The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1860-09-19
Douglas in virginia!---his Speech al
Norfolk.


far met with nothing but the kindest treat
ment. lie spoke a, Norfolk TO at least sev
len thousand people on Saturday night. II
the middle Of his address slip Of paper wai
handed to i'm II was cut frcm the Nor
folk Daily Argus. and contained two polite
Questions. Having ascertained the ques.
iions thus propounded, he said thereon:
am not in the habit OF answering questions
lpropounded 10 me in the course cf an ad
dress, but on this occasion l will comply
with The request, and respond very frankly
and unequivocaly to these two questions.
The first question l.: n Abraham Lincoln
be elected President OF the United States
luil the Southern States be justified in Sc
ceding from the Union. To this I emphat-
icaIlv answer No! [great applause. The
election Of man 10 the Presidency by the
American people in conformity with the Con-
stiluiion Of the United States would not jus
'ify any al,cmp' At dssolving this glorious
Union. lApPlause.
Now, wi read 10 you the mex. question,
and then answer il. Quesiion-If they (the
Southern Siates.) secede from the Union upon
the Inauguration Of Abraham Lincoln, before
he commits an overt act against their consti-
turionalrights. viii you advise or vindicate re-
sisiance by force TO their secessioni-
n Voices mo. no." Bell men-"Say no,
Douglas"l answer empha,icslly. that il
is the duty Of the President OF the United
States and all others in authority under him
10 enforce the laws Of the United States
passed by Congress, and as the courts ex-
pound them; and |. as in duty bound, by my
oath Of fidelity 10 the constitution 10 do all
in my power 10 aid the government Of the
United States 10 maintaining the suprema-
cy Of the Ia VS. against all resistance to them
come from whsssver quarter il might. Ia
other words. I think The Psesidsnt Of ths
;Uuued rtssr- shos,1 sssss' ~ sttsapts a
break up the Union BY resistance 70 lie laws
a. Old Hickory treated The nuIliisrs in 1882
Applause.
The Jaws must be enforced. bot at the same
time be il remembered that il il the duiy o.
every citizen Of every State and every public
functionary, 10 preserve, maintain. and sindi
cate the rights .. every citizen and the rights
Of every State in the Union. hold that the
Constitution has a remedy for every griev.
ance that may arise within the limits Of the
Union. am very frank in answering these
questions. an not in favor Of any policy
which wouIc tend to give rise 10 complaints
or murmurings, much less such ss would cal
for resistance frem any quarter. ! scknowi
edge the inherent and inalienable right te
revolution whenever grievance becomes
too burdensome 10 be borne. 1 acknowledge
the righ, Of every man 20 rebel and change
the form OF government under which ht
lives whenever il proves destructive TO the
ends for which il was established; that is
right, however, never TO be resorted 10 unit
the operations OF the Government become
more ciievous than the consequences Of rev
loIution. and. therefore cay that the mere
inauguration Of a President Of the Unitce
States. whose political opinions were, 10 m,
Judgment, hostile 10 the constitution or ou
rights, Is not such a grievance as would jus
ltify revolution or secession. lChcersl.
Hence, 4 say, whoever rnay be e'ecte'
Presiden, OF the United States, he must b.
4 sustained in the exercise OF all his just con
s,i,utional prercgativcs and powers. II b
-lranscends them, we will punish him with al
4 ,he rigor Of the law, ~ you punished Johl
Brown when he violated your laws. II
: storm Of spplsuse1. for one will sustain
} with all my energy, the President, whoeve
he NAV be, in the exercise Of al the power
conferred upon him BY the Constitution. b.
/ would take Just as much pleasure in hang
= ling him ifhe transcends those powers a. fec
: pleasure in knowing that you hanged job
}. Brown when he was guilty Of murder an
}. treason against the State Of Virginia. [R'
4 newal Of applause.
!. am q law.abiding man. Union lovin
! man, | believe the Union can be maintaine
!, lby faithful Observance Of the Constitution
, but insist ia exactiug the fulflImentin in GOO
faith or every provision Of that Constitution
insist on line Of policy which will plse
. All The people or all the States in an exa'