Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-05-23
The Great speech of nr. Douglas.

The speech of Mr.. DOUGLAS in the 5. Nal e
in reply TO Mr. DAVIS. of Mississippi, on the
18th and 10th inst, occupied nearly Fix
hours in it delivery IL is attracting uni
yeTsal attention wherever it has been read
and is pronoudced the ablest speech OF lis
life. We have read il with great interest aud
instruction-th0ugh We are far from believ-
ing or intiniating that It bears the impress
OF d truly great mind or indicates great, COM
prehensive craftsmanship. In the lofty ell
dowmenIs Of broad. logical and comprehen-
siEe inteiiecT. combined with an elevation OF
purpose and devotion to the highest interests
OF government, we have ever regarded Mr.
DOUGLAS as greatly deficient. In the sous
sion of the primary and fundamental prinei-
pies Of government, and the profound theory
OF a constitutional Republic, embracing
entire system. aud holding in constant view
the good and glory OF nation of people, We
have never looked to Mr. DOUGLAS Us an ex-
FOUNDER or guild. But nc shTewd party
tactician: as powerful and plausible advo-
cite OF any cause he may espouse; a man
OF energy, perseverance,. fertility of resource;
keen debater before multitude, and as
one always blind to the advantages which
Others may gain, aud forever oblivious to his
own defeat, be is unrivalled among all bis
contemporaries. His late speech manifested
to an eminent degree all those qualities, and
is perhaps better measure of his true
powers than any other one of his whole life.
His power over facts aud their proper
and most forcible array is most wonderful
This last effort Is but a skilIiul statement of
She history of the principle of sguatier
sovereignty, and Its assertion and continu-
ed maintenance by the dcmoctatic party
And il is complete and overwhelming.
All the courage and fire and energy and
power of his nature Were concentrated in
that speech. For two years he has been
hunted with undated ardOr, not TO say fc-
Iuciiy, by his enemies and pursuers. The
administration first lrt slip the dogs of war
upon him in his own State. This WIS sue
ceeded by his dishonoring deposition from
the Chairmsnsblp of the Senatorial Commit
tee on Territories by his former friends. At
Charles ton the war was conGinued with fresh
bitterness and earnesiness, and the united
battery of Southern invective was kept pp
for ten successive days and nights upon him
nnd the pursuit was even then continued,
aud scarcely had the sound of the melee ut
Charleston died away before he was bearded
in the Senate Chamber, 10y the leader of the
chase from Mississippi. Both his endurance
aad his forbearance were exhausted. At
length the hunted lion of the Northwest
iarns TO meet the onset. His present honor
aud h;s future safety demanded that he
shonld submit no further. He raises his
voice the very monarch Of his tribe, aud
deals his blows with power, drectness
and precision from which there was no
cape. They fell thick and heavy, right and
left, fore aad aft, aud were as fatal in effect
as the we're Ger ain in aim. At the couclu-
sion Of the speech, bis pursuers of high and
low drgrce, great and small were lying man
glcd and bieeding aud poyerless at MS feet.
lis triumph was all that his most sanguiue
friends could have desired.
Que thing is now certain, IL, after this,
Mr.. DoUGI-As goes down, the crumbling walls
of the democratic temple will go down with
him.