, 1861-04-26

1E1AEF5fAAA4s 6ARAA4 %~9
SENATOR DOUGLASS SPEECH.
The two Houses met in joint session at
seven o'clock. The hal was dense1y crowd
ed. Judge Douglas Was introduced BY Speak
er Cullo1, ard was received with raptrrous
applause He Baid-
For the first time since the adoption Of the
Federal Constitution, q wide. spread consprar
cY exists to overthrow the best government
rading army Is marching upon Washington.
Tue boast has q oue forth from the Secretary
Of War Of the so-ealled Confederate States,
that By the first Of Mey the Federal army viii
BE- in possession Of tbs National Capital and
by the first Of July its headquarters will be in
old Independence Hall.
The oIly one: tfon for ns IS whether We
shall wait snpine ly for the invaders or rush as
one man to ths, defence Of that which we
ho'd most dear [Tremedous cheering.]
Piratica! flags. arc aaoat on the ocean under
pretended le tiers Of marque- Our great river
h1s bean c1; tsed to the commerce of the Nor'h-
west. Taxe have been lsyi*d upon us without
our being consulted or represented in the
prem;ses. So long as q hope remained fer
pcace, I lead ami irnp1ored for compromise.
Nov th2 t all else has 1ailed, there is but
one ecu, Sc left and that is to rally IS one man
under t! Ie old 1ag Of Washington, Jefferson,
Hamiits NJ, Madison and Franklin. At what
time, s. nee the Government Was organized,
have tie constitutional rights Ct the Son d
been N ore Eecure than ROW? For the nrst
time 81 nee The Constitution was adopted. there
il no legal restriction agalpat the spread Of
slavery in the Territories. When Was the IN
gitive slave law more faithfully executed
WHAT single act has been done to Justify this
mad attempt to overthrow the Republics? We
are Did that because certain pa1tYhas carried
8 pr e=idential election, therefore the South
caa,:e to consider their liberties insecure?
I had suppas ed it Eas fu1dam ental principle
ofA.meri2an institufoHs, that the will ofthe ma
jority e9n5ti1 utionaily expressed should gov
ern. 1AppIa1 lse. Tia defeat at the ballot-box
IS justify sbelion, the future history Of the
United s:atf:s may be read in the past history
Of MaE;ce. Are We to inaugnrate the Mcxl-
;.hn system In the United States? Suppose
the 6is1rioD: candidates had been elected by
Consultations al nsears and the Republicans
authorities, you tsou1d have found me tender
irg to Jehn c. Breckinridga my best efforts
to crush them to the eartl.
The first duty Of every citizen Is to render
obedience to the national Constitution aud
laws.
Msst nf yon know that I am very good
fighter n times Of partizan strife. hope to
show yeu- oil that am q equally good patriot
in the tiraa ofmy coUntry'6 danger It Is row
yolr iuli ,eratiye duty to throw r. party and party
platforms to the winds, forget that you ever
differed. Give me a country where my child
ItL Gin lft III peace, aEO lAeA He cda nave u
theatre il we desire fer partisan controversies.
VIC arc called upon to fold our nrms and
eee our Capital seized, our archives carried
away by those who glory in tFamplirg the
America n flag in the dust. Illinois and my
native sza:e would say today that Il had
has coE' listed in leaning too far towards the
South. hare never pandered to the preju-
dlces Of the North against the minority sec
tton. While I will never invade the Constitu-
tionA rights of the South, uor sanction their
lnyasot ty others, I want them distinctly to
Consti tusloDs1 rights. Loud eheers,1
It is 4 pr1digions crime against the freedom
Of the world, to attempt TO blot the United
States. out ofthe map Of Christendom. What
do " e see? Washington to be bombarded
The President Of the United States and his
hy the same authority as George Washington
end his constitutional advisers, to be carried
Off IS hostages! the very demon Of destruc-
ton to be let loose in the land! How long do
you think itlw1u be ere the guillotine is in opc-
ration? Allow me to Say to my former polit-
S ees esaafs yon w seek Rsd T to tan make
political capital ont Of these disas-
tera, fapplausc] and to my old friends, ron
will be false and unworthy Of your principles,
il you slow political defeat to convert you
into traitors to your national land! The
SANA te9G AAn" ~ fNAS0 NoasiatS IL LILO
most stupcndous and unanimous preparations
for war1 IVociferuus cheering.]
I regard what I have said IS the
| eaddest duty of my Life. If war must
come, let US so conduct it that ne may be
! justified III the sight Of Him who holds the uni
verse in the hollow Of His hand. Whatever
| we do must be the result, of our solemn con.
viction5 of duty-duty that We owe to pos-
| tersty nj to lhe world.
+ Gentleman 1t !s our duty to defend our Con-
! htitution and protect cur flag.
Thls is In imperfect synopais ola most pow
erful oratorical effort. Its effect was electri-
cal. The whole house rose to their feet and
| gave cheer after cheer for Douglas, for the
Union and for the Stars and Stripes.
| Capt, E. 4. Paine, Of Monmouth, Warren
county, was elected Colonel Of the third regf.
iment. Some informally is said to have oc-
cured which may render new election nee.
essary MIR. Paine is another Mexican war
man. Col. Eaton, Of Chicago, late Of the reg
ular army, and most sagaeious and skillful
officer, is spoken Of for Inspector General.
| Major Wyman is doing the heavy work In
the Adjutant.General's office, with great Ell.
cheney and acceptance to the forces in camp.
The Rockford boys who came in day made
| the finest appearance yet, If We except some
| Of the picked companies from Chicago.
| q. ".