The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-02-27
LasalIe County Democratic Meeting.

IaSauc county .DemOcIatlc AeetlnSs
Pursuant to previous public notice, a
large and enthusiastic meeting Of Democrats
from different parts of LaSalle County, as
sembled at the Court House in Ottawa, on
Thursday evening, Feb. 25th, 1858.
The meeting was organized by the APP
pointnent of Hon. John L. Mccormick, OF
Peru, as President; Hon. VIM. Reddick,
John s. Armstrong, George NJ. Dilman, E.
NJ. Galloway,N. G. Mackay, David Green,
John Gray, Benz. b. Reynolds, Thomas Lar.
kin, and John V. A. Hoes, as Vice Presi-
dents, and Albert F. Dow, and BaYid p.
Jones, as Secretaries.
On motion Of w. H. W. Cushman, com
mittee, viz: W. Ii. w. Cushman, j. f. Nc
G,nns, c. G. Miller, Geo. W. Armstrong,
f. S. Hallowell, Lorenzo Leland, am Thorn
as Halcott, was appointed to report Rcsolu-
tons expressive of the sense of the meeting.
After due drlibcraton, the Committee ERE
ported the following Preamble and Resolu-
tons
Whereas 1t is well known that the Kan
sas- Nebraska act, and the Cincinnati Plat
form, 10th enbody the true principle of
popular sovereignty, upon which our gov
ernment, and all its cherished institutions
are based, and declare in unmistakeable Ian
guage, that TO the people of every State and
Territory, belongs the inaicnabie right of
regulating their own domestic institutions,
subject to the twill Of the majority" of bona
tide residents, we, tue Democracy of LaSalle
county, who voted for, James buchanan in
1886, who then stood upon this broad plat
form, announce that We still adhere 10 this
doctrine, and believe that to depart from it
will cDdanger the stability and perpeiuity
OF the Union, therefore, be it
ResoLced, That the principle of Popular
Sovereignty was nationalizcd by the pass
age of the Compromise Measures Of 1850
that it was re-atiirned and established by
the Kansas Nebraska act OF lS5i-that IT
was incorporated into the Democratic plat
form of Cincnnati--tha; 1t was everywhere
proclaimed BY Democratic orators in the
Campaign Of lSj6-was endorsed by the adj
in the Inaugural Address
the basis Of the instructors to
Gov. Walker, and we believe cannot now be
got over without disastrous consequences to
the party and the nation.
XeSolr,d, That it was promised by the
Democracy Of this County that the election
Of James Buchanan would be triumph OF
the principle OF popular sovereignty, and
guaranty that tie will OF the ma jDrty IN Kan
>as would be >pected-that ne would in
si,t upon fair piay-that election frauds and
certificates would be crushed, and that lac
would not lend his influence 10 force upon
The people OF Kansas constitution contra
rs to the wishes .! majority OF the citizens
and that We Will labor ~ maize good our
VOWS TO the people.
Hesyired, That the admission OF Kansas
Z Hder the Lecompton Constitution would
he d pal, able violation OF the principles and
pledges OF the Democratic party-in direct
conflict with the Cincinnati Platform. the
Kansas Nebraska Act the inaugura! address
Of the President, his Instructions 10 Gov.
" a.ker, and the solemn promises made To
the people in 1856: because IL is notorious
that said Constitution is not the work of
the citizens of tn Territory, nor has it
been sanctioned by a majority of them, bat
) miserable bantiiuG conceived in sin and
brought forth in iniquity.
RsS0ired, That in our candid opinion the I
admission of Kansas under the Lecompton +
Will not ioc;t,iZe, but national I
re the question, and be such an act OF az
erosion and wrong, as wil fan a IN ghty Z
lame Of discord throughout the country,
hat may finally prove destructive to US a.
nation, and may be, produce civil war
therefore, we offer our solemn prot st aga nst ,
t. adoption by Congress, as an assumption /
IF wrong opposed 10 every Democratic PFin-
:ipie.
Rts9lcef, That the administration has not,
Is We view the case, advised, in the X ansas .
question, with due regard TO the rights of {!
he people OF that Territory, or TO their ex- .
pressed wishes, and the expressed opinions (
Jf the people of the states when they deci 1
led to commit the care of the Government 4
n their hands. and ii it tad been supposed .
hat the adm nistraticn would have cOunte- /
lanced the course they seem low to advise, .
rot one hundred votes could have been co.
aimed for the candidates Of the democratic .
,ariy in this county at the last Presidential f.
lection.
Res0lred That it affords US the most cx I
RENE pleasure To endorse the course of our F.
xyei!ent and worthy senator, Hon. s. \. /
Douglas. who has SO nob'y stood up and vim l
Heated the principle of tie viii OF the ma !
ority. We admire him the more for this .
noble defence of Right and Justice, which +
; carrying out the will of 4 majority of his /
constituents, and goes 10 more thoroughly /
establish the doctrine that Congress does /
i0t posses the power to legisste upon the .
ubject of slavery, but that it belongs 10 the !
,eople, in accordance with the Kansas Ne !
,raska act, and the 10th article of amend
nents OF the Constitution.
Resoired, That Hon. S A. Douglas is our
tTst choice Tor denomination for election to
ne Serate and that we will use our best /
ndeavors 10 effect such result, believing,
S we do, that there is no man within the /
,orders Of the State more en.inently quail
led, from ability and experience, 10 stand
Up and defend, elucidate and sxpound the
,reat principles of the Kansas Nebraska bill,
# which he has the distinguished honor OF
icing the author and Trainer.
Resolcc3, That questions Of policy, and
he circumstances attending them are not
lways viewed by Us alike, and that this diff
erence of opinion should not prevent cor
ial and earnest cooperation IN the decision
{ a majority of our party and the great
principles which always have sustained us.
Which being read and considered separ-
,eiy. were unanimously adopted.
The following resolution offered by John
Iisc, Esq. was unanimously adopted:
Resolred, That we highly approve Of the
curse pursued by the Hon. L. l.. Harris and
he balance OF the democratic delegation in
congress from this State, in regard to the
.ecompton Constitution, and accord them
S well deserved the proud tribute, "well
lone good and faithful servants"
The following resolution, offered by Viii
iam Reddick, Esq, was unanimously adopt
d:
Pesolred, That we hereby tender the
hanks OF the Democracy of LaSalic County
o Gov. Wise of Virginia for his very able
etter to the democracy of Philadelphia, in
opposition to the adoption by Congress of
he Lecompton Constitution.
Tho following Resolution, offered by d.
,. Jones. Esq, was adopted.