The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-08-11
MONDAY MORNING. AUGUST 6. 1855



This debased and despised man is laborinQ
in every possible way that his low cunning
and vulgar, staggering manner can devise
to again establish himself in a position tha,
will enable him to command some degree
OF respect among honorable citizens OF the
West There is not railroad celebration
or agricultural meeting, or land SALE or pic
mic, or any significant or insignificant gather
ing Of the people within three hundred miles
of Chicago. that be does not, with or without
invitat on, obtrude himself upon, in order to
play the egotistical braggart. and swell his
pompous. hypocritical voice in order to catch
some faint glimmcring OF hope that he is yet
to be great man in the councils of the nation.
But the labor is as vain as his own selEsufi-
cheney. He here and there receives the faint
applause of a few ignorant groundlings; but
the great intelligent and honest masses look
upon him with all the feelings Of lOathing and
contempt that would have been shown to
Benedict Arnold. had be walked through the
streets of New York or Boston year alter the
close of the Revolutionary War. The sound
of the slavedrieer's lash is borne by the West
ern breeze from the plains of Kansas-that
Kansas which was free until this same traitor s
h4sd was raised to break down the barrier
aad Slavcry-and the sound OF that lash. while
1t rings in the ears Of the Freemen of this
land. warns them TO know Douglas no more
forever. They are heeding the warning; and
while they treat him with as much respect as
their feelings will allow, they cannot prevent
those feelings from having audible expression
in all proper and legitimate modes.
We have an instance at hand: A few days
since. several Of the Chicagon.as and other
citizens of Western Illinois, met at Sterling to
celebrate tie op@uing of the Air Line Rail
road from Chicago to that point. which is
within ,wenty-e' ebt miles of the Mississippi at
Fulton City. AS is usual on such occasions. a
goodly proportion of the intelligence and en-
tcrprse of the Garden City was in attendance.
and Our fearl IS friend, brother Bross Of the
Democratic Press, was part aud parcel there
Of In his graphic account OF the celebration,
he states that Douglas was called upon for a
speech, and of course he spoke. The Pres,
thus comments:
His speech was all we'll enough hut whaI
we afterwards learued to be true Was plainly
evident that he was thrust upon the audiehc-
by few OF his frlends. numbering, all told
some half q dDzea, with the vain hope that h.
M Qht be able tO make some political capital
out ut it. His eif0ets in this regard were Ell
tirely frultleSs. His willingness to play ST.
cnnd fiddle Or any tiddie on all social Occa
siuns shows the utter h0pelessness of his po
sition and considering the heig ght from which
he has fallen in the public estimation. it is al
most ptlable-stiilit it is just Time only adds
point and power to the score with which the
treachery of Benedict Arnold and Aaron Burr
Is regarded and 20 it will he with Stephen A.
Douglas. The ruthless haui' which could
.reak down the compromises OF the COnstitu
ton. open again the angry agitation OF tbs
slavery questIoa and invite the spreading G.
it's dark pail over one of the fairest portions o.
cur Country solemniy consecratcd by our faith
ers to freedom. is palsed 10y the breath of al,
ind gaant aud free people"
So it is everywhere. But as the Press says
'.it lie just" Had we son. we would consider
1t part of our duty in educating him to instil
into his mind. by daily teachings. that hatred
Of Douglas and his abettors in this foul conspi
racy. which history infrms US was instii'e'
into the heart of the youthful Hannibal by BIZ
father against the Romans Nothing short o
feeling of this kind can express the degree q
determined aud eternal animosity which it j.
the duty of every lover Of Freedom to feel to
wards Stephen A. Dou gas. now that We real
ize the practical workings of his treachery
ana while the appalling iul6llment OF forme
pred.ctio is borne to US Ly every mail fron
Kansas and Nebraska.