The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-06-25
SPEECH OF HON. S. A. DOUGLAS.

DELIVERED AT THE PHILADELPHIA MASS MEET
ING OF 10000 PEOPLE IN INDEPENDENCE
SQUARE.
Fellow DEMOCRATS Il have before me a
sure guarantee OF that triumph which certain
ly awaits us al the polls in this election
When, on any former occasion, was there
ever such dense mas of Democratic vo.
.ers assembled 10 ratlfy the nominations 70;
the Presidency and Vice Presijencya This
vast assemblage, which may be measured by
the acre, rather than counted by thousands
II shows the deep and heartfelt interest W hich
The people of this country feel in the mo-
mentous contest in which we have just emef'
ged.
Never since that memorable contest oil
1900, which resulted in the election of the
immortal Jefferson, has there been time
when issues, so pregnant with good or evil 10
our institutions, have been presented, as in
the one which is now before us. Great ques
tions Of foreign policy, great questions Of Go.
mes,c policy; questions iraught with the
most intense import, are now before us.
In our foreign policy there is question
which involves IN its settlement the peace
the perpetuily of this glorious Republic. Il
is simply question whether the principle ol
self.govenment upon which all our insii,u
lions rest, shall be maintained in the States
and Territories of this Union, subject only ia
the limitations of the Constitution of the Uni.
ted States [Cheers and long applause
Hurrahs for Squa,ler Sovereignty
The Cincinnati Convention has performed
its duty honorably, wisely. and periodically,
upon all points presented 10 them. II has
presented 10 the country platform which
commands the hearty appreciation OF every
sound national man in the country; and il
has presented candidates for the Presidency
and Vice Presidency, worthy of the platform
on which they stand. Those nominations
have been made, and that platform has beer
adopted by unanimous vote-receiving The
vote Of every delegate from every State o
this great and glorious Republic.
Shall il hereafter be said that the Demo
cratic party is not National party? Wha
other party ever existed in this country which
could proclaim its creed by an unanimou
vote. A creed 10 be construed alike n Penn
sylvania and Virginia, in New York ant
Georgia, in Illicois and Louisiana, in The
North and the South, in The East aud thu
West. Wherever the, Constitution reigns
there the Democratic creed is one and th'
same, II is creed that can command tn,
faith and support of every Democrat-aye
and Of every old line Wing who is true 10 III,
principles Of Clay and Webster.
II is 10 be remarked, and never 10 be fol
gotten, that in 1850 the leaders--lhe cham
pions Of the s'true gril''' political party-you
Clays and your Websters, yorr Casses an
your other patrols of the Democratic party
united and agreeing upon common cree
in respect TO this vexed question of slavery
which should be common alike 10 Wings al
10 Democrats. ss. ..#r.ta. ..
We agreed then, that we might quarrel an
differ as much as we pleased in respect I
banks and tariffs, and public lands, and othe
questions Of expediency but upor that gres
vital question, upon those fundamental prir
ciples which involve the integrity or the Cor
siitution, the stability Of the Uaion, all patr
o,s of all parties and shades of opinion woul
agree that the great principle Of State equal
~ and self.government, under the Consiilt
,iop, were paramount to all party confiic
and party differences. Hence, in 1852, whe
the Whig party assembled in their nation
convention, TO present candidates TO the coul
try for their suffrages, they resolved that th
principles Of the compromise Of 1850 shoul
be firmly, steadily and honestly carried ou
whsn The Democracy assembled a, Baltimo OF
and presenisd our ticket for the same office