The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-02-02
Speech of Mr.. Douglas.

Speech of Mr.. Douglas
Mr.. DOUGLAS: Sir, it requires more
patience than freemen ever should cul-
tivate, to submit to constant annoyance,
irritation, and apprehension. If we
expect to preserve this Union and in
obedience to the Constitution, every
evil for which disunion would furnish
a remedy. If the Federal Govern
ment fails to act, either from an appre-
henslon OF the want of power, 1t can
not be expected that the States will be
content to remain unprotected.
"Then, sir, / see no hope of peace,
of fraternity, of good feeling, between
the different portions of the United
States, except by bringing to bear the
power of the Government to the extent
authorized by the Constitution, toproteot
the people Of all the States against any
external violence or aggression. / re-
peat, that if the theory of the Consti-
tuition shall be carried out by conced-
ing the rights of the people of every
State to have just such institutions as
they choose, there cannot be conflict,
much less an irrepressible conflict y
between the free and the slaveholding
States.
Mr.. President, the mode of preserv-
ing peace is plain. This system of Sec
tiOnal aodrfare must cease. The Con.
stitution has given the power, and all
we ask of Congress is to give the
means, and we, By indictments ana
convictions IN the Federal courts Of or,
several States, qciU make such examples
of the leaders Of these conspiracies az
will strike terror into the hearts of the
others, and there will be an end CT thi,
crusade. Sir, you must check it by
crushing out the conspiracy, the com
bination, and then there can be safety
There we shall be able to restore that
spirit of fraternity which inspired ou1
revolutionary fathers upon every battle
field; which presided over the delibe
rations of the convention that framed
the Constitution. Then we shall b.
able to demonstrate to you that there
is no evil unredressed in the Union fol-
which disunion would furnish RENE
dy. Then, sir, let us execute the Con
stitution in the spirit in which it wa.
made. Let Congress pass all the laws
necessary and proper to give full and
complete effect to every guarantee o
the Constitution. Let them authorize
the punishment of conspiracies an(
combinations in any State or TERRITORY
against the property, institutions, PEG
pie or government, of any other STATE
or Territory, and there will be no ex
cuse, no desire, for disunion.
x
And, sir, inasmuch as the Constitu
ton of the United States confers upol
Congress the power coupled with tn,
duty of protecting each State agains
external aggression, and inasmuch a
that includes the power of Suppression.
and furnishing conspiracies in one Stat
against the institutions, property, peo
pie, or governme of every othe
State, desire to AIRY out that powe
vigorously. Sir, give us such a law a
the Constitution contemplates and al
thorizes, and / will show the Senate
| lTOul NcW OIk Cildt IicIe ID Il (OIlSt
tutional mode of suppressing the 'irre
pressible conflict" / will open tn
prison doors to allow conspirator
against the peace of the Republic an
the domestic tranquility of our State
to select their cells wherein to drag on
miserable life as a punishment fo
their crimes against the peace of sc
ciety. + = We passed bi
to allow the people of Kansas to forl
and regulate their own institutions t
suit themselves. No sooner had W
placed that law on the statue bool
than his Fossenden's political friend
formed conspiracies and combination
in the different New England States t
import a set of desperadoes into Kar
sas to control the elections and the il
situations of that country in fraud {
the law of Congress.
SIR, I desire to make the legislatio
broad enough to reach conspirdci,
and combinations Of that kind and
would also include combinations an
conspiracies on the other side.