Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-09-04

MIR. Douglas and the Union.

Mr.. Douglas and the Union.
Mr.. Douglas was at Norfolk on the 25th ult.,
and during bis speech to the crowd, two ques-
tions, rather embarrassing it was thought, were
Unexpectedly speared at him. His answers were
prompt and bold He came fully up to the
measure of the occasion. The first question was,
whether if Lincoln be elected the Southern
States will be justified in seeding from the I'm
ion. Mr.. Douglas answered emphatically mo"
We give the second question and answer as fol-
lows: eoe
Question eff they, the Southern States, Sc
cede from the Union upon the Inauguration OF
Abraham Lincoln, before he commits an overt
act against their. constitutional rights, will you
advise or vindicate resistance by force to their
secession 2"
Mr.. Douglas-I answer emphatically that it
is the duty Of the President of the United States
and all others in authority under him, to enforce
the laws of the United States as passed by Con-
gress and as the courts expound them. (Oheers.)
And l. as in. duty bound by my oath of fidelity
to the constitution, would do all in my power
to aid the government Of the United States in
maintaining the supremacy of the laws against
all resistance to them, come from what quarter
it might. (Good) In other words, think the
President OF the United States, whoever he may
be- should treat all attempts to break up the
Union, by resistance to its laws as Old Hickory
treated the nullifers in 1882 Applause y
The laws must be enforced, but at the sans time,
be it remembered, it is the duty of every citizen
of every State, and every public fnnctionary, to
preserve, maintain and vindicate the rights OF
every citizen and the rights of every State in the
Union. hold that the constitution has reme-
dy for every grievance that may arise within
the limits of the Union. l am very frank in an
swering these questions. ! am not in favor OF
any policy which would tend to give rise to
complaints or murmurings, much less to such as
would call for resistance from any quarter. l
acknowledge the inherent and inalienable right
to revolution wherever q grievance becomes too
burdensome to be borne. | acknowledge the
right of every man to rebel and change the form
of government under which he lives whenever
it proves destructive to the ends for which it
was established. That is a right, however,
never to be resorted to until the operations of
the government become more grievous than the
consequences OF revolution. And, therefore, |
say that the mere Inauguration OF a President
of the United States whose political opinions
were in my Judgment hostile to the Constitution
and safety of the Union, without an overt act
on his part, without striking a blow at our Con.
stitution OF our rights, is not such q grievance
as would justify revolution OR secession. -
(Cheers.) Hence, / say, whoever may be elect
ed President of the United States, he must be
sustained in the exercises Of all his just consti-
tutional prerogatives and powers. If he tran
sends them we will punish him with all the
rigor of the law, as you punished John Brown
when he violated your laws. CA storm of ap-
| plause) for one will sustain with all my en-
ergy the President whenever he may be in the
exercise of all the powers conferred upon him
| by the Constitution, but would take just as
much pleasure in hanging him if he transcribed
those powers as feel pleasure in knowing that
you hanged John Brown when he was guilty
of murder and treason against the State OF Vir-
ginia. (Renewal of stormy lam law abiding
man, Union loving man, and I believe the
Union can be maintained by faithful observ-
ance of the Constitution, but I insist on exacting
the fulflment in good faith of every provision
of that Constitution; | insist on a line of policy
which will place all the people of all the States
in an exact eqality, and maintain and protect
them in their just rights, but which will also
compel obedience to the constitution and the
constituted authorities of the country. Now,
these questions put to me the first day landed
on Virginia soil, having emanated from the
friends of the secessionist candidates, ask that
like questions may be also put to those oandi-
dates, and that you insist upon such frank and
unequivocal answers as have given
| Mr. Douglas proceeded to show that the DEM
ocratic Seceders would be responsible for the
election of Lincoln. He said;
| 81 am for putting down Northern Abolition
ism, but am also for putting down Southern Sc
cessionists and that, too, by the exercise of the
same constitutional power. ("Good.'o be-
lieve that the peace, the harmony and the safety
of this country depends upon destroying both
factions" (Oheers.)