Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1858-07-22
SPEECH OF SENATOR DOUGLAS
oS TIRE OCCASION OF HIS
RECEPTEONA AT CHICAGO.
FRIDAY EVENING, July 9rH, 1853.

FRIDAY EVENING, July 9rH, 1858.
/ Mr.. DOUGLAS said:
! Mr.. Chairman and fellow -citizens:-I
can find no language which can adequately
express my profound gratitude for the mag
niiicent welcome which you have extended
to me on this occasion. This vast sea O.!
human faces indicates how deep our inter-
est is felt by cur people in the great ques-
tions which aglta,e the public mind and
which underlie the foundations of our free
institutions. A reception like this, so great
i'll numbers that no human Voice can be
heard 10 IFS countless thousands enthu-
siastic that tho one individual can he the ob-
ject of such enlhusiasm-cl clearly shows
that there is some great principle which
sinks deep IN the heart of the masses. ard
involves the rights and the liberties of
whole people, that has brought you together
with unanimiy and cordiality never
before excelled, ii, indeed, equalIed on any
occasion. (Cheers). have not the vanity
to believe that ii is any personal compliment
10 me.
Voices-oIt is!" "You have deserved
it, and great applause.
1t is an expression of your devotion 10
that great principle OF seligovernment
(crles Of ''hear," .'hear,") to which my
life for many years past has been, and in
the whole luture will be devoted. Im-
mense cheeriug.) If there is any one
principle dearcr and more sacred than all
others in free governments, il is that which
asserts the exclusive right OF free people
10 form and adopt their own fundamental
law, and 10 manage and regulate their own
internal affairs and domestic Institutions -
{ (Applause.)
When found an effort being made, du-
ring the recent session of Congress, 10 force
q Constitution upon The people of Kansas
against their will, and TO force that State
into the Union with a Constitution which
her people had rejected by more than TO-
OCO, | felt bound, as man OF honor and a
representative of Illinois, bound by every
consideration Of duty, of fidelity, and of pa.
triotisn, 10 resist 10 the utmost OF my power
Ihe cousummation of that fraud. (Cheers.) I.
With others did resist it, and resisted il |
until the attempt was aban-
ioned. (Great opplause.)
We forced them TO refer that Constitu- !
ton back 10 the people of Kansas, to be ac-
,epted or rejected, as they shall decide at /
IN election which is fixed for the first
Monday of August next. 1t is true that
he mode Of reference, and the form Of s'b-
mission, was not such as | could sanction |
with my vote, for the reason that It dis
between free States and slave
States; providing that if Kansas consented
o come in under the Lecompton constitu-
ion, it should be received with a pupula-
ion of $4,000; but that if she demanded
mother constitution, more consistent with
he sentiments of her people and their feel
ngs, that il should no; be received into the
Union until she had SO, 3,420 inhabitants
Cries Of shear, hear" and cheers.)
lid not consider that mode of submission
air, for the reason that any election is a
raud upon the rights Of the people which ,
olds ont inducements for affirmative votes,
nd threatens penalties for negative votes. {
Hear, hear.) . .'-s .sr F- I
But whilst was not satisfied with the (
node Of submission, whilst | resisted it 10
ne last, demanding fair, Just, free mode
submissisn, still, when the law passed /;
lacing it within the power of the people {
Kansas at that election TO reject the Le- ,
ompton Constitution, and then make anoth- a
r in harmony with their principles and a
,eir opinions, Bravo, and applause)- (
did not believe that either the penalties $
n the one hand, or the inducements on the &
her, would force that people 10 accept a
to which they are nreconcila- C
" opposed. (Cries of glorious" and re- q
ewed pPplause.) All can say is, that If I
leir votes can be controlled by such con- a
deraiionS, all the sympathy which has il
zen expended upon them has been mis- p
laced, and all The efforts that have bsen u
adc in defense Of their right TO self gov q
'nment have been made in an unworty il
luse. (Cheers.) s u
Hence, my friends, | regard the Lecomp- C
n battle as having been fought and the "
ctory won, because the arrogant demand u
r the admission Of Kansas under the Le- Fl
'mpton Constitution, Internationally, whe- Il
er her people granted it or not, has been 81
and the principle which recog- p
yes the right Of the people TO decide for Il