Juliet signal., 1861-05-07
senator Douglas I'm Joliet.
IMMENSE GATHERING OF PEOPLE
HIS ECH,


Gratis.
After three rousing cheers from the as
sembled multitude and the militia, Sena-
tor Douglas appeared on the platform of
passenger car, and spoke as follows:
Mr. CoUNTRYMLN-That the danger to
this country is aow imminent, $50 man can
conceal from his thoughts, no matter how
much he may desire to avert the evil If
war must C me, if the bayouet must be
used to maintain social order and constitu
tional liberty, ] can only say before God,
that | feel that my conscience is clear of
all responsibility for the Consequence that
may follow. l have struggled as long as
there was hope, and ev after hope had
disappeared. for the peaceful solution of
all these difficulties. | have not only ten
dered to these discOntented States full and
ample justice, but have gone further 20
the utmost extremity Of magnanimity and
generosity. The return that we have re-
ceiyed, is war upon the government, the
marching of hostile armies to reduce our
national capital, the destruction Of our Gem
merce on the great father Of waters, the
issuing of letters Of marque to pirates to
commit depredations on our commerce on
| the high seas. and concerted movement to
| blot out the United States of America from
the map of the world. [Applause.1 The
simple question is, whether we will main
tain the government established by our
fathers, or allow it to be stricken down by
those, who, when they can no longer gov
ern. endeavor to destroy it.
This is not the time to go into discus
sion of the causes that have produced the
results. The conspiracy to break up the
Union is fact now known to all. Armies
are being raised and war lowed to accom-
it. There can be but two sides TO the con-
troversy. [Applause Every man must
be on the side of the United States or
against it. Immense applause.) There
can be no neutrals in this war. Prolonged
cheers.
There can be none but patriots and trail
tors. Applause. Thank God Illinois
will not be divided on that question:
Cheers. / know that they have expected
to present a united south against divided
north. The conspiraturs have been led to
hope that, in the northern states, it would
be made party question, producing civil
war between Democrats and Republicans,
and the south, being united, could step 10
with their iegions and help the one destroy
the other, and then conquer the victor
Their scheme was LloodShed and all the
horrors Of civil war in every northern state.
There is one way to prevent it united
action on the part Of Illinois; closing Up
the ranks, renders it impossible that the
war shall rage on our soil. [Applause.
repeat, that so long as it was possible
to settle this question by peaceful means,
was willing to make any reasonable sacri
hee Tor that purpose, but when the question
comes whether the war shall be transferred
from the cotton fields of the south TO the
cornfelds of Illinois, choose to say that
the further OIL that war the better. Ap-
plause
War does exist. 1t is sad thought to
every patriot. War, 1ciyil war-must 10
recognized as existing in the United States
we may no longer close our ewes 90 that
solemn fact. TINS government must be
maintained, the enemies Of the country
overthrown, and the more sturendouS and
overw helming our preparations, the less
blcodshed and the shorter the struggle.
But, my countrymen, we must remember
that there are certain restraints upon mems
actions In time OF war. We must never
forget that we are q civilized and christian
people, and that the war must be prose
cnted only from purposes, and in the mode
recognized by christian nations. There
must not be war waged against the con-
stitnuonal rights Of any neop!e on earth
nor must 1t be war against women and
children and innocent persons Sayapes
must not be let loose, rOr the borrors nf
lndiscrlminate destruction encaurascd 7
say to you | will never sanction srcb acts
"i warfare upon the rights Of others, but |
Will beseech and implore my countrvmeu
never to lay down tbeir arms uhtiI they
recognize our constitutional rights. Loud
and prolonged cheers and applause
We were born under the constitute of
the United States. Its provisions and its
guarantees are our birthright. App ause |
am then prepared to demand and enforce
that inalienable right to the last extremity
We have peculiar reasons, from our nosi-
tion in the centre of this continent. why we
cannot recognize the right of anv number
of states to secede Mt their pleasure and
break up our government. When YOU ad>
NIT the right Of one state TO secede. Won
ccncede the right Of every state TO do the
same thing. When you recognise the RIGHT
OF secession, you not only destroy the gov
ernment, but destroy social order. You
have upturned all the foundations of soei-
ETY., and lnaugurated anarchy in its worst
forms, and will soon experience all the bor
rors of the French revolution.
Then, my friends. we have a solemn dutv
to perform 1t is to use all the powers that
God has given us to maintain the eonsi;tr
ton and government that our father
established for us. The more energy and
unanimity we display in the Performance
OF this great duty, the less will be the de-
structIon OF life and property, and the soon.
er Will come the day Of peace
am aware that we nave had some diff
Guilty ana prejudice to encounter in produc
IE anN
such should have been the case. We mp.t
remember that it has been but few sbor,
months since We came out of a fierce noIit.
lzal strife which engendered much hitter-
ness Of feeling. Ii takes some littlc time
TO Danish those passions from the human
heart, and substitute unalloyed patriotism
IN their place. Wh1ever is not prenared 10
sacrlhce party organizations and platforms
ON the altar OF his country does not desarvo
the support and countenance of honest o.
! pie. Cheers. How are we to overcpuaa ~
partizan antipathies in the minds of mon
OF all parties so as to present united from,
IN support OF our country. We must cease
discussing party issues, make no allusions
to old party tests. have no elimination anJ
recrimations, indulge in no taunts ono
against the other as TO who has been the
cause of these troubles. Applause i
1t makes no difference which secfioo oe
the country rebels, will stand by the con.
stitution. II John C. Breckenridge had
been elected President, and The RennbIis
cans had seeded, | would have Joined the
effort to put them down Applause
" hen we shall have rescued the cavern
ment and country from it's periIs, and seen
ITS flag floating in triumph over eyery inch
OF American soil. it will then be- time
enough to inquire a. to who aud what b,s
brought these troubles upon US. IAN
riause When we shall have a conntrv
and government for our children 10 Tys
10 peace and happiness, it will be time for |