The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-02-13
from ilr C-lraSU
The Yam o. the Day.

" hat freeman IN the land who does not
rejoice that there j. II this hour IN the Uni
ted States Senate man Of potent xii. Of
unyic.dlng courage, cf daring energy, and
q! uEr'vsl.od e!uguencc, to reals; tite enact
III, mt OF 4 terrible wrong: l. there 2 man
uVo. the broad prairigS 81 'iiuois. " no does
no; feel proud that from this great State has
gone up to the national councils, that man,
who alone o. al other mca. haI the courage
tn encounter, the cioqu,uce to ronlv:un aud
the ability to overcome the great Lacomuton
Fiagj! What Wtge the circumstances ol
thj- struggle?
Agaiu>t him It was understood were ar
raycI in soId phaaux the representatives If
fifteen comprising two-jAi.d> of the
Democratic party in Congress. IL Was It'd
also that the Democratic rep. Seufativ,S Of
New York, New jersey, Raoi- Island,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan. Indiana. -
wa, and d portion oi his own Sta'c OF Illinois
were also prep red to sustain Jnc LscoInpton
EraGi. Nef Vas this al; he was aduoU!sh
ed tLat the Executive and lis Cabinet, an
EXecu i've elected upon the broad and un
mS'akablc platform, the "happy concep-
tou'-jhat the people Of Kansas should be
free TO establish their own Constitution for
themselves, he was admOni-hed. We say,
that the u mOcgatic Pre-ilent and his Cabi-
net would give their support and encourage
mont 10 the success of tue Lcc0mDton Fraud.
Undi>mayed by the appearance Of odds,
caring n.ugh: for President or Cabinet, car.
Ing less for the bowling OF envious and mali
cious pa,tizans, he took his position on the
Lecompton question, guided only by consi-
deratious of justice, honesty, and faith, and
directed only by the plain and simple teach
iuys OF the cincinnati platform. Where
l., I I a
follow; and what that platform forbids,
VIII oppose"
He left Chicago in November last with the
full purpose OF resisting the Lecompton
fraud and with the determination to stand
and tall upon the Cincinnati platform. II
was declared by sycophants that as soon as
the administration took position, he would
falter; bat those who said this did not know
the man, nor did they know the anxious
thoughts and labUrs which he experienced in
establishing, as the principles OF the Demo
cratic party, the great truths enunciatcd AT
Cincinnati Executive scductions failed, and
Executive threats Of any have been made)
will fail also. At the first opportunity he
proclaimed his determination to adhere to
the Cincinnati, platform and stand there for
ever. His voice fell with appalling effect
upon the miserable buck sters whose princi-
pies are shaped by the patronage which is
bestowed upon them. lie :. oke to Senate
which at that tine stood as two to one
against him. HIS spec h was read by
House hich numbered majority Of thirty
five against him. H. was assiIied a Bigler
and Fitch assaulted h;;A; but the assaults
only afforded him the Cpl ortuuity Of Illus
trating the superiority OF principle over OH
cial power. By the force OF his great mind,
his mastery eloquence, his firm resistance TO
wrong, and his determined adherence to
principle, he stands this day tho con0ueror
of Lecornpton He has killed the monster.
1t is mor,ally wounded. Is day Of dissolu
ton is fast approaching.
Against this man who four years ago sue
cesstu.ly carried through ho.h Houses of 4
hostile Congress, the glorious vindication of
the right of the people of Kansas to make
their own Constitution, and who now, IN
'5S, has throttled the iniqultouS measure
prepared to make Kansas Il slave State in
defiance of the expressed will of the people
of at Territory, class of POLITICIANS in and
about Chicago raise Their puny cries.
"Down with Douglas" cry they, Just as
Douglas has placed himself in the breach,
and by his own personal strength has driven
back the enemies of free people. Doug
las must be defeated" cry these men, just
when Douglas has shown himself to be the
only man who could have prevented the
success of the Lecompton fraud. From po
liticians and partizans the Democratic party !
of Illinois appeal to the people. They pre-
sent Stephen A. Douglas as the invinciblc |
champion of popular rights; they point to |
what he has done, and to what 10 other man
could have done, as the proudest testimonial
of his ability as Representative. The De- |
mocraey of Illinois are willing to leave to the |
people of Illinois whether such man, at
such time, shall be stricken down, that
some man of straw may be sent to the Sc
nate in his place.