamelcss in the premises.
He came among an excited constituency.
who felt he had deeply wronged them. to speak
in Standardization. but at the very outset Ofhis
remarks he assailed their intelligence. and
charged them unfortunately with not having
read the Nebraska Bill and being ignorant of
its provisions. Instead of asking them to
/" hear him for his cause. and be silent that they
might hear he constantly appealed to the
immense thrOng for answers to the intcrrOgatO-
ries ropounded--boasted Of being an older res
dent of the State than ma iority of the meet
who had come in obedience to his summons to
hear him, with being an ungovernable mob!
We submit to the friends of Senator Douglas.
whether such course Was calculated or ~
iended to secure for him respectful hearing
We ask any candid reader. whether Senator
Douglas is not accountable for tanning an ex-
ctement which he knew existed, to fury which
drove him from the stand.
We are the unyicding advocates of free
Z SIpp,.b nd iii Inn pt far bn;r
ajuse. We desire at all times that man
should be allowed TO vihdicate himself, or his
cause. in a respectful manner, but are not apol
ogists for that latitude of speech which aSsailS
the Intelligence OF the masses, and INDUCES in
sweeping accusations.
There was another provocation which occur-
red at the great anti-NcbraSka meeting in this
city. in February last. but which was wildly
impressed upon the minds of the people part:c-
ularly the anti-Ncbraska Democrats. The Ne
braska orator on that occasion said to the i'm
mcnSc asscmblagc that Little Dug" would fix
/ 'cm-that when he came home from Washing
ton and sounded his " hew gag the anti-Ne-
braska Democrats would tuck their tails be
tween their legs, and sijuh away Ike whipped
spamicls.
Many also remembered the shout of victory
sounded hy the Dougasilos over his fugitive
slave triumph in 1870 II va, claimed that
now. The evident tone or Douglas during his
speech was dcfant. Great numbers Of l.. =.
Government officers were on the ground. to
give cOuntcnancc to the cause of Douglas and
the Administration. Was il tG hc wondered at
that persons created a disturbance al the nIcct-
ing. wiicn these were the causes. aside from AL
others. which operated o. the masses. and
would have had like effect in Fanuci! or Iau,-
many Hall, as in Chicago:
~, 4 ,
evening. They were discraccfnl to the partci-
pants. because the impression will co abroad
that Mr.. Doug las was pet down by Il Hioj-that
the Mayor and Police who were present on the
ground cot!d lot put it down. and that the
right of free speech has been denied hy our cit
liens.
1t will not. however. be without its teaching.
for it conveys 10 Senator Douglas Ia well is 10
others. the lesson tina: Cancellation is more
powerful weapon than defiance and The aSsump-
ton of superior knowledge aah wisdom.
70 the following full and accurate report Of
the proceedings OF the meeting, the reader is
referred. to bear lis out in the views We have
taken -
Pursuant to tic notice Of Senator Douglas,
that lac would address the citizens of Chicago,
upon the principles OF the Nebraska Eli a
large crowd assembled at an carly hour at the
North Market Hall. At half past seven it is
'St .!ii.ttf. tEit t'tEt wire b.btlO persons rpS
eat, AID from that time until the speaker rose
large acccs.;ons were constantly made The
street in front of the Hall was blocked up for
= long distance and the adjoining house tops
were literally covered with people.
MIR. Douglas arose anil observed tina: lie had
cone to explain the Object, and provisions of
the Nebraska Bill. This announcement was
followed hy a storm Of Kisses. .roaEs cheers
&c. He then said he wnald answer all cues
ncr. lie had come to lay before tha people The
grand principles of the Nebraska Ii:ll. They
did not understand lc BIZ and but few of
them had ever read il. THIS remark drew
forth such tornado of discordant noises that
il was some minutes before he could nrocrch
He proceeded: he V hole Of tie city press
have united in con;lrrning me- hnt none Of
them have Published my bill in order that it
might vinlicatc itself You see thew have done
me gross injustice. You have hccn told that
the bill WAS measure to extend slavery into
territory then free. (lcllS. gr0ans. Misses. &c.
for some m,nutes) The bill docs not lcr:slatc
slavery anywhere, the statement that the bill
lcgis!atcs slavery either way is untrue. will
expose the ISLANDERS hcapcd upon me- The
principle Of the bill is to allow the people the
privilege Of regulating their own institutions,
i'll Their OWN manner. This is the great prn-
cipc that oar revolutionary fathers struggled
upon which the glorious Declaration of hide
pendencc is founded. "a voicc-"ali men Gre
ated free and cTual.") Gentlemen. if Won will
be quiet. will 90 or. but it is impossible for
me to proceed with 50 much Interruption
(Ecnc"cd intcrruptioH.) Personal violence
has been threatened me if ! dared to come here
and vndicatc myself, but intend to speak.
and intend to be heard repeat you don't M
dcrstand the measure. The State of New York
has the same right to have slavery as Kansas
or Nebraska. The State of Illinois wants slav-
cry her"c* (TremenGouS uproar.l You lis
ten. gentlemen. to all who come to address
you. hut y"W drown my voice. so that ] shall
not he heard. al; all to keep silence and not
disturb the mectinr (lhc mayer here arose.
and t0d the policemen in the crowd to arrest
an" one who shoud lIn seen throwing any mis-
siies.) (Rcnewcd uproar.) | must again re-
quest you to be silent. You DENY that It is !
correct to allow the people the RICH. Of self. !
government. You say too that it was wron.
to repeal the Missouri Compromise tCries OF
yes for some minutcs.) VIII any man rise and
tell me that he was ever in favor Of that Com