The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-09-11
Great Demecrasic Meeting NJ spring

Great De mscrasic Meeting NJ spring
slslA.
Tho National Democracy: held q conven-
ton in Springfield on Tuesday, for the pur-
pose Of nominating candidate for Con-
grcss. The convention WAS large, and most
Of the principal Buchanan men Of the State
we're on hand, In high spirits, and breathing
threatenings and slaughter against the "Lit-1
tic Dodger," as they now call the great
demagogue Of Illinois.
Capt. j. l.. Mcdonnell was nominated for
Congress, and Platform Of Eve resolutions
two commenting the President and three
condemning Douglas-was adopted.
Speeches were made by the "Old Ranger"
Ex- Gov. Reynolds, Mcconnell, the nominee
for Congress, DR.. Leib, the Buchanan Mail
Agent, and by the U. s. District Attorney
Fitch, Of Chicago.
We make room for . couple Of extracts
from Fitch's speech, which was devoted to
ssskinnning' the slaughtered Giant. He
said:
That proud confidence which the Demo-
cratic party once placed in Douglas has been
broken; that deep abiding trust which they
reposed in him has been forfeited, and no
simulated pentence, no threatened ven.
geance can restoreit Defeated or elected,
he can never again have an opportunity Of
betrayine the confidence Of the Democratic
party.
Now, why did Mr.. Douglas oppose that
admission might tell you that it was
because the Senator was . patriot, because
he was great man, because he was one OF
the champions Of the people, the only csva-
lier "sdns peur sans reproche," in the Dem
ocratic ranks; or any other Of the handsome
reasons usuly given by the Senator himself.
But prefer telling you less eulogistic and
moro truthful account.
/ The first 'great principle that underlies"
the movement is the principle of self-preser-
walton. (Great laughter. Douglas con-
oeived that his reelection depended on it,
His political necessities drove him into the
course. The growing free-soil sentiment Of
Illinois must be conciliated or the State
) would no longer require his services. APP
plause. 1t was not that Kansas was to be
forced into the Union, but that Douglas was
likely to be forced out OF the Senate. Pro
onged laughter.] Not that popular sover-
eighty in the territories was being violated,
but that popular sovereignty in the State
was about to be enforced. IContinued laugh
teri Not that the right OF Kansas "to reg
ulate her domestic institutions in her own
way, subject only to the Federal Constitu-
r tlon," was to be overthrown, but tina,
: the right Of Illinois to the same thing, un.
!, subjected to the dictation Of Stephen A
|
q laughter.
1t was not that the honorable senator
/. loved the democracy less, but that he loved
Douglas more. Ho was perfectly willing tc
make any reasonable sacrifice of his friends
e or hei, means TO sustain the party, but to
@ ask him to sacrifice his own personal inter.
n est was asking a little too much even for the
Little Giant. Great Cheers. 1t may have
. been very Roman and very immortal to staEd
o up like brave and honorable man in de-
fence OF the party that had elevated him
/. but it might have cost him his Senatorial
, head, hence he preferred the discretion "a
the valor Of the deed. Hit him again. l.
Honor may have pricked him on, but il
i honor should have pricked him of-that was
the rub. Honor had no skill in ballots
Honor could not secure vote; therefore he
> would none Of it. Cheers. a
: And to this a very natural and discreet
: principle of self-preservation, q private
. pique against Mr.. Buchanan for having de.
!. feated him at Cincinnati, and thus spared
him still greater defeat ut the hands of The
' people, and refusing to appoint Mr.. Richard
!, son 10 Cabinet office, (who by-the-bye
y would have made brilliant Cabinet officer,
: and you have the "true intent and meaning
Of the anti. Lecompton fight in nut she'll
Cheers.r
To advance his personal interests and tt
: crafty his private ohagrin, he hesitated moi
j to violate his own principles, divide his OWL
friends and ally himself to men whose creed
was the destruction Of the Democ party
. and whose ultimate purpose was disnnion.-
Q Men whom be had often denounced in terms
4 that would be unjust if even now applied t.
!. himself.
Then, after showing that Douglas refused
to 20 into the Democratic caucus last white,
q and had opposed all the caucus nominations
!. and united with and counseled Republican,
!. in measures to defeat the Administration
! and the Democratic party Of the country, Mr.
. Fitch proceeded thus
n Upon the bred Scott decision also we fnt
: Judge Douglas assuming the position at va
Rance with that Of the Democratic party
u AT the opening Of this campaign that decision
was as sacred to him as q sacrament. Itwal
|, great mountain light upon the constitution
=. al relation Of slavery. We find him at Uhi
;. cAgo ridiculing the idea Of appealing frou
~ the Supreme Court to q town meeting, abl,
rebutting Mr.. Lincoln's arguments in oppo
sition III, and Showing in Difference to tina
= decision.' But as the campaign progressed
y and the Free Soil pressure Of Northern Iii
st nois began TO be more felt, we find Judg,
rs Douglas waxing weaker every day in bis hal
), Barnum and half patriotic devotion to tn,
Supreme Court, until finally at Freeport h,
made q more insidious, cowardly and injur
IL GUS attack upon that decision than Mr.. Lin
Ut colin ever has or ever will be guilty Of. ii,
10 there states tina, whatever the Court may do
eide az 10 the abstract question OF slavery
- the people Of Territory still have right
to under ssmy Nebraska bilI'' to practically null
hfy il by unfriendly legislation. Ia othe
il. words, notwithstanding the constitution pro
:. tects the right TO hold slaves in Territory
. notwithstanding the Supreme Court-th
II highest tribunal known to the law--has, in
ct solemn decision, SO interpreted that Consti
re tuition, still Mr.. Douglas iutimates to the fire.