Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-08-03
MR.. DOUGLAS BURLINGTON.

Mr.. Douglas arrived, as announced, from
the South by the nine O'Clock train Monday
morning, accompanied by Mrs Douglas, and
several citizens Of Brandon and Nuddleburv.
He was received at the Depot by Judge
Smalley, Col. B Dwdish, Mr.. SAKE and Hon.
q. p. Marsh, whose former acquaintance and
friendly personal relations with Mr.. Doug
las IN Congress, made it proper enough, if he
chose, for him to JOIN the political friends Of
Mr.. Douglas in the reception, and was
accompanied by them in a barouche. and
escorted by the Howard Guard, to the Town
Hall. The Hall was crowded to overa,wing
with gentlemen and ladies, attracted bv
curiosity to see the author Of the Nebraska
bill and to hear the man who hasundcrtaKen
the pleasant task Of dividing and DESTROYING
the once great Democratic party. Ofcourse
nlne-tenths Of the crowd were opposed to Mr..
Douglas in political sentiment Arrived
upon the platform the little giant was
addressed by j. g. SAKE, Esq. who in hand
some English and in a strain Of well turned
compliment, congratulated him upon his
success in public life, his championship of
popular sovereignty, and his connu5ial felic-
ity and welcomed him to Burlington Con-
sidering that it was implied in the public
invitati n to meet Mr. Douglas that the
reception was not to be political in its
character, it struck US that Mr. SAKE, in his
direct reference to Mr.. Douglas political
hobby, rather overstepped the mark
Mr.. Douglas in reply expressed himself over
whelmed by SO cordial greeting from men
of all parties in the State Of his birth-and
went on in a pleasant vein to describe his
Impressions on returning to the home of his
boyhood. Then, after asserting that before
such an audience, on such an occasion. be
could not and would not enter upon the
discussion of political topics, he adroitly
slid into defense of his hobby Of non-in-
tervention and popular sovereignty, which
he made the main topic of a speech Of nearly |
an hour long. We need not repeat it. 1t |
was much of it scraps from bis Harper's |
Magazine article and other speeches. inter |
spersed with artlul illusions to the history |
of the State, and the character of its people.
He re-asserted the refuted falsity that Hi.
nols as a territory openly disregarded
the ordinance of 81. He argued from the
action of people in open revolution, to the
action of people under settled govern
ment, and by the oft repeated sophisms.
which are familiar to gerry reader of his
speeches, urged the justice and expedIency
OF his great principle, - which in word to-
day he made to be the assertion Of the right
Of every man to mind hIs own business but
which in deed, and as applied to the politics
'f the land. is the assertion of the right of
The people of territ ry to hold slaves and
buy them where they choose-in other words {
o establish slavery Ind the slave trade. and
hat at time when they are not allowed bv J
be Constitution to choose Their own Gov /
rnor' Secretary, Judges, or other officers. |
course after this political speech the least b
DR. Douglas could do was to apologize for a
aving made it. which be did with great IL
ontrltion, laying the blame on MrSlxe who Il
rst introduced the subject He closed with a
ONE complimentary allasions to Burl nc,oo
which be Ironot need, after having $ on d
he finest scenery OF Europe, to be the most :,
beautiful town site in the world =
The speech was received with frequent il
pplause from bis adherents in the assembly. |
,nce, when he spoke Of the privations and b
abors Of a settler in 4 new country-one who a
ad to make his own fences, and "split his Il
WI rails, the indiental application a
rOught out hearty and genera. round of q
cciamation from all over the house, which a
I'D the speaker at once, where he was, and f.
nat bis assembly in the main had their Y,
carts on ABRAHAM LINCOLN, and not on al
tephen a. Douglas After he concluded. OF
Z very fair cheers were gwen for him by "
is tayUrers, and he retired to the American ca
otel, where citizens Of Plattsburgh, St. OF
bans, and other places in the vicinity, as N
ell as those from Burlington. paid him yC
lelr respects, and where he subsequently pt
ade another speech, which we did not hear. CO