The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-06-20
lCorresIondonce Of the Chicago rtnesI
SENATOR DOUGLASS SPEECH AT SPRINGFIELD
ILLINOIS, ON THE KANSAS QUESTION, THE
DRIED SCOTT DECISION AND AFFAIRS IN
UTAH.


letter writer's, when adiIS 10 the speeches OF dktn.
gushed men, frequently 10 characterize the last effort of
the orator the best OF his life and not without some
justice am compelled to adhere to the usual rule In
speaking OF the truly great speech which have just heard
from the lips Of our distinguished se'iafot "a
am that not Of the thousands Of delighted
democrats who had the pleasure Of hearing Judge Doug
las this evening will feel disposed to join issue with me
in the above opinion nay very much doubt the hon
onble senator himself many and powerful are the
speeches he has delivered, would feel that he would be
doing justice 70 himself deny that if not superior Il
certainly equal to any of his best efforts.
Al you may seem somewhat surprised on learning that
the Judge who had not contemplated making any speeches
on the important topics Of the day during the present
recess OF Congress, induced to do will merely
inform you that the occasion that called him as
much matter of surprise to him AZ II was gratifying
disappointment TO his many admirers and friends in Cen
trail Illinois.
On Wednesday last the grand jury of the United States
court holding its session in this city unanimously
passed resolution requesting Senator Douglas who was
temporarily visit 10 friends in this city, 70 OK
press his Vows upon thee OF the most important opts
now agitating the minds of the American people wit
kansas, .'thc Drcd Scott decision, and ''afirs in
Utah..
The grand jury in body waited upon the Judge and,
after presenting their action requested that he would tx
upon time most agreeable TO himself CRAFTY their
wishes Friday evening at the State House agreed
upon The subjectmattcr Of the argument he made upon
that occasion propose briefly TO allude to- touching
only the strong points OF his really able and convincing
speech
The large hall of the house of representatives galleries
lobbcs and approaches, dcnsey packed by one Of
the largest most intelligent and most discriminating a,
dences quite number of whom were ladies' which were
congrcgatcd in our city
Ex-Governor Matteson the presiding officer as.
sisted by Hon w c. Cloudy, OF Fulton ard CO.. J. y
Hacker, of Union, secretaries
The distinguished speaker commenced by stating the
that induced him to forcgo his determination of
addressing his constituents during the recess Of Con
gress, and said that request coming from such distn-
guished he did not think he had right to de-
cline especially he always recognised the rights Of the
people any time to call upon their public servants for
their opinions upon any of the great political questions
upon which they had TO pass in judgment His views
always freely given, and earlcssly acted upon
and to be taken for just what they worth and
Upon the Kansas question he had little to say
His opinions that question well known and lie
had nothing TO add except that subsequent experience
and reflection had confirmed him in the the
judgment he had often advanced in the Senate and be-
fore the people.
He spoke of the fairness and justice OF the law, giving
the people opportunity of expressing their honest
victons the subject of slavery in constitutional
ner by of constitutional convention to
decide that and all other important matters connected
with the future of the State of Kansas. The people
of that beautiful Territory would speak We would
have he had doubt free and quiet expression
opinion by of the elective franchise, from that silent
bnt most certain weapon OF free peoplc-the baotbox
Should the enemies of that mode of settling the much
obstnaely refuse to exercise the rights assured them by
the laws of Congress- upon their heads and theirs alone
will rest the fearful responsibility For his part be
satisfied the democratic party in Congress had done their
duty, and he equally well satisfied that the demo
cratic party in the Territory Of Kansas would do theirs
manner gratifying to the heart of every friend Of the
constitution and the Union.
He next alluded to the decision of the Supreme Court
in the bred Scott case He said before the opinion of the
court regularly and legally promulgated, upon the
ncwsp1mG report that such decision had been
made fierce Vlslaught had been me lie, not only upea
that honorcd tribunal collectively, but the personal
and private characters OF the Judges bitterly and
gnanty assaed and vllfied. Even the venerable and
noble Chief Justice who forty years had governed
the country and the bench in his capacity Of awgve
he, with the of eighty winters upon his
rable head and the experience of nearly century Of wis
dom and learnnghe, than whom purer patriot an
ADLER uris better citizen does not and has
lved--ths man, high and pure in his great office,
selected by these malicious archcs who defy all law,
for their most cnycnoed shafts and their most wicked
aud malignant cnmy. After passing high and bcaui-
full euogum upon the other judges and descantng upon
the terrible results that must certainly should
the reasonable conses Of the leaders of the republican
party be followed he asked .wha is there to Justify
such course r. We are vauntingly told in all the
publican papers that free people to rise in the
majesty of their strength and resist at all hazards the
application of the decision in this rule of law
in this country He adhered to the doctrine that this
government Of laws and every free and
patriotic citizen is bound to uphold the supremacy Of the
laws at all hazards and against all opposition, from
what quarter it may. In such contest political parties
must divide between the friends Of the constitution and
the laws and the enemies Of all law. When that contest
he had faith TO believe that fully nine tenths OF
the American people would be found rallying under our
glorious banner of the stars, and battling for the same IN
cstimahle blessings that foreathers battled ora
constitution, a country, and government Of laws Be-
meath such flag, with the constitution and the supem
acy of the laws emblaxoned on its glttering folds,
Where brcatles the foe but falls before us
With freedoms soil beneath Feet
And freedoms banner waving DER usY
Ii the republican party desired to force such contest
upon us in Gods name let it come! The democratic
party and the honest and rejecting citizens OF all parties
would rally to the rescue
He reviewed the main points of the decision ut length
and said there substantially but two propositions ~
the decision first, the Supreme Court Of the United
States has decided that negro BON of slave parents can
not he citizen of this Union and, secondly that inc
act of March, 1920 commonly called the Missouri Com
PROMISE unconstitutional and therefore void before
it taken from the statuc-books by the passage OF be
Kansas, Nebraska act He the author OF that act ana
consequently of the repeal of the Missouri Compromise
lne had left the decision Of the question to the people
and the judges of the Supreme Court The decision o.
the people had been ratified 1T the polls in the TRIUMPH
ant election OF Mr. Buchanan to the presidency upon n
very issue and that decision had been endorsed by inc
Supreme Court the highest tribunal of the land 70
fan rs he concerned his sin extended as far as inc
repeal OF an unconstitutional restriction, and no i
ther and in that repeal he had been most emphatcaiy
sustained and endorsed by the people and the court b
the republican party say the decision is infamous, m"
must not be obcyed Here is treason most foul What
he asked their object in making the negro citizen
7b make him gow equal and mine He was thankful tc
American people were lost all feelings OF patriot