The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-06-21
Judge Douglas at New York.

the nomination Of James Buchanan and j..
c. Breckenridge, Gen. Cass, Judge Douglas
ard other distinguished democrats were pres
ent. We copy the following report of Judge
Douglas speech from the New York Herald ::
FELLOW DEMocRATs-I have before me
sure guarantee Of that triumph which GER
tainly awaits US at the polls of this election
When, on any former occasion, was there
ever seen such a dense mass Of democratic
voters assembled TO ratify nominations for
the Presidency and Vice Presidency as this
vast assemblage, which may be measured
by the acre rather than counted by the thou
sand 1: shows the deep and heartfelt in
terest which the people of this country feel
in the nomentous contest in which we have
just engaged. NcAer since that memorable
contest of 1900, which resulted in the cleo
ton Of the immortal Jefferson, has there
been time when issues so pregnant with
good or evil to our institutions have been
presented as in the one whicn is now be-
fore Us. Great questions Of foreign policy
and great questions Of domestic policy
questions fraught with most intense import
are now before US. In our domestic policy
! there is a question which involves in its set
tement the peace, the pcrpctuity of this
glorious republic. 1t is Simply Ahether the
principle Of sef-governnent upon which
all our institutions rest shall be maintained
in the States and Territories of this Union,
subject only to the limitations Of the Consti
tuition Of the United States. The Cincinnati
Convention has performed its duty, hOnora-
bly,, wisely and periodically upon ali the
points presented to them. IL has presented
to the country platform which commands
the hearty appreciation Of every sound ma
tional man in the country, and has present
ed candidates for the Presidency and Vice
Presidency worthy Of the platform on which
they stand. These nominations have been
made, and that platform has been adopted
by a unanimous vote-receiving the vote of
this great and glorious republic Shall it
hereafter be said that the democratic party
is not national party: What other party
ever existed in this country, which could
proclaim its creed by unanimaus vote-a
creed to be construed alike in Pennsylvania
and Virginia. in New York and Georgia, IN
Illinois and louisiana, in the North and the
South, in the East and the West, wherever
the constitution reigns, there the democratic
ere ID is one and the same. II is creed
that can command every democrat, ave
every old line whig who is true TO the pIin-
ciples Of Clay and Webster. Il IS 10 be re-
marked, and never to be forgotten, that in
1850 the leaders and champions Of the true
grit political party-your Clays and your
Websters your CasSes and your Otner pa
tTiots Of the democroti: pRrty-unted in
agreeing upon common creed in respect 10
this vexed question Of slavery, which should
be common alike 10 wings and 10 democrats
We agreed then that we might quarrel and
ffer much we pleased in respect TO
blnks, and tlrrii., and public lands, ard
N.[
that great vital question, upon th=se funda-
mental Frinci les which involve the in,egri-
" Of the constitution and the stability of
the Union all patriots of all parties and
shades Of opinion would agrey that the great
principles Of State equality and self govern
nlent under the constitution were paramount
= Ill Pe'.- eorii'ota and rarty differences
Hence, in 1852. when the wbi- party assem-
blcd n National Convention to present can
didates to the country for the sutIrages of
the people, they resolved that the princi-
pies Of tic compromise Of 1850 -houd be
hrrn.y, steadily and honestly carried out
hen TIE democracy assembled at Bati-
NOR and presented Jieketf5r the SANE of
fees, We passed resolutions 70 the same ef-
fcc;. Wings and democrats agreed on tie
great platform involv.ug the slavery issue
the question Of State rights, ari the ques-
ton OF the right Of se.i-government in the
Territories. After the example of 1852 it
became my duty. as the organ of the Senate
upon that question, 70 report the Kansas
Nebraska bl. The Convention has said by
a unanimous vote that the great principles
of State rights and popular sovereignty, en-
dorSed by the wings in National Convention
in 1882, and affirmed by the democracy in
the election of Franklin Pierce in 1852, were
rightly applied in the organization OF Kansas
and Nebraska. | ask. then, what democrat
can depart from the faith of the party, as
proclaimed at Cincinnati, without repudiat
ing long cherished principles, which he, as
a member of the party, has advocated from
the time that he came on the stage; and |
look farther. with emphaSiS.) what whig-
wha: disciple of the immortal Clay and the
God-,ike Webster can depart from the prin-
cip!es embraced in the compromise measures
Of 1850, and rc-asserted in the NebraSkr
bill, without repudiating principles to which
every whg stood pledged in the election of
1852 If man was an honest whig then.
in order to he consistent now, he must vote
for James buchanan. If a whig believes
that the great compromise measures of 1850
were right then, he must carry ont the plat
form of the Cincinnati Convention now, in
order to be true to the memory Of the great
great act was to adopt those measures
Great checring) Yet you will find men
who have proven false to the wing party
with which they once acted, and who have
gone into the secret lodges Of Know No
thingsm, tauntiug wings for not following
them into these dark places. ask you can
a whig join Know Nothing order, or con-
meet himself with black republican party,
without repudiating all the principles which
the whig party has advocated for years =
Hence the Cincinnati Convention acted wise
" and properly when they asked all men to
cooperate with them in their principles, and
to unite in the election of the nominees now,
without reference to past political differ
ences We are told by the allied enemies,
composed of black republicans, know no.
things and all other affiliated evils that the
democratic party are to be condemned be-
cause of our policy in regard to the Terrific
ry of Kansas. ask you TO observe for one
moment what has happenei in Kansas and
Nebraska. These two Territories were or
ganizcd by the same law. In Nebraska,
where there has been no foreign interfer-
ence, where abolitionism has not conducted
its operations, to which the emigrant aid So
ciety did not extend its efforts, there is no
thing but peace and quiet. On the other
hand, in Kansas, where the emigrant aid
society attempted to control the people, you.
find violence, and discord, and rebellion
against the laws of the land Do not these
facts show that the principles Of the Nebras-
ka bill were right? The only difficulties
that have occurred have arisen from the fact
that the opponents Of the measure were de-
termined not to give the bill fair chance
If YOU will examine into these facts you will
find that the allegations have not one parti-
Gle of ground on which to stand. Our prin-
ciples are the principles Of the constitution.
they are the principles of law and order, OF
peace and quiet Our remedy for the exist
ing evils in Kansas is, that the constitution
we are the advocates Of, snStains the supre-
.r .ho l,,vs Our ooponentS are the