The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-01-15


ous. May we be successful in handr
down to our children, and through our chi
e dren to our last posterity. those immort
J. principles which were first proclaimed
) this hall, the witnesses of which stand nov
like guardian angels, looking down upo
e our every act and inspiring our prayers ,
: Heaven that this Union, this constitution
, these States, as they exist, and have existet
, may last forrver, not only for thr protectio
OF our own people, but as a guide to tn
. friends of freedom throughout the world
: (Cheers)
, Repeating my grateful acknowledgements
can only say that when I leave here
shall carry with ne recollection Of chi
; day, which will never be effaced while lif
lasts, and over the memory Of which, trust
my children will feel more proud than O
auy act that has heretofore marked nay pub
lie life
The manner OF Senator Douglas, on re
ceiving the welcome of Mayor Henry, was
exceedingly impressive. His voice, clean
ard distinct, yet in keeping with the sacres
memories which surrounded him, was full
of the deepest feeling. He seemed to b,
profoundly sensible of the honor inferred
upon him, and Of the consecrated place in
which he stood.
When Senator Douglas concluded, the
e-rsrDony of receiving the people and .hak
ing them by the hand commenced. Groups
Of about twenty-five were admitted at a
time by the police stationed a; the main en-
trance, on Chestnut street, and these passed
into the Hall, and after paying their res.
/ poets to the Little Giant" who stood 'front.'
! ing Washington's statute, retired by the
/ door leading into the Square. The police
regulations were excellent, and the Mayor
and those concerned deserve great cIedit
for the admirable manner in which every.
thing passed off. Notwithstanding the dense
crowd, who pressed forward on every side
anxious 10 get into the hail. not one was
hurt, aad. as it was possible, all were admit
ted, and were admitted, and were gratified
with a sight Of the man whom they had
come to soc.
Senator Douglas, after receiving his friends
at the Hall, took a sleigh ride with the COM
mittee, visiting the Fails Of the Schuykill
and in tho evening dined with number Of
his friends.
Early in the evening the crowd began to
assemble, rnd long before half past Q Cclock
the street and pavements oftho entire square
were densely crowded with large body Of
our citizens, without distinction Of party,
who had assembled to hear from the lips Of
the dislin guistied Senator the truths which
he has so nobly defended and expended in
the Senate, and during his recent exciting
campaign. At halEpast . o'clock Beck's
band struck up the fayorite and popular air
Of the Anvil Chorus" and at the signal,
number Of Roman candles, bencola lights,
and rockets we're discharged. Here follow
cd prolonged and deafening cheers, and
shouts for "Douglas.' As soon as order
h. .hc
peared on the balcony and delivered brief
and eloquent address, in which he spoke
with great deal OF force of the recent great
achievements the distinguished Senator had
accomplished, and Of the noble manner in
which be had advocated the principle Of
popular sovereignty; and announced that
Judge Douglas was the unanimous choice Of
the Democratic members Of the legislature
of Illinois for the United States Senate. which
was received with shouts of applause.
SENATOR DOUGLAS SPEECH.
Senator Douglas, on appearing on the
balcony of the hotel, was greeted with
perfect storm applause, He said-Fellow
citizens Of Philadelphia: The hearty and
enthusiastic reception which you have ex-
tended 70 me reminds he more of an Hi
nois audience than of an asscmblare in the
old Keystone State. Ny experience in my
ovn State, has taught me not to be surpris-
cd at this cordial greeting lid not fiaiter
myself, however. that the people OF the Tn
ion or the people Of Pennsylvania had taken
sufficient interest in that eortest, TO have
sylnpa,hized so deeply as now find they
did IN the recen; struggle and its result in
Illinois. When reflect, can we'll account
for this sympathy. Il is as honorable to
YOU as it is 10 myself. 1t is a sympathy in
the cause Of constitutional liberty, and the
great principle OF self government. This
Confederacy was fU-med on the principle
that the people Of every State have the unde-
niable right TO foam and regulate their own
domestic Institutions 10 suit themselves,
without the interference Of any other State,
Of The federal government or OF any other
power on the face of the globe. This is the
great principle upon which all our institu-
tons rest. 1t is the principle put forth in
the Declaration of Independence, the princ-
pie in defence ef which the battles Of the
Revolution were fought, the principle con-
firmed and consummated by the adoption Of
the Constitution OF the United States
("Good, good" and cheers.)
Our system of Government rests upon the
theory that we are Confederacy of sove-
reign and indepen lent States, each having
the right to regulate It's own affairs 10 suit
itself, the Federal Government, being con
fined within its limited and restricted pow
ers, defined in the Constitution. Lately
fatal hercsy has been proclaimed, at war
with our whole system Of government
That heresy consists in the assertion of the
principle that there must be uniformity in
the local laws and domestic institutions Of
all the States. 1t assumes that because one
system or policy is wise or useful in Penn
sylvana that therefore it must be wise and
polite in every other State in the Union.
| need not remind you that our fathers
understood, when they framed this Govern
mcnt, that the laws aud institutions which.
were adapted to the green ountains Of
Vermont were lily suited to the rice planta
tons Of South Carolina. (Cheers.) Our
fathers knew that that system of laws and
domestic institutions which were we'll suited
to the coal fields, the iron mountains, and
the rich and fertile valleys of Pennsylvania
were unsuited to the cotton plantations of
Georgia. Our fathers knew that in a coun-
try So broad and extensive as this, with such
a variety of climate and soil and interest,
there must necessarily be a corresponding
variety in the local laws and domestic insti-
tutions of such State, adapted to the wants,
interests and necessities of each of them,
different as they were in every State of the
Union. (Cheers.) The great difference be-
tween us and our opponents is, that they as
sert that there should be uniiarmity in the
domestic institutions of the various States,
and we assert the principle Of State rights
and State sovereignty, which secures just
such local laws and domestic institutions in
every State as the people therein may de-
sire, without reference to this principle of
uniformity. Upon this great principle ap
struggle. l maintained the constitution, as
our fathers made it, to be the supreme law.
asserted the sovereign right of every State
to decide its domestic institutions to suit it.
self, and declared that the principle ought
to apply to territories as we'll as to States,