Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-08-01
REMARKS OF JUDGE DOUGLAS.
Delirered in Boston, july II, 1860.

NS'seV GU G DVotV"1 ooty ~ Aooo. -
FELLOW CITIZENS :-This vast sea of human faces
warns me that it is impossible for my voice to make
itself heard or understood by this vast assembage.
am overwhelmed with the honor that you have
conferred upon ME, by this spontaneous assemblage
of countless thousands to pay homage, not to me-
individually, but to that great principle of consttu-
tional liberty, selfgovernment which underlies all
our free institutions. [Applause.]
] am informed that now have the honor to speak
from the same balcony from which your godlike
Webster, in 1850, great cheering defended his ac-
tion in support of the principle Of nonntervention
by Congress with slavery in the Territories, as af
frmed in the legislation of that year. Renewed
cheering The knowledge of the fact that speak
from the same balcony, in defence of the same prin-
ciple that the immortal Massachusetts statesman
vindcaed the ming act Of his life is sufficient
to account for this unparalleled sssembiage of the
national men of Massachusetts,. [Applause.] ~
The history of Massachusetts, is the history of
constitutional liberty. In Massachusetts, have free
institutions had their birth. [Cries Of Good
"Thats So" The battles of the Revolution were
all fought in defence of the right of the people, of
colonies and provinces and territories we'll as of
sovereign States to manage their own affairs and
establish their own institutions. Loud hurrahs.
1t is natural therefore, that the people of New Eng
land the descendants of those revolutionary sages
and patriots who established our form of govern
principle upon which our entire political system
rests. RS Good" "good."] The liberties of this
country now put in peril by sectional parties,
appealing to sectional passion, section prejudice,
and sectional ambition, against the peace and har-
mony of the whole country Voices" That's So"
On the one hand, you find great Northern section
al party appealing to the North against the South
A voice" That's So" Another" Never" On
the other hand you find sectional party Southwark
appealing to the preudices of the South against the
North The Republican party demand possession of
the Federal Government in order that its power may
be welded far the prohibition of slavery where the
people want 1t. Voices That's the talk, =" that's
So" Others" They are rght"] The Southern
sectional party demand possession of the Federal
Government in order that the whole power of the
Government may be welded for the defence and
maintenance of slavery where the people don't want
it. Laughter and cheering.] These two sectional
parties are in direct conflict with each other and are
producing that "irrepressible conflict" which can
be reconciled until you recur to the doctrine
that Congress shall not interfere with the domestic
institutions of the people any uhere. Enthusiastic
applause.
For the last few years. the whole time of Congress
has been employed in the discussion of the slavery
question: to the exclusion of the important business
affecting the whole country. Voice That's so. "
THAT'S good."] Whenever you ask your represen-
tatives why they did not revise the revenue system
in order to defray the expenses of the Government
without borrowing twenty millions of dollars year,
they tell you they had not time. [Laughter.l The
whole time occupied in the discussion OF slavery
and there was no time to raise money to pay your
honest debts. {" Good" Good" and applause.
When you asked your representatives why it was
that the Paci6ce Railroad had not been made? you
were told that there was time, because the sla-
very question absorbed the entire session of Con.
gress. When you ask your representatives why it
is that the mail system has not been reformed and
carried on with vigor throughout the country, you
are told that the bill was lost for want of time
Laughter. When you ask why it is that you have
no overland mail route to the Pacific, and no steam
nes you told that the slavery question occupied
of time. Renewed laughter Thus you find that
all the great measures which affect the commercial
interests, the shipping interests the manufacturing
interests, the industrial interests of the country,
have been lost for want of time Laughter and
applause, and cries of Goodr] My fellow citizens
there never will be time to perform the duties for
which the government was made unless you Danish
forever the slavery question from the halls OF Con
gress and remand it to the people of each State and
each Territory, according to the platform of the
| Democratic party. Prolonged and vocferous cheer
ing. This great principle Of nonnterference by
the Federal Government and popular sovereignty in
the States and Territories is not peculiar to- the
Democratic party. 1t was affirmed in the Com
promise measures of 1850; it was affirmed in the
Whig platform of 1852; we'll as in that of the
| Democrats; it was affirmed by all national men ir
those days, and should be sustained by all national,
conservative, Union-loving men in the present day
| Loud applause.
My fellow citizens, l return to you my profound
acknowledgements for the kindness which has as
sembled you together and for the respectful atten
ton with which this vast assemblage has listened
my desultory remarks loud cries of " Go on" g
on" and again renewing to you my thanks, | beg
to take rry leave of you bidding you good night
| Loud and long continued cheering.]