The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-08

Freeport speech OF Judge Dougas had been delivered,
ION the 27th ult in which the Judge repudatod tho
Dred Scott decision
BRowx COUNTY, ILLISors,
August 23, 1858
srn This county has always been strongly democratic
1t has never fered Judge Douglas has been sustained
by from the beginning, not because ho Stephen
A. Douglas but because he democrat and sustained
both the party aud its principles. In 1856 did our
best to sustain friend and carry the nominees OF the
Cincinnati Convention. We pleased with Presi-
dent, we knew him to be true patriot, and you may
depend much disappointed when found Mr..
Douglas voting against the recommendation of Pres
dent sustained as il by the great Of the party
and voting with those who all their lives long had
dcayored to destroy our cherished principles
We felt chasyrined mortified but in view of the
long adherence of the Judge 10 principle, hoped
he would reconsider his course, and not wholly de-
sert his party. We watched with great anxiety the
progress of the debate in the Senate the Kansas bill
its acrimony, the bad feeling it engendered in all
have been able to for the course OF Judge
Douglas, unless he had made up his mind to quit his
party, and anxious to Kansas a pretext In
deed, this pretty clearly manifest in his vote on
the proposition of Mr. Pugh of Ohio to extend the laws
of the United States the proposed State when Mr.
Seward having inquired il that to take tho 'fug
law and being answered that il took that
we'll other laws he (Mr Seward) asked the yeas and
nays that proposition. Then Broderick Crttenden
and Boil voted yen Stewart of Michigan, did not vote
at all and our Judge Douglas OF all those not elected
as republicans, voted No with Chase, Seward, Wade
and all the abolition tribe This vote thus given,
shook my faith Douglas, the Illinois champion, who
had been abused ut Chicago for voting for this same
fugitive-savo law now unites with tho abolitionists
to prevent it going into Kansas Why was this
vote given Why has the Judge given expla-
nation of this adominable vote in any of his speeches
II can only bo inferred that he was preparing to
falsify his past history and like Tamadge and Rvc,
and Others, go to the enemy. Doubtless the fact
that between the time Of his making these advances to
the enemy and his return to the State the nomination
of Lincoln his successor drove him from open al
lance But where is he now he is making the tour of
the State democratic candidate for the Senate, and
yet in all his speeches he ss the majority of the dem
ocatic party and the President whom they elected and
whom they yet love and revere Is this democratic?
Men assaicd Jackson the same way. Tamadgc and
Rves and White of Tennessee they all said that the
party had quit thenthat Jackson had abandoned jack
son. and they only true democrats and although
for time it did look us IL these rrIy third
part Of the party with them, yet, what the result
White, Rives, Tamadge, cach and man others like
them politically slept the sleep Of death, while the demo
cratic party although by these deections temporarily
weakened again in equal if not greater majority
to bless the nation with its conservative principles Judge
Douglas may think his triumph certain---thc ovation
which is paid him in his tour may be real my
opinion is he is now in fact losing ground all the fuss
all the cclat is not the voice of all the people many
of his opponents swell these Masses not to sustain him.
but to encourage him to divide and thus weaken the
democratic party in illinois, SO they may triumph know
that many Of those who in all the past have stood by
the Judge will not go with him now because they look
upon him playing the game that Tamadge, Rvcs
and Others have played before him, dsasrously to
themselves and so damaging to the party.
If the Judge was honest in his opposition to the Kan
policy of the party and the President why docs he
acquiesce in what may well be called settlement?
Why does he not his warfare against the President
and the party?
Why does he not come out frankly and sustain the
English bill in all that part of it that looks to the future
Why does he not apologize to his real democratic
stucnts for voting with the abolitionists especially
the matter of extending the laws Of tho United States
over Kansas Why does he not seek to harmonize his
party in other States and bring them into union with
the great American democracy?
No, ho is selfish he desires to rule or he will try to
ruin and you may depend, my friends, the Judge is
losing ground constantly In his speech at Bcardstown
the other day he drove off from him of the strong
est democrats in Brown county who readily through
his opposition to the President / hope you will en-
deavor to induce him and his friends if not too late to
their warfare and back into the true fold
their efforts to divide and build up Douglas de-
mocacy In opposition to tho national party and remind
them, If you please, that he has an example i'll our
neighbor State of tho effect of an effort to build up
Benton democratic party. the temporary effect Of which
to put that State for while into opposition from
which the national democrats after years of struggle
have finally rescued it but Bentonism as distinctive
element there has ceased TO be- having merged itself
into the very heart of opposition and black repubicans
Let Douglas and his friends take the warnings of his
tory and retrace their steps before it too late But
must close.
Your obodicnt servant,