The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-07-16
Prom the Psnnsy|vanisn.


copy gratis.
4 iNN Prom Psnnsy|vanisn.
SPEECH OF HON. s. A. DOUGLAS, OF ILLINOIS,
At the Democratic Celebration Of tie Anniversary Of Aaeri-
| Freedom in Independence Square, July A. 1854.
The Hon. A. Douglas senator from Illinois, was intro
duced by the Hon. John L. Dawson amid great cheering Mr.
Dawson said that he had the honor of presenting the Hon
Stephen A. Douglas of the United States Senate. Judge
Douglas you well know represents with high distinc-
on In the councils Of the nation OF that noble cluster
Of States in the Ohio valley whose transition from the
condition of primeval soudes to that Of populons and
fourishng empires is of the maryels of the times His
presence among upon this occasion is agreeable mon
tor the of that glorious march of republican lib
ery which began threequarters OF century ago under
the banner of independence first reared upon the very spot
on which gathered Conspicuous for his high
abilities and ndomtabe energy, which have won for him
honorable fame early age his patriotism has been
illustrated by the sternest trials and to borrow the lam
guage of another in reference to brother senator, upon
very different occasion, may say without fear of exa
gsraton that he would have done for senator Of Rome
when Rome survived"
| Mr.. Douglas then spoke us follows
! Mr. PRESIDENT FELLow-crizESs While an pro-
foundly grateful for the generous enthusiasm with which
you have received the kind remarks Of my friend General
Dawson, know not whether ought to make my acknowl
edgments to him for having created in your minds expec
taons which it is impossible for to fulfil feel that il
is good for us to be here on this day The day and
the place consecrated to liberty. It is hallowed
spot enter independence Square, approach Independ-
Hall the Fourth of July, with feelings akin to
those Of the pilgrim when he approaches the holy places
1t is the birthplace of American liberty Here the Deca
ration of Independence first promulgated-here the
constitution of the United States formed On this
very spot proclaimed in that declaration and i'm
bodied in that constitutions those glorious principles civil
and religious freedom which fathers have transmitted
us as the most precious all earthly blessings Grcat
applause gaH aaa iars .t6ssp ssqs4 e9lFa5
In these days. when efforts are being made to stir up
sectional strife aud organize political parties on geograp
ica neswhen religious intolerance and persecution
being pracscd through the agency Of secret
and when in high places sacrlegiously deny all obi
cation carry into effect the plain and imperative inunc-
tons of the constitution which they have sworn to sup
port is well for good men and true patriots to assemble
national birthday, at the birthplace of liber
ties and unite their efforts to preserve our republican in
stutions by perPetuatng the principles upon which they
On the 4th of July, l776 from the place where now
stand forefathers declared that these COLONIES
AND OF RIGHT OUGHT TO BE- FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES
were that day converted into thirteen independent
American States The language is clear and explicit The
which led to the separao and the insfrucuons
which the colonies gave to their delegates in tho
Congress- prescribing the conditions upon which the dec
araon Of independence was to 3 be made clearly show
The colonies did not in the first instance demand inde
pendence They were willing to acknowledge their ale
to manage and regulate their internal affairs and do
nestle in their way without the interference
dictaton of the imperial government They were will
na charters like the organic laws Of territorial
ernmen by which the people of the colonies might make
their own laws through their representatives in their local
legislatures but they soemnly protested against the right
imperial Parliament in which they had rcpresen-
ton affecting their personsa i'd property With
their Upon this point the separation took place.
the Declaration of Independence which you have just
heard red declared the thirteen colonies to be free and
independent States" But before the declaration made,
the colonies gave instructions their delegates prescri
bng the conditions which each would consent to such
declaration These instructions all prescribe the unda
vbrUh hupef
age their internal affairs and domestic concerns as TO them
| sAau seem meet and proper [Hearty chcers.J
The instructions which Pennyvania gave to her dele
gates the condition upon which they to vste for
the Declaration of Independence contained this emphatic
clause:
Rc.ervng to the people Of this colony the sole and encu
right Of regulating the internal and fabric Of
the same" lCheers and applause
The constitution of the United States was formed and
adopted by the people of these thirteen States each acting
for itself and upon its own responsibility distinct and
ed and under which live, each State was left
tirely free to form and control its domestic nstu
of efgovernment asserted in the Declaration of ndepend
ence and in vndcaon of which all the battles OF the
olution were fought lApplause
We frequently told by the aboitionists that the
stituton of the United States is ansavey instrument
devised and formed for the purpose Of preventing the
tension of African slavery ard Of eadcang and externi
mating it where it found TO exist Those who make
this statement furnish conclusive evidence that they do
understand the principles of the constitution the his
Il
the adoption of the constitution twelve Of the thirteen
States by which it was formed slayehodng States Is
it reasonable to expect to presume assertion
and without evidence that these twelve slavehoding States
devised and ratified the constitution with the view of de-
stroying domestic institution which was interviewer with
their whole social system and expressly recognised
of the legitimate elements Of political power in the federal
representation Why that clause in the federal consu
ton providing for the surrender of ugves from SERVICE
if it the object of that instrument to abolish slavery
and release the slaves from bondage The pretensons of
the aboloniss in this respect rendered preposteous
by the terms of the constitution itself The idea of either
slavery by the constitution Of the United States by the
action of the federal government entered the brain Of
the trainers of the constitution. African slavery whether
| right wrong, wise unwise, ut that time
sng in twelve of the thirteen States The institution
planted by the British in each Of the thr
teen colonies without their and against their
monsrances The of the revolution converted the de-
pendent colonies into independent States, without chang
ing affecting the relations existing between the master
and slave Slavery ceased to exist in of the States
but still remained in all the others Pennsylvania included,
at the time the constitution of the United States
formed With the few exceptions expressly provided for in
recognise protect whatever institution each State act
ing for ITSELF had should establish legazc The peo
pie of each State left entirely free to choose for them
selves what kind Of domestic institutions they would have
and and long each State should thus deter
mine it became the duty of the federal government under
the constitution to protect such institutions in the
States they should bo found 10 exist for instance,
Pennsylvania saveholdng State the time of the
adoption of the constitution, and remained than
quarter of century before the institution closed under the
decree Other own people So long Pennsylvania contn
II