Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-03-31
JUDGE DOUGLASS SPEECH AT RICH
MOND,

Two accounts OF the address OF Senator
Douglas at Richmond, on Tuesday evening
represent it as one of great power and ability;
and even our contemporary, the Richmond
Wing, with evident reluctance while it denies
for it these qualities, upon the whole, speaks
Of it i'll favorable commentator. An address
from distinguished Democrat Senator that
calls forth a leader of column in length
from strict partisan journal Of the opposite
party, and that, too, in terms of much praise,
must have been not only "credaable," but wor-
thy Of his large and intelligent audience. The
Wing thus makes merry of the Judges bib-
cal Illustration, which, if we belonged TO the
Nght-e'rantry Order, we should incline to
think was too true to make joke of:
she turned preacher towards the close of
his speech, and, to our SURPRISE evinced a com.
mendable familiarity with several passages Of
| scripture. Referred to Herod, the dancing
damse John the Baptist, and the conse.
quences OF making woman promise. He
did this with genuine pulpit solemnity, but his
mock seriousness all ended in an audible cbuc
kle and broad farce on the part of his audi.
ence Most of his ".furr6" auditors evidently
heard the story Of Herod and the damsel for
the first time. 1t is, perhaps, not recorded in
their Bible; and their priestly masters will not
allow them access TO Protestant one."
Now, as represented to US, the conclusion Of
his interesting speech was substantially as fol-
lows, and we give it to our readers as most
happy and forcbe application of the incident to
the agfM sTearing done by the Know nothings.
We hope, at some future day, to give it entire
place in our columns:
In conclusion, my friends, if any Of you.
under false alurements, have, at an unlncky
hour, entered the Know-nothing Council and
assumed its obligations, let me conjure you, as
you revere the Constitution and love the Union,
instantly to withdraw your allegiance from
Council whose forms of proceeding and pHnci.
pies OF political action are inconsistent with
your paramount duty TO your country. Let no
false scruples in regard to the binding oblga-
cations Of unlawful oaths--no tmid dread of
the resentments of idle, illiberal, and unworthy
associates, impel you forward in a line of con.
| duct which your consciences cannot approve
Take warning from the fatal example Of Herod,
as recorded in the Holy Scriptures That mo.
\ march, we are told, in the penttude of his
| power and his pride, at feast in honor of his
birthday, became enamored with the charms
and dancing Of the daughter Of his wife by her
| first husband. In the fullness OF his heart and
the delerium Of his passions, he said TO the
damsel: ASK Of me whatsoever you may choose
and it shall be given unto you, even to the ex-
tent Of one.balf Of my kingdom" And as an
evidence Of his sincerity and devotion, he
affirmed his promise by an oath as solemn and
terrible as was ever administered in a Know.
nothing Council.
The damsel, after consulting her mother,
said to Herod, will that you give me by and
! by, the head Of John the Baptist in charger
Herod was exceedingly sorry, for he feared and
loved John, and knew him to be true and
| holy man.
My oath my oathl" he exclaimed, and in
obedience to that unlawful oath he directed the
executioner to bring the head Of John the
Baptist in charger, and give it to the damsel,
who Immediately presented it to her mother in
atonement of the mortal offence Of having
said that her marriage to the brother of her
husband was unlawful. Let the example Of
Herod be warning to all men how they VIC.
late their consciences in obedience TO unlawful
oaths. Are you prepared, my friends, at the
bidding Of know.nothing Council, to become
the executioners Of that great party with whose
organization you we're born, and whose princi-
pies you yindicste7 Are You prepared to be.