M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-08-09
Speech OF Senator Douglas
Lexington.

NOW uSSGlu UiCu. vi Hll luS Udltle-
fields and all the places consecrated to
patriotism by the blood Of our revolu.
tionary fathers, none is so dear TO the
American heart as Bunker Illl.-
I Applause There is not an Ameri
can citizen upon the tace Of this broad
continent, no matter whether he may
from the South or from the North, or
whether he may como from the plains
of the Northwest or the shores of the
4 Pacific, who does1not claim for himself
and his posterity share ia the glories
which that monument was erected to
commemorate. [Applanso.] You
may imagine that the monument is
peculiar to Charlestown, and that you
have a deeper interest in that work
than the American citizen who may
be in the remotest parts Of the Ropub,
lie, or sailing upon the ocean; but |
will assure you that there is not one
ofyou who claims greater pride, either
in the work Itself, or IN the glorious
deedo which il was made to commcm.
crate, than the citizens Of my own Ii.
Iinois. Appiausc. This has been
to me day which | shall long cher.
ish and remember. | have seen the
spot where the fret American blood
was shsd, which gave rise 10 the
American revolution, ard now have
the honor Of addressing you from the
place OF all Others which gave the i'm.
petus to the Revolution that resulted
In the establishment Of our indepen.
dencc and of our liberties. Let the
sons Of these brave sirea prove true to
tbs principles which gave rise to the
Revolution which formed the iounda
tions Of our whole political
System, and upon which alone ills
Republic can be maintained in its
unity and It's purity forever
The American Revolution origina.
ted il the assertion, by the people of
the Colonies, Of the right Of seIi-gov.
ernment by each Colony in everything
that related to their domestic and in.
ternal polity. Our fathers were will.
ing to recognize tic paramount au-
thonty Of the British Parliament and
the British Crown over all matters
and things which were imperial and
not colonial-oyer all that effected
the general welfare of the Empire,
without interfering with the local and
domestic affairs Of the people Of the
colony; but orr fathers said to TIC
British Government, "you must not
interfere with our tresidcs and our
hoarthstones. We have u right to our
Provincial Legislatures, to make our
own laws, establish cur own institu.
tions, aud manage our own internal
affairs in our own way, without the
interference Of the British Parlia
ment" [ApplauSo and cries oil
GOOD" "good.''] The Revolution
was fought in defence OF the great
|principle Of local selI-goyernment.- -
May we, their sons, be faithful to that
principle, and never permit it to b,
violated, either in State or Territery
Province or Colony. [Applause anC
cries Of Good. u If we only remain
faithful to the fundamental principles
leaving the people Of each State and
each Territory free TO maintain theil
own domestic affairs and internal con.
Germs in their own way, without in.
teriering with those oftheir neighborq
there can DO peace forever between the
North and the South, the East and
tho West. [Applause, You hav,
institutions in Massachusetts peculiar
, to yoursclves-insttutions differing
= from those Of us In Illinois, differing
from those upon the Pacific coast
: When come to visit you, you re
, ceive me with open arms, welcome ms
} amongst you, and show me everything
that is curious and sacred in the his
tory Of our country; and, sir, | trust
/, when | come among you, that | shal
pay al! due respect to the constituted
: authorities, and render obedience t,
: your laws. But, sir, if you find M
] complaining, that do not like you
! lawa, your institutions, your domestic
affairs, expect you will tell me tina
while you regret my displeasure, ,thes
:, laws were made for you and not 70
; ne, and i'll do hot like them, l can g,
+ back to Illinois. [ApplauSe.] Ant
: now, Mr.. Mayor, permit me to say t,
you, in return for the kind sentiment
: with which you have welcomed me t,
= Bunker Hill, in the name ofyour fel
: low citizens Of Charlestown, if yol
will do me and the State that | have
6 the honor to represent, the honor o
making us visit | will take pieasur,
and pride in welcoming you to Illinois
= but wish you to understand that it il
? on the express condition that you vii
e obey our laws--respect our institu
:, tions, and not interfere with our do
# mestic concerns laughter and ap
= plauseE and if you complain to mi
S that you do not like our laws, | shal
Ieat, tbok 7