The national Republican., 1860-12-03
LOCAL NEWS

cession was formed shortly after eight o'clock,
on Saturday night, In front Of the, rooms of the
Douglas and johnson Association, On G street,
which, 10 the number Of three or four hundred,
which increased IS they proceeded, and headed
by the Marine Band, proceeded by way Of
Seventh and thence through I street, to the
residence of Senator Douglas, where large
number Of personal friends Of the Judge had
already assembled, including many members
OF the House Representatives, both from the
North and from the South. .,,g7. !
Arrived in front Of the residence, the Marine
Band played q favorite air, when loud calls
we're made for Douglas. In a few moments,
that gentleman made his appearances, when he
was greeted with enthusiastic applause. %
Mr.. John F. Ennis, President Of the Douglas
and johnson Association, then addressed Sena-
and complimenting him for his bearing during
the campa gn Just closed. Referring 10 the
past career Of the Senator he observed that the
Union and the Constitution had always found
in him q warm and 8 eadfast friend. ~
RESPONSE OF MR.. DOUGLAS II
In reply to the remarks Of Mr.. Ennis, Mr..
Douglas returned his sincere thanks for the
compliment which had been paid him. He OBJ
served that to be thus welcomed on his arrival
in the city by 90 large number Of the citizens,
when the weather was 90 very uninviting, was
indeed high compliment. From the COM
mencement Of the recent campaign, he had
been actively engaged in the vidication Of those
great constitutional principles upon which he
believed the perpetuity of the Union depended,
and had done this alike in the North, in the
lieved the integrity and perpetuity of the Re-
public depended upon maintaining on the sla.
very question the great principle Of non.inter-
vention. The Government was formed upon this
principle, for the vexed question of slavery then
existed in the country as well Is now; and If the
principles then established had been faithfully
observed, the country would not now be in its
present distracted condition. The Federal
Government must never interfere with the
question of slavery, except to perform its con.
stitutionsl Of obligation Of returning fugitive
slaves when then escape from their masters.
But he trusted and believed that there was yet
patriotism enough in the country to save this
glorious Republic from the terrible fate which
now seemed to be impending over it. Ap.
plause. -,
He had lately read the patriotic and eloquent
speech Of the gallant Stephens Of Georgia.
Great cheering. That speech caused him to
feel that there was yet enough patriotism left to
save the Union. He heartily endorsed the
propositions proposed by Mr.. s. as the terms
Of adjustment. The Georgia platform, accepted
by Mr.. s., provided that no new State should
be excluded because she has slavery in her
Constitution that the Wilmot Proviso should
not be applied to any of the Territories; that
Congress should not interfere with the slave
trade between the States; that Congress should
pass no law in the District of Columbia which
should endanger the harmony and safety Of the
slaveholding States; and lastly, that Congress
should pass no law affecting the efficiency of
the fugitive slave law. Those Eve propositions,
which were Just and proper, were all that was
asked by Georgia and the other Southern
States. As regarded the sixth proposition of
Mr.. g., which was to demand the repeal Of
those laws which had been passed by various
Northern States, he would say the demand
was just and proper one. Such laws should
never have been placed upon the statute book
Of any State. He, for one, believed that Con
gress had the right 10 remove all such obstruc-
tions, to the faithful execution Of the laws. OF
his own bearing during the canvass he could
recall no expression or act that his conscience
did not fully approve. As the contest was now
closed, he hoped that the past with any bitter
feeling which might have been created by it.
would be forgotten, and they would all unite as
band of Constitutional Union loving men to
save this glarious Union. Applause.
No one regretted the result more than he
did, not from personal considerations, but the
pthCt anu bhlcty VI tuc COuHJry uhu Detu eli
dangered by it. He did not regard the election
of any man to the Presidency, however obnox
ious he and the principles he advocated might
be to many, sufficient cause for dissolution
of the Union, if elected in accordance with the
requirements of the Constitution. Applause.
As Mr.. Lincoln had been thus elected he mus
be inaugurated. Applause. So long as hi
faithfully observed the laws, and enforced thei
execution, and looked to the interest of the ont
section as well as the other, be should be sup
ported but should he violate or attempt Il
violate a single provision of that sacred instru
ment the Constitution, he should be held &C
countsble in the manner prescribed in the Con
stitution. Applause.
He then alluded to the fact of both House
of Congress having majority opposed to Mr.
Lincoln's Administration, which, even wer
Mr.. Lincoln disposed to trespass upon tn
rights of any section, or otherwise abuse hi
power, would be sufficient to prevent hi
doing so.
After again returning his thanks for tn
kind manner in which he had been received
he begged to assure them that he was pre-
pared on Monday to resume his seat in tn
Senate, without any dissatisfaction. withou
any passion to interfere with the impartia
discharge of his duties TO the country. Ar
plause.]
He closed with an earnest appeal in beha
of the Union, urging his friends to lay asid
all party passion, and use their utmost er
deavors for the defence of the Union and il
preservation for all future time.
After Mr.. Douglas had retired, loud call
we're made for Hon. John Young Brown,
Kentucky. That gentleman then came forward
and delivered a strong Union speech, an
urged upon all present the necessity of maxim
strong effort for its preservation.
Calls were then made for Hon. John A. Ii
gan, of Illinois but Mr.. Ennis appeared, an
asked that Mr.. Logan be excused from speal
ing at this time, as he was suffering from
severe cold.