The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-06
Mr.. DOUGLAS on HIS SOUTHERN PILGRIMAGE.
Extracts from his Opening Southern
Speech at Memphis, Tenn.
He Sticks to his Kansas Hobby OF
Popular Sovereignty"


Der OF his political friends Among them noticed
Gov. J. C. Jones, Hon X, W. NJ King Hon J Knox
Walker, 8 7, Walker, Esq, n Barnett, b. r. Dill, ESD,
and others.
Judge Douglas was introduced audience by GOV.
Iplrs AM GE>rlFNKs-My pleasant and agreeable duty
is you the Hon. stephen A. Douglas Of H.
LIMOS. (Cheers In addition 10 that pleasure have
the higher pleasure of saying that he is address
you upon the great political questions that agtae the
country OF hm y no, necessary that should speak;
he has shown himself able To speak for himself
The rest q the introduction was lost anna the cheers
with which IL was greeted.
Tho Judge, on rising, was greeted with shouts OF ap
psuse but quiet being restored and he having
chair that he might be better and heard proceeded
LADIES GE>uENxS-I feel small degree OF reluc-
lance in attempting TO make political speech you day
have had quite as much experience in public discussions
during this year agreeable 10 me Ola things
earth most unpeas ant is II for To be called upon for
apeech after the election Pending contest when
the PASSION and sentiments and the patriotism Of the
people aroused, speaker has something u animat
him. aud 10 induce him 10 exert himself present his
iments IN clear light 10 his audience We have ~.
passed through struggle in Illinois involving which
believe to be vital 70 the ncrpetty of this Uuon and
the peace and harmony of the different sections OF tn
pubic would not to-day Weld TO the request 10 address
but for the fact that desire whether demo
Gratis are the same in Tennessee they in Illinois
We have hal in Illinois during this summer, Governor
jones, and our democrats say that lie preaclrs
the same doctrine to them that we hold 10 be
orthodox IN our own community Immense chcering.)
so long as We live under common constitution, any
political creed which cannot be proclaimed wherever
that constitution Is the supreme law Of the land must be
runous and fatal. Principles ought TO be avowcd the
same in Tennessee in illinois, the in Louisiana
in New York; the South Carolina in Massachu
sets the same wherever the American flag
the American soil creed Of political party
country which cannot be thus announced and pros4cl
must be radically wrong In Illinois has been my place
10 fight against political organization, sectional m IT.
character sectional in lis PRINCIPLES sectional ia IT'S policy
and sectional in its organization The republican aboi
ton party North constitutes the main body OF all the
enemies q the democracy There that party i ncces
sary sectional appealing Northern passions, Northern
pride and ambition. (Cries Of That's so. } have had
occasion to say this on many "stump' IN Illinois this
hat tlat darn tla NJ, NINA ,.l
carry their principles with them. Can any political
organization be sound safe which is confined to
section and derives its entire strength by st aatng
passion, prejudice and hostility against another sec
tom am gong to address you to-day as an IN the
habit OF addressing Illinois audiences. do expect 10
say anything but that have said over over again
during the late canvass Of my state In Illinois, Mr.
