Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-07-05
Speech of stephen A. Douglas.

Convention delegates, who were accom-
panied by the Great Western Band, and
came on special train. They repaired
to the residence of Mr.. Douglas, and COM
plimented him with serenade and huz-
zahs. In acknowledging the evidences
of their friendship, he said:
Fellow CITIZENS: | thank you for this
manifestation of your kindness and en-
thusasm. The circumstances under which
this vast crowd has assembled, spontane-
ously and without previous notice, dem
onstrates an earnestness of feeling which
fills my heart with gratitude. To be the
chosen standard bearer of the only y politi-
cal organization that is conservative and
powerful enough to save the country from
abolitionism and disunion is indeed an
honor of which any citizen may be proud.
! am fully impressed with the response
bility of the position, and trust that Di-
vine Providence will impart to me strength
of wisdom to comply with all its require
ments. Applause.
Our beloved country is threatened with
fearful sectional antagonism, which
places the Union itself in imminent peril.
This antagonism is produced by tho eff
fort in one section Of the Union to use the
federal government for the purpose of re-
stricting and abolshing slavery, and a
corresponding effort in the other section
for the purpose Of forcing slavery into
those regions where the people do not
want it. Cries Of that's true. The ul-
ira men in each section demand Con
grcssional intervention upon the subject
of slavery in the territories. They agree
in respect to the power and duty of the
federal government to control the ques-
ton, and differ only as to the mode Of ex
orcsng tho power. The one demands
the intervention Of the federal government
for slavery, and the other against it.
Each appeals to the passions and preju-
dices of his section against the peace and
harmony Of the whole country. Cries
of that's so, and applause. On the other
hand, the position of all conservative and
union loving men is, or at least ought to
be, that of non Intervention of Congress
with slavery in the territories. Cries of
that's the true doctrine, and applause, -
| This was the position of the Dem ocratic
party in the Presidential contest of '4S
'j2 and $50. This was the position up
on which Clay, Webster, Cass and the
friends Of the Union Of all political af-
fnities of that day established the COM
promise of 1850.
Upon the common ground of non-in-
tervention thcv contended with. and put
to flight the Abolitionists of the North
and Secessionists of the South in that
memorable contest Cries of Wen do
it again, and three cheers. 1t was on
this common ground of non-intervention
that Wings and Democrats agreed to stand
on their respective party platforms OF
1852 and each party adheared faithful.
ly to this principle so long as its organi.
zation was maintained, and the Demo
Gratis still maintain it as the key stone Of
the arch which binds the federal Union to-
gethcr, and to this cardinal principle o.
non intervention has the Democratic par.
ty renewed the pledge of its faith al
cries of Well keep the faith. AS the
chosen representative of that great party
it is my fixed purpose to keep the faith
and redeem that pledge at all hazards and
under all circumstances. Three cheer,
for Douglas, The safety of the Unior
depends upon the strict adherence to the
doctrine of non-intcrventon.
Intervention means disunion--intcr
vcntion, whether by the North, or by the
South, whether for or against slavery
, tends directly to disunion. Upon this
D identical odestion are attempts now be
. ing made to destroy the Democratic par
ty. because tho minority Of the inter
| vontionists could not intimidatc the ma
ority into abandonment OF the doctrine
; ofnon intervention they have seeded from
the organization of the Democratic party
, and are cndeavoring to form new part,
: in hostility to it Cries of let them SO
: we can whip the diSunionists North an,
South, dc. Secession from the Demo
cratic party means secession from tn
} Federal Union. Cries of that's so, anC
applause. Those who enlist under tn,
on the 4th of March next to take up arm
against the constituted authorities in Ger
tain contingencies. We are told in II Ger
- tain event the South must finally, mus
0 forcibly resist the Inauguration of tn
r President elect. While we find those VIII,
, are loudest in their threats of such rcsiS
taucc engaged in the scheme to divide an,
Q destroy the Democratic party, thereby Sc
curing the election of the Republican can
q didatc does not this line of policy lool
- to disunion? Cries of yes, lntelli
, gent men must be presumed to understan,
, the tendency and consequences of thei
own actions. Can the seceders fail t,
= preserve that their efforts to divide anc
5 defeat the Democratic party, il successful
r must lead directly to secession of tn
70 Southern States? trust they will se
what must be the result of such a policy
r. and return to the organization and plat
, form of the party before it is too late t,
! save the country. Applause, Tn
Union must be preserved cheers -th
| constitution must be maintained inviolat
G - renewed cheering and it is on
t mission under Divine Providence, as be
5 lieve, to save the Constitution and tn
+ Union from the assaults of Northern All
r olitionists and Southern diSunionists,-
Enthusiastic applause, and three cheer
Q for Douglas
= My friends. | have detained you to
long, and will close by renewing the ex