The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-05-01
From the Wheeling Intelligencer Of April 7srd
Senator Douglas at Bellair.

He makes Little Speech-Hs Sustains
the Government and Vindicatss Gen
Scott.
Senator Douglas arrived at Bellair yes
terday morning, just from Washington,
ard the train on which he came out hav,
| ing missed connection, he was compelled
to lay over there all day No sooner
was it known that the distinguished Sen
ator was there than the town became oil
alive with excitement, and nothing would
satisfy the enthusiastic crowd but speech
from the Little Giant" Accordingly,
about half-past three O'Clock crowd of
all the citizens, and large delegation
from this city, and hundreds from the
surrounding country gathered in front Of
the Ls Belle House, where Mr.. Douglas
was stopping. We never saw crowd of
the same number of people SO full of en-
thusiasm. They cheered the Union and
Maj Anderson, the stars and stripes. and
everything and everybody else that hap
pened to suggest itself. When the hour
arrived for the appearance of Mr.. Doug
las, they began to cheer and yell for him,
and his appearance on the balcony was
the signal for tremendous outborst of
applause. When this had subsided Mr.
Douglas said:
GENTLEMEN: It is gratifying to me, and
my sense of patriotism to fnd the people
of both sides of this beautiful river giving
their cheers and their hearts inobebalf of
the flag of our country Great ap
plauss / trust the time never is com
ing when that flag will not wave as the
emblem of peace and union, and of con.
sti,utional liberty forever, both in the
South and in the North of this Ohio
river. We in the northwest Of this great
valley can never recognize either the pro-
priety or the right of States bordering
along upon the Gulf OF Mexico and upon
the Atlantic Ocean OF. upon the Pacific,
10 separate from the Union of our fathers.
and establish aId erect tax gatherers and
custom houses upon our commerce q its
passage to the Gulf or the Ocean. II we
recognize the right in one case we give
our assent to it in all cases, and if the
few States upon the Gulf. now are to sep
arate themselves from us and erect bar
rier across the mouth of that great river
of which the Ohio is tributary, how long
will it be before New York may come to
the conclusion that she may set up for her,
self and levy taxes upen every dollars
worth of goods imported and consumed
in the northwest, and taxes upon every
bushel of wheat and every pound of pork
aud beef or other productions that may
be sent from the Northwest to the Allan.
tic in search of a market! The very .ex-
istence of tho people in this great valley
depends upon maintaining inviolate and
forever that great right secured by the
Constitution, Of Freedom, of Trade, oi
Transit, and Of Commerce, from the cen-
tire of the continent 20 the Ocean that sur.
sounds it. This right can never, be sur
rendered; (voices in the crowd, never :
our very enisteace depends upen main
tanning it. --,t {s ....s- --.-...
The proposition now is, to separate
these United States into iHle, petty eos
federacics. First. divide them into two
and then, when either party gets beateI
at the next election, sub-divide again
daughter. and 'never;') then, wheneve
one gets beaten again, another sub divi
sion; and then, when you beat on Gov
! ernor's election, the discomforted will sc
bel again, and SO it will go on. And
this new system of resistance by the swor'
and bayonet, to the results of the ballo
box, shall prevail here in this country Q
ours, the history of the United States i
already written in the history of Mexico
It is curious fact-a startling faci
, aud one that no American citizen SHOULD
: ever misapprehend.that from the da
5 that Mexico separated from Spain, COW
, to this hour, no President of hers electe
by the people, has ever been i1augurate
s and served his term of Office. In ever
q single case, from 1920 down to 1861
r either the defeated candidate has seize
i possession of the Office by military force
e or has turned cut the successful man be
fore his term expired. What is NOR
signi6cant? Mexico is now by word fo
every man to scoff at. No man woul
deem himself treated as gentlemany/w VIII
was represented as a Mexican. Why
Because he cannot maintain his govern
! ment fouRded upon the great principle
of self government and constitutional lit
] erty-because he won't abide by the ba
lot ox--because he, is not willing to r,
dress grievances inside of the Constitr
tion, and in obedience to its provision
instead of seizing the bayonet and Il
sword TO resist the constituted author
:: ties.
1t isnot question of Union or di
union. 1t is question of order; Of IL
4 ahili,y IF tho rovarpmept. Of the poaI