Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1860-04-18
A VOICE FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

THE following is the concluding
portion of the speech of Hon. VIM.
Montgomery, of Pennsylvania, on the
Presidential question, and i'll reply to
Mr.. Curry, Of Alabama, in the House
of Representatives, delivered March
Is it not strikingly singular that III
this hall we hear almost every day de-
nunciations Of Judge Douglas by the
Republicans, because, as they say, he
has always betrayed the north for the
benefit of the south: Yet in this
same hall we hear southern repreSen-
tatives denounce Judge Douglas, be-
cause he has done too much for the
north, and not enough for the south.
6 Truth,' in this, as in most cases,
" lies in the golden mcan.'' Judge
Douglas, in his long and honorable
career in Congress, has betrayed nci-
thcr side; but has been true to all sec
tions. Like every great, intelligent
patriot and statesman, liz has legi>la.
ted for the nation, and not for particu-
lar sections. He loved Illinois much
but he has loved America more. Let
Alabama read his history, and point
to the time when he ever betrayed her
interest or proved false to his Demo
cratic principles.
There were traits Of character de-
veloped in Judge Douglas during tha,
contest-now that the controversy i:
forever ended-which give him new
claims on the hearts and affections o
the people, and which inspire hi
friends with a confidence in his hon
esty and integrity greater than all thu
acts of the rest of his life beside. II
1857, when the Lecompton controvcr
sy arose, the nomination of Judg,
Douglas, at the expiration of MI. Blu
chanan's term, was Il fact that seemed
to admit of no, contest. The Prcsi
: dental mantle was ready to fall upo1
=, upon his shoulders. When that qucs
tion arose, he found arraycd on on
, side of it the southern Democracy
with whom he had done battle in s
many years of the past; he found a
administration in the zenith of it
power, with all its patronage and in
: iucnce ready to strike him down
4 he dared to resist; he saw the bri gh
prize OF the Presidency, which befor
9 seemed so near, ready to be foreve
withdrawn from him, unless he woul
sacrifice his honor and prove recrean
, to the high principles of his life, ye
he never hesitated nor faltered for
moment. He displayed no waverin
nor time-scrving. He knew well th
I fearful nature OF the contest in whic
he was about TO engage; yet, on tn
very day on which the President sen
) his message to the Senate, and befor
the sounds of the clerks voice ha
died away in the Senate chamber, h
arose and entered his manly, bold an
!, decided protest against it. Thro,
aside your political prGudices; ceas
to remember your Lecompton partner
ship, and behold and admire the sui
Unity of moral heroism in the man.
We had known and loved him be
fore. But then we saw indeed that h
was one of natures noblemen"-
"hero from the hand Of God." w
knew that for seventeen years he ha
originated the political issues on whicl
y parties divided and Presidents made
) we knew that in every contest he ha
led our forces to battle, and won ou
proudest victories; we had seen hi
|firmness of soul when he was burne
in effgy in Boston, and when he WI
insulted by a mob in Chicago, becaus
he advocated the passage Of the fug
1 tive slave law; we had been lost j
admiration, after the city council {
Chicago had passed resolutions de
A nouncing him as recreant and NJ
faithful representative, and the fug
tive slave law as unconstitutional an
> tyranical, when he boldly demanded
hearing, and invited his assailants t
/, meet him in discussion in that infuris
a ted city; we had never ceased to wor
der at the matchless power Of reason
ing which enabled bin to convince
not only Chicago, but the nation, tha
the fugitive slave law was not onl
constitutional, but Just and proper
we knew that when he spoke, thou.