Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-05-16
SPEECH
SENATOR i DOUGLAS.
before the
LEGISLATURE OF ILLINOIS,
April 25, 1901.


LEGISLATURE OF ILLINOIS,
April IS, 1901.
The joint sessionof the Legislature having
assembled in the House of Representatives,
Senator Douglas, accompanied by several
friends, entered at a quarter to eight. Mr..
Speaker Culom then introduced him to the
Legislature.
Mr.. Douglas said rm
Mr.. Speaker, and Gentlemen, Of The Senate
and House of Representatives. ] am not in
sensible to the patriotic motives which have
prompted you to do me the honor to invite
me to address you on the momentous issues
now presented in the copdition. of our coun-
try. With heart flied with sadness and
grief proceed to comply with your request.
For the first time since the adoption Of the
Federal Constitution, a widespread conspir-
acy exists to destroy the best Government
the sun Of Heaven ever shed its rays upon.
Applause Hostile armies are now march
ing upon the Federal Capitol, with a view
Of planting a revolutionary flag upon its
dome; seizing the national archives taking
captive the President elected by the votes Of
the people, and holding him in the hands of
secessionists and disunionists. A war of
aggression and of determination is being
waged against the government established
by our fathers. The boast has gone forth
by the authorities of the revolutionary gov
ernment, that on the first day of May the
revolutionary flag shall float from the walls
of the capitol at Washington, and that on
the fourth day of July the rebel army shall
hold possession of the Hall of Independence
in Philadelphia. @
The simple question presented to us is,
whether we will wait for the enemy to carry
out his boast of making war upon our soil;
or whether we will rush as one man to the
defense of the government and its capitol,
and defend it from the hands of all assail-
ants who have threatened to destroy it
flag has been unfurled against the commerce
have been issued, appealing to the pirates of
AIRY flag, and commit depredations on the
commerce carried on under the stars and
stripes The navigation of our great river
into the Gulf of Mexico is obstructed. Hos
tile batteries have been planted upon its
banks; custom houses have already been es-
tahlished, and we are required now to pay
tribute and taxes, without having a voice in
making the laws imposing them, or having
share in the proceeds after they have been
collected. The question is, whether the war
of aggression shall proceed, and we remain
with folded arms, inattentive spectators; or
whether We shall meet the aggressors at the
/ threshold and turn back the tide of revolu-
ton aud usurpation.
-Soiong as these,wusah ahepeef peaceful So
luton, l prayed and implored for compro-
mise. can appeal to my countrymen with
confidence that have spared no effort, omit
ted no opportunity, to secure peaceful So
luton of all these troubles, and thus restore
peace, happiness and fraternity to this coun'
try. When all propositions of peace fail,
and war of aggression is proclaimed, there
is but one course left for the patriot, and that
is to rally under that flag which has waved
over the Capitol from the days of Washing.
ton, and around the Government establish
ed by Washington, Madison, Hamilton, and
their compeers. (Great cheering
What is the alleged cause for this invasion
of the rights and authority of the Govern
ment of the United States? The cause al
legged is that the institutions of the South
crn States are not safe under the Fedora
Government. What evidence has been pre-
sented that they are insecure? l appeal t.
II eyerv man within the sound of nv voice n
lII' to,I NC n at what nar;od from tbe t;'na % tho ~
W. Wash;nato hi % Wa was ; ;namsnratad % I down NM 70 M ,h;
bho%r % have tho =; ;ahts es the Sont%arn Ststa s
thu r;ahts of tha .ssushrlJersNnhean M mor
soo',ro t6an tbav arc at th;s uomant 2
WHEN in The whole history nf This Gnvern
MAN, MI have thew % stood on az firm n bos;sSI
For % tbe m f;rst It'll time % in tbe history Of tb;S Re
nuhl;c there ism Is M - restriction bv n act of Con
, prasS puo, ,,non tho ;nst;tnt;on of Slaverv onv
S,hera w;tb;n tba limits of tie IIm;,od Statas
Then II cannot T he 1.-THE the y territorial T anestio %
l thot has o;ven them q cause for rebelI;on :
\ Whon WAS tha fng;t;ve slave l.y exacnte
q With % more m f;del;tv than since the ;naugnr,
!. t;on n of % the ] nresent ;noumhsnt of the nres;
, Jent;al ofSce9 Much annlause ! Iet m
) e uennIs of eth Eb;ca 9o snsat apd teIl ia S wbe "a
! p1Teb were The Laws of tba land M sxacnted with ,
O much f;rmness n and fidelity 90 far as the fne
tive slaves are "1 concerncd % as thew ~ are % noS HS
Can Can anu man roll me- ofany act % Of Of aoaress;c n S
that has heen | Committed Or M sttempied s;nl
is tho h' last % Presdent;al % elect;on that ;ust;f;'
# th;s Violent d;srnntior of The Federal IIn;o, %
d T asI Won tn refIect and them no;nt q,
nn "na sct tbat has haen donePPonv P o. ~
r. Any dmtv 1b that ~ has heen 20 omitted 10 be dome "
wh;cb anv ons Of these d;snn;on;sts q,
u why" o"y 80 vo y