The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-08-29
Rirbmunn Qispatrb.
wEDNES ,taY MuhNlNa. AUG. 90, 1850.
DoUdLAsIN VIRGINIA.
His Reception NJ Petersbnry-Aad
speech at Norfolk Definition OF his Pssi-
tion, &C., &c, &c. ~ ss al =

DOUGLAS IN VIRGINIA.
His Reception NJ Peiersbnrg-Aadress-
Speech at Norfolk k-Definition OF HIS Pesi-
tions &C., kc., kc. ss s.g
Senator Douglas arrived in Petersburg on
Monday afternoon. crowd, mum bering 200
persons, awaited his arrival AZ the depot, and
m uch en- th usiasm was displayed on the arri-
val Of the train. He was placed Ia an open
carriage and passed through the thronged
streets to his hotel, acknowled eing by bowling
the cheers and waving of fhandkerchiefs which
greeted him, the latter being participated in by
the ladies, who crowded the windows. The
Express says:
Upon reaching Jarratt's Hotel. where the
committee had secured lodgings for their dis
tinguished guest, dense crowd surrounded
the carriage, and as much difficulty was en-
coun tered in reaching the tel as had been
experienced at the depot In getting from the
train TO the carriage. Judge Douglas was
finally conducted to the hotel, and the door
was closed and securely barred to keep baes
the crowd. The people still refused to dis
perse, and loud calls were made for Douglas
on every hand. These calls angmen ting rath
er than diminishing, John Lyon, ESD made
his appearance in the left wing of the lower
balcony of the hotel, and announced to the
people that Judge Douglas wonld respond to
their calls from the centre balcony of the
building
A great rush was commenced for the vacant
space fronting the cen re balcony, and but q
moment sufficed to occupy all the standin
room within the sound OF a mans voice. After
a brief interval, Judge Douglas made his ap-
pearauce, which was greeted with repeated
cheers. He was accompanied on the balcony
by the Committee, and so soon the cheer.
ing had subsided, Chas +. Collier. ESQ
Chairman of the Committee of Invitation,
said:
Fellow. Citizens: have the honor TO in
troduce 10 you the Hon. Stephen A. Douglas.
of Illinois. loud cheers.j
Judge Douglas then came forward and said
Gentlemen: / will not conceal for an in
slant the grateful emotions which the kind
reception you have extende1 to me has Great
ed ia my heart l have accepted the invita-
ton of the Democracy of Virginia to visit your
Old Commonwealth, for the purpose of COM
pairing with you the facts which most inter-
est the country to-day. / am devoted to the
interest of all the States and i knew of no
better or filter mode by which these interes Is
can be preserved than by the preservation OF
the Constitution. Loud cheers / have
come from State which was at one time a
county of Virginia, but will claim no more
for my own State of Illinois than 1 will ask
you to grant to any other State In the Union.
prolonged applause.]
have almost drawn myself into political
| speech, although my only object was to ex-
press TO you my gratitude for the enthusiasm
with which you have received me. lChpers
lam informed that it has zen arranged by
those who have taken that duty upon them
selves, that l shall address the people from
this place at eight O'Clock to-morrow evening.
and snail Iot now detain you by any length :
ened remarks on those subjects, an explana-
ton of which shall en,er into at the time
mentioned, freely, respectfully, and at the
same time toieiy. (Applause.l Again, thank
you. tCheersl
A voice in The crowd proposed three cheers
for the Little Giant" which were given with
strength Of lung that was heard for several
squares.
