The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-09-19
SPEECH OF
THE HON. S. A. DOUGLAS
AT the Convention in Raleigh, Thursday,
August 80, 1860.
REPORTED BY HIS PRIVATE SECRETARY.

1 H.
August 80, 1860.
REPORTED BY HIS PRIVATE SECRETARY.
Ma. DOUGLAS said: Mr.. President, am
conscious that you have, in the enthusiasm
produced by the circumstances with which
you are surrounded to-day, done me more
than justice 10 your presentation to this au-
dience. thank you, sir, sincerely Tor the
kind terms in which you have been pleased
to speak Of me. 1t is a matter Of pride and
pleasure to be presented to the people Of the
Old North State, by representative from
Mecklenburg. (Cheers.) History will al
ways preserve the fact that in North Carolina
the first Declaration of independence was
proclaimed to the world, and that Mecklen-
burg has the honor OF being the county where
that glorious deed was done. Carolinians
have right to be proud of that great event
in her history. but while you pride yourselves
upon it, you must remember, that the sacred
obligation rests upon you and your children
TO maintain inyiUate the principles which
that Declaration was intended to perpetuate.
What was the grievance Of which North
Carolina complained, when she proclaimed
to the world her separation from the British
CROWN What the grievance. Of which all
the colonies complained, aud what were the
objects they intended TO accomplish by that
Declaratlon Independence was not their
motive. They did not desire separation from
England. On the contrary. the first Con-
tinental Congress that assembled, and each
successive one, until the declaration was put
forth, adopted an address to the crown. and
| TO tie people, aud TO the Parliament OF Eng.
land, affirming their devotion To the British
people, their devotion to the British C0nsti-
luton, aud their loyalty to the Grown OF
Eagland. They did not desire separation
from the Mother country. They demanded
redress Of grievances under the British
Constitution and while they remand part
Of the British empire. What were those
grievances. You will find them in the bill
ofrights, put forth by the first Continental
Congtess, which assembled in 1874. In that
bill ol rights. the colonies proclaimed TO the
world their desire to remain a part OF the
British empire they acknowledged the
right Of Great Britain in Parliament 10 make
all laws which affected the general welfare Of
the empire. without interfering with the 10.
cal and internal concerns Of the colonies
they acknowledged TIE right of the British
government TO regulate foreign affairs, to
make war and peace. TO regulate commerce
and. do those things which affected the gem
eral welfare of the empire Of Britain; but
they declared in that bill of rights that the
colonies possessed the sole and exclusive
power Of legislation in their colonial legisla.
lures over their domestic polity. That was
the paint upon which they were prepared 70
sacrifice life il necessary-the right Of sell
government in each colony so lar as il affect
ell their local and domestic concerns. Great
Britain refused to recognize that right. aud
before our fathers would surrender il,
they determined that they would resort TO
force and even carry force to the point Of a
separation form, aud an entire Independence
Ci Great Britain. Il is important 10 bear
this fact in mind, 10 order 10 determine pre-.
cisely the principles up0n which our system
nf government i founded. The British Par
lament denied the right Of the American
colonies TO regulate their internal affairs,
because they said that those colonies pos.
sessed no other right than those which the
Prince of England had granted TO them in
their charters. Washington, and Jefferson,
and Hancock, and the heroes ol that day,
told the King that they did not get their
rights from tie Crown. and they denied the
pUwer 0f The King nr Parliament 10 take those
rights away. The cOlonists claimed that
the right u local self government was IN.
hereni in the people, derived from the Ru'
Ter Of the Universe, the only power and ju.
risdction Of Kings aud Parlamtnts. Upon
this point the Revolution turned. This right
Of local self government as being Inherent 10
The people was affirmed By The American
Revolution. The Constitution under which
we live was made Tor the purpose Of confirm.
ing and perpetuating the liberties achieved
by the American Revolution. The question
now arises whether We will maintain az ihi.
day thuse principles Tor which our fathers
fought and which we're secured TO ns by the
sacriiices Df the revolution.
The Abolition party Of the North some
years ago, attempted TO violate this great
principle Of self government 10 The terrific
rics of the United States, by the applica.
ton Of the Milmot Pro,iso. They intro.
duced into Congress Law for the purpose Of
prohibiting slavery everywhere 10 the terri.
tories Of The United States, whether the peo.
pie wanted il or not. The uhole South,
with large portion Of the Northern Demo.
cfacy, resisted the wilmot prosiso as yio.
lation Of the right of self government. al the
same time that IL was an usurpation of power
by The federal government ln the discussion
which touk place, We whu opposed the vii.
mot pto,iso appealed 70 the Revolutionary
strurgle a. furnishing the grounds upon which
we ought 10 resist the interference by Con.
gress With the domestic affairs VI The people
81 the territories. We reminded the people
then. that the FIRST serious point Of contro.
sersy which ever aruse between the American
colonies and the British government. was up.
on the slavery question. For more than sev.
enty years previous 70 the Declaration Of ln.
dependence, the colony Of Virginia asserted
her right 10 control the question Of slavery
through her colonial Legislature. During