Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-07-11
Senator Douglas Last Speech.

from Illinois, being temporarily at Spring
field, the capital cf that noble State, the
Grand Jury of the United states Court in
session there waited on him in body,
with request that he would address his
fellow citizens upon three of the most i'm.
portunt topics now agitatng the mind of
the American people, namely, Kansas"
"The Dred Scott Decision" and "Affairs
in Utah." Judge Douglas consented, and
on Friday evening, the 18th ult., the hall
of the House of Representatives was crowd.
ed with discriminating audience, including
many ladies. Ex-Gov. Matteson presided.
Upon commencing, Mr.. Douglas remarked
that he recognized the right of the people
at any time to call upon their public ser
wants for their opinions. As to the Kau-
sas question, his views, he said, we're well
known, and he had nothing to add. Ac-
cording to the Report in the Chicago
Times
"Tho po'p'c of that beautiful territory
would soon speak. We would soon have,
he had no doubt, free and quiet express
sion of opinion, by means of the elective
franchise, from that silent, but most certain
weapon of free people-the ballot box
Should the enemies of that mode of settling
the much vexed question Of slavery in that
territory, blindly and obstinately refused
to exercise tho tights assured them by the
laws of Congress, upon their heads, and
theirs alone, will rest the fearful response
bility. For his part he was satisfied the
Democratic party in Congress had done
their duty, and he was equally well salts.
fed that the Democratic party in the terri.
tory of Kansas would do theirs in manner
gratifying to the heart of every friend OF
the Constitution and the Union"
Judge Douglas next alluded to the deci.
sion of the Supreme Court in the Dred
Scott case, and defended the venerable
chief justice and the other members of the
Court from the onslaught made upon them
by the sham Republicans.
llC duucICu " tlC uUuG tUls
government is government of laws, and
every free and patriotic iizen is bound to
uphold the supremacy of the laws at all
hazards and against all opposition, come
from what quarter it may. In such con.
test, political parties must divide between
the friends Of the Constitution and the
laws, and the enemies of all law. When
that contest comes, he had faith to believe
that fully niue.tenths of the American peo
pie would be found rallying under oul
glorious banner Of the stars, and battling
for the same cstimablo blessings that oul
forefathers battled ior.--a constitution-a
country-and government of laws.
If the Republican party desired to force
such contest upon US, in Gods name let
it cme! The democratic party, and the
honest and rejecting citizens of all partie!
would rally to the rescue
We continue to quote from the accoun
in the Times:
" he reviewed the main points in tn
decision nt length, and said there wcr
substantially but two propositions in th
decision. First, The Supreme Court o
the United tates has decided that negr,
born of slave parents cannot be a citizen o
this ULion; and, Secondly, That the act o
March, 1920, commoly called the Missouri
Compromise, was unconstitutional, ant
therefore void, bef.re it was taken from
the statute books by the passage of tn
Kansas \ ebraska act. He, as the autho
of that act and consequently of the repea
of the Missouri Compromise line, had lef
the decision of the question to the people
and the judges of the Supreme Court =
The decision of the people had been rattle
at the polls, in the triumphant election G
Mr.. Buchanan to the presidency upon tina
very issue, and that decision had been en-
dorsed by the Supreme Court, the highes
tribunal Of the land. So far as he wa
concerned, his sin extended as far as til
repeal of an unconsttutionol restriction
and no farther, and in that repeal he ha
; been most emphatically sustained and en-
dorsed by the people and the court Bu
the Republican party say the decision
Infamous and must not be obeyed. Her
is treason most foul. What, be asked,
thclt opJece Ill iuahihS eho heSro d cltlLeu
IL make linn yOur equal and mine. H
was thankful the American people wer
not so lost to all feelings Of patriotism ant
love of country, as to be prepared to ress
the constitutional authorities OF the coun
try merely IN 0rder IN secure negro equait;
!, To do this, the laws of his and ever
other State in the Union must be reversed
1t would be, in fact, making Illinois, stu
ted as she is, negro colony, instead Of
free State inhabited by white men, Yo
must strike the word 'achite' from the Cor
stitution of your State; and what then =
The negro becomes Your equal--you
equal in everything Your equal at tn
,, polls, your equal at the public tables, you
equal in the jury box, your equal to bc
come a candidate for the Legislature, Cor
gress, the Governorship-his children wi
be the equal of yours in the public school
Nay, more, make him a citizen, and yo
give him the right to marry your daughte
t and pollutc your blood. These things ii