The speech of Mr.. Douglas at Norfolk was
briefly alluded to yesterday. The following
extract is interesting, as defining his position
towards the South:
A gentleman has handed me slip cut from
newspaper in this city, (the Southern Argus J
in which two inquiries are proposed to me-
and am req ues ted to answer.
am not In the habit of answering q ues-
tons propounded TO me in the course of an
address, but on this occasion l will comply
with the request and respond very frankly
and unequivocally to these two Questions
They appear 10 have been prepared by q mas.
ter hand. The first is, "It Abraham Lincoln
be cleo ted President of the United States, will
the Southern States be justified in seeding
from the Union -
To this l emphatically answer, No. IGrea,
aprlause.l The election of a man to the Pre-.
sidency by the American people in conformity
with the Constitution of the United States
would not justify any attempt at dissolvine
this glorious confederaey. (Applausel Now
will read TO you the next question. nd then
answer it. Question: II they (Southern
States,) secede from the Union upon the in.
auguration of Abraham Lincoln. before he
commits an overt act again. their constitu.
tional rights, will you advise or vindicate re.
sistance by force TO the decision 2" Voices
mo! no! Bell men say no."l
MIR. Douglas. 1 answer emphatically thai
| 1t is the duty of the President of the United
States, and all others in authority under him
to enforce the laws of the United States
passed by Congress, and as the courts ex.
pound them; lcheers and !, as in duty bound
by my oa b OF fidelity 10 the Constitution
would do all in my power to aid the Govern.
ment of the United States in main tanning the
supremacy OF the laws against all resistance
70 tnen, come from what quarter it might
[Good.1 In other words. think the President
Of the United States, whoever he may be-
should treat all attempts to break up Union
by resistance to the laws, as Old Hickory
treated the nuilif1ers in 1892. [Applause.]
The laws must be enforced, but at the same
time, be it remembered, it is the duty of eyery
citizen of every State, and every public func.
tionary, to preserve, maintain and vindicat the
right OF every citizen and The right of every
State in the Union. / hold that the Constitu.
tion has remedy for every grievance thai
may arise within the limits Of the Union.
am very frank in answering these questions
l am not in favor OF any policy which would
tend to give rise to complain ts-much less tC
such which would call for resistance from any
quarter. / acknowledge the Inherent and in.
alienable right to recotHffon whenever griev.
ance burdensome to be borne. l acknowledge
the right OF every man to rebel aid change
the form of government under which he lives
whenever it proves destructive to the ends fol
which it was established. That is right
however, never to be resorted TO until The
operations OF the government become more
grievious than the consequences of revolu.
tion, ana therefore / say that the mere inau
guration of President of the United States
whose political opinions were. in my Judge
ment. hostile TO the Constitution and safety o.
the Union tUuhont an overt act on his part
without striking blow at our institutions
or our rights. is not such a grievance as would
Justify revolution or secession. tCheers. J.
Hence, / say whoever NAV be elected Presi
dent of the United States, he must be sustain.
ed in the exercise Of all his just constitutions
prerogatiTes and powers. If he transcends
them, we Will punish him with all the rigol
of the law, as you punished John Brown
when he violated your laws. (A storm of ap.
plause.l j, for one, will sustaIn, with all my
energy, the President, whoever he may be, in
tne exercise OF all the powers conferred upon
him by the Constitution, but wo1ld take iust
| as much pleasure in hanging him, il he trans.
cehded those powers, as l felt pleasure In
| knowing that you hanged John Brown when
lie was guilty OF murder, and treason agains
the State Of Virginia. [RenewaI of storm l.
| am law-abiding man, a Union -loying man
and believe the Union can be main tained by
faithful observance of the Constitution, B1,
! insist on exacting the fulfillment, in good
Iaitn, OF every provision OF that Constitu ton;
insist on line Of policy which will place al
the people OF all the States On an exact eo ual.
ity, and maintain and protect them in their
just rights, but which will also compel ODE.
dience to the Constitu ton and the cons hit m ed
authorities Of this country. Now, these Ques.
tions-put to r1e on the first day landed on
Virginia soil-having emanated from the
friends of the secessionist candidates, ash
that like questions may be also put TO theil
atac nd M In
frank and unequivocai answers as l have
given. IA voice-they couldn't do 1t square.l
In conclusion, the speaker said:
have uttered no sentiment before You to.