tnctly defined his principles his opening address And
prominent IN his platform two articles, namely-tha
house divided against itself cannot stand that this govern
ment divided INTO free and slave states cannot
that they must all become free all saye--a become
thing all another otherwise this government could
not personally exist The other proposition that he ad
vanced crusade against the supreme Court Of the
United States because Of the bred Scott decision Upon
those two propositions ] a bold erect explicit and
unequivocal maintained that this government can
forever, divided into free and slave as our
fathers made it, each retaining the sovereign right 10 pro
tect slavery Just long chooses and abolish when
II peases. (Cheers) II Is fatal heress 20 say that
the local and domestic institutions Of the various States
must be uniform and equal Uniformity in the local
domestic institutions neither possible desirable
There many individuals North and South who think
locality that therefore il necessarily be and
useful throughout the whole republic. for believe
that this cunfcderacy not predcated aud founded
upon the basis OF uniformity among the different intu
Of the din On the our fathers
knew, well know, that in a republic n large
and broad this with such variety OF climate soil and
production there must necessarily be a corresponding
variety in the local and domestic institutions Of the differ
States each adapted the and each
locality. Our fathers knew that the adapted
TO the granite hills of New Hampshire TO
the rice growing plantations Of South Carolina They
knew that the laws aud institutions which well
adapted 20 the rich and fertile plains Of Illinois,
suited 10 the mining districts Of California. They knew
that variety of climate. soil and proucton necessarily
created corresponding variety in interest,
curing a dSsimilarity Of ms, tutions and laws adapt
ed TO the wants and interests Of each Hence
II does not follow because African slavery
is good institution for you in Tennessee thai IL is
wise one in Vermont or New Hampshire All / say on
that POINT this that this republic founded the
principle Of States rights sovereisniy CCheers) When
teen States, twelve OF which siavehoding and
free. The doctrine OF uniformity did not then pre-
vail as had occasion many times 10 say But suppose
this doctrine OF uniformity had prevailed IN the
ton that framed the constitution, and when they were
about 10 sign had risen and said that Ga house divided
against itself cannot stand" This Union divided into
free and slave states cannot endure they must all be free
all slave Suppose they had announced 10 the trainers
Of the constitution that assumpion-what would have
been the result 10 you think that the free State
would have ortyoted the other twelve slaveholding
States and abolished slavery everywhere the con-
sry, would not the twelve slsvchoding States have
voted The one free state and established slavery by
rcyocable provision of the constitution every foot Of
the American continent Great cheering and appause
hrmly believe that there is no safety 70 This republic:
there can he peace no harmony between the North
AID the South there he perpc,uiy this govern
ment except by the administering good faith upon
these principles, upon which y was maie-0 wit, The
right Of each state Old new free Save 20 manage
~ affairs e. sui Itself and then mind is bust
ness. and let is ghoors alone. Immense applause
Twas glad 20 find Mr.. lincoln boldly avowny lis prnci
pies his opc nlDg speech had desire the
fearful contest which was involved, gncss f. results
should settle permanently great political principles.
When Mr. Lincoln took H. position went hart and soul
INTO that contest, u order TO ascertain whether not
there Wa any common platform upun which northern
and southern people may live ~ peace forever under
common Constitution. tAppGuse) j think nm doing
my opponent injustice when say that have driven
him stcp ~ stop, from almost every plank his plat
form Just a. that point Nr sward, thc great elicr ~
the rcrut PARTY stcret Into the AMI made Ms
Yochffcr elsfch and held up ~ tho world ths rr,af
creed that Sir lincoln about abandoning The pans
81 Illinois Mr. Stewards Rochester speech doves NJ, can
fau nv idea propositions each AMI every
taken from the debate the ILLINOIS contest, aud hence
when ilat speech was male % feel rather desire -
make the Northern route n Washington " make
speech u reply 70 Sewaru version u Lucoins PLATFORM
Bu, matters noi whether TIC plliorm + made BY Ill
nois o. Ncw Yoyk-wtother ~. Lincoln Or Seward b.
the standard bearer Tic question h whether this
novel doctrine 81 uniformity between local anI domestic
institutions shall Prevail 10 this government, or the old
iash@n,N go' ne me sovereign fght 81 cach state "
decide iof ts shall be maintained forever this repub
coin reyisWcd Oh behalf n he rspi csr ~ abolition bar
~ " the Illinois contest great crusade against the su.
premc court one account 81 the Fred scout dcci. |
Under that proposition vcrl0us points were 4
made. Frst that the bred Scott decision Is IN. 4
jsst, wicked and mons,fous, because was in.
tended 20 deprive the ncgrn ~ the benefits ~ that
clause ~ the constitution ~ The Tinted Staas which
declares that the citizens . each State SHAH be entitled 10
all privileges and mmUucs g. the Ct1us % tile several
states In other words that decision intended h deprive
the negro slave free, ~ the benefits citizenship
then stated, now repeat, such the OBJECT or
legal eject ~ The decision the strongest argument
that could be urged In support q - correctness hold
that this government was made by white men or the
benefit ~ white and Their postcry: and ID ~ al
mins,ercd BY white and none other, and tat The
gro not cannot be- AMI never ought b. be- otasn Of
the United states. (Checrs) I have not r. lei /
10 advance that proposition IN every political I
speech that 7 have made Tor the last Two years I
The question arises what tho nature extent u tho
rights r. extend 81 the negrOP sly answer to
that question y uis tie question which each state
Ger the constitution, has right " decide ur itself We
~ Illinois have decided that question. W. began
Territory, establishing hereditary slavery within and