The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1860-06-16
The War OH DOuglas.

Is it strange that the friends of Judge
Douglas, who are demonstrated to be at
least three fourths Of the Democracy of the
country. should cling to him with such
pertinacity, in view of the bitter and re-
lentless malice of his enemies? Has there
ever, in the history of the country, been
anything to approach this political crusade
to crush single man, in meanness and
injustice?
Here is the light in which it is viewed
by noble, generous son of the South
We cut the extract from the speech of the
Hon. Reverdy Johnson, of Md, made at
the recent Douglas demonstration in Bos-
ton. Having shown by extracts from
speeches of jeff. Davis and Orr that but
two years ago they held exactly the same
views on the territorial slavery question
now advocated by Judge D., the able speak-
er proceeded:
! His ground. it will be seen, is identical
with that OF Messrs. Orr and Davis The
acutest casuist can detect no difference
! II he, then, is false to the South SO are
they, And yet, they are i'll tull commun-
Ion with the Southern Democracy, whilst
some of the South seek to cxcommunicate
him. Gentlemen, there is gross I'M us
tice III this that the public, South and
North are forced to the conviction that it
is persecution. 1t assumes the aspect of
mere individual, political persecution
This conclusion, too, the past as well as
the present conduct Of the Executive goes
to confirm. Never in the history Of par,
ties has Executive power been so shame
fully cXerted against che man and his
friends, even where they belonged TO an
opposite organization. The contest in Hi
nois, which resulted in the return OF Judge
Douglas to the Senate, was distigured
throughout by this bitter Executive hosti
lily. The officers in its service, by orders
as plain, by Implication, as if given in
words, were enlisted for the war If rcfu
sal, or want of zeal was manifested, they
We're removed, and more plant and willing
Instruments We're substituted. The sue
cess of the Republican party, if this war
fare succeeded. was certain; still, it was
perssvered in till the executive and it.
train bands met at the hands of the true
Independent Democracy of the State an
inglorious defeat. This should have salts
fled them how hopeless Is the attempt by
patronage and power to sway the conduct
Of free people. How idle the effort &c
shake their confidence in q statcsma
who, through his whole life, has given eyi
dence of unvarying faithtulness, steadias'
adherence to principle, and undated at
tachment 10 the policy Of his party, all il
Illustrated during a continued period OF sc
: ventcen years of public service in the
councils Of the govern ent, by an ability
not only conceded but eminent-an ability
which makes him III the Judgment OF the
couutry the ornament and pride OF the
body OF which he - now member. But
there Is in all countries class Of people
who. forgetting eyerything-that thing
which they should not forget. remember
ing nothing that they should remember
learn nothng-politcal Bourbons and t.
this class the executive would seem 10 be
long. Ia the present contest they are en-
gagged and with the same yirulencc, in the
same effort What TO them is the popular
voice? Their prejudces are aguinst 1t
and these. at all cost 10 the party and
country, must, il possible. be gratItied.-
Down with Douglas, anybody but Douglas
- Lincoln, even. in preferences thell
battle cry; and il is made to ring through
the land as loud and potentially a. thci
few followers can make 1t Illinois asai,
is made the scene Of il, violence and ha
triumphant success has been the RESULT
The delegation sent 10y their followers, t
Char lesion. was to the general JOY, ignc
miniously rejected not permitted even /
e cross the threshold Of the convention
J. Nothing however. IS yetlearnt. The sam
= ignorance of the public heart. the sam
;, selfish and personal influence, continue
Il every day. The press under their contrc
C heaps unmeasured and unm;tigated mis-
IF representations on the head OF Dougia
v and as in the past he but grows stronger i
the public favor. When Will the blinc
ness OF this temporary. short lived power
e. lie removed? When will it awake TO til
e true policy of the country, and to the tru
Il duty of submission 70 the viii of the ins
iority? Perhaps, not until the 4th {
March. l>6l. when il shall see the oigcc
of its wrath, III the pos. css!On OF the yer
power which itself nov holds. and wIc!,
: ing it before rejoicing country tC In
: public good and honor.