The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1861-01-30

not get direct snswer from the Senator
VINO makes the charge against the Northern
democracy, will refer to the sentiments oil
the President elect, and see what he says on
Inc subject. The republicans have taken
pains 10 publish reports Of the debates be-
tween Mr.. Lincoln aud myself, and | NAV
say they are unfair to me, as Mr.. Lincoln
had an opportunity to correct his speeches,
and the printer struck out many portions of
my replies. [Mr. Douglas then read from
mr. Llncoin'e speech where he speaks OF the
house being divided against itself, and that
the crisis must come, and the States mus,
all become one thing or the other, ETC., and
proceeded. When the republican commit
tee publish an edition OF Mr.. Lincoln's
speeches containing sentiments like these
Is 1t surprising that the people of the South
think he was 10 earnest, aad intended to
4 carry out the policy which, he thus IN
nouBeed! should not revive such tevolu-
tlonary sentiments, but for the attempt to
cast the responsibility rnor the Northern
Democracy, cle1rly indicsting that Mr.. Puoh
and myself were the Chief authors of these
mlsrepreSentations. | would Ike to find
any one man, on thet side of the chamber,
IN the confidence OF the Pfesi lent elect, who
would deny that it is their policy to carry
out the very things to which have referred,
feel bound, however, and tnke pleasure in
saying that | don't believe the Southern
States ore in any dinger. or ought to have
any apprehension, that Mr. Lincoln or his
party can do any harm, or render insecure
their rights TO persons or property anywhere
~ this country. have some teith too, that
MIR. Lincoln, after having emerged from the
surroundings of a small country village, as-
sumed the high responsibilities of admins
'e'ins the law and protectiag g the rights of a
great nation, will sink the p1rtiz ~ in the
patriot. and abandon the extreme doctrines
and step forward and avow his willingness
to 0 We the Country by repudiating the ex-
treme doctrines Of party. But be that as
it may, neither he nor his party will have
power TO invade the rights of any State in
the Union. | had hoped, therefore, that the
Southern people would have been content TO
remain in the Union, under the Constitution,
instead of rushing into revolution, and pre-.
pairing themselves to meet whatever conse-
queDce9 my follow, This apprehension
has become widespread, and taken possess
sion of the S1uthern mind, and sunk deep
into the Southern heart, and filled them with
the conviction that their iresides, their al
tars, their domestic institutions, are to be
! rudely assaied through the machinery OF the
Federal GOvernm nj. The Senator from
Ohio tells Us he don't blame you Southern
Senators for believing things, and yet in.
stead OF doing those acts which will relieve
your apprshensons, and render it impossible
hot haa L.
talks about force, war, armies and navies.-
In the name OF the Union, Who are the dis.
unionists? Those who pursue a line of pol-
icy calculated to destroy the Union, aud re-
fuse to arrest that policy or disavow that
purpose, when they see that revolution has
taken piece. II such be not your policy,
why not say so! II you never intend to do
what the South think is your purpose, and
With you do not blame them for thinking,
what harm is there in making such amend.
ments to the Constitution as will render 1t
impossible for you to d. SO! But we are
tod that the Union must be preserved, and
The law must be enforced. agree to that
| am in favor of doing all these things, ae-
cOtdlDg to the Constitution end the laws.-
No man will 60 further than | to maintain
the Union and enforce the laws, to put down
rebellion and ;nsurrectien, and to use all the
power conferred by the Constitution Tor that
purpose. But we must look the ucts in the
face. We must take notice of those things
whose existence cannot be denied. History
teaches US that rebellion o'ten becomes sue.
cessful revolution; and the greatest repub-
lies and prcudest m0narchies have found it
necessary to recognize the existence of a
Government de tGcto in the rebellion Of
States and PROVINCES. Such was the cond.
ton of the Americen colonies for seven
years alter the Declaration of Indepen-
denae. At first, it was rebellion, and re.
bellion was treason. 4 few months after il
was revolution and Government de facto al
Philadelphia, Mr.. Hancock, President, and
Washington, commander of the armies
Rebellion had ceased and revolution had to
Ken its place. The American colonies wert
} in revolt, had Governments de fGcto, an,
Great Brtain, proud as she was, was com
pelled to recognize tae existing state o
facts. The laws OF nations, aud all tht
laws OF civiliz ton demaEded that the Gov
ernment de tacto be acknowledged. But tht
laws must be enforced. In oCr system @
|
civil authority, assisted by the militia act
posse comStatUs, when the Marshal is resist
cd. II the colonies. or State revolt, ths
revolution is complete wheu the Federal au
lhorities are expelled, and no one man LEI
to acknowledge allegiance to the Unitet
States. How are you going to enforce tht
laws then? How are you going to do it il
South Caroline! She has passed an ordi.
nance of secession. deny her right to Sc
cede, but she has done it The revolution
is complete. She has no human being il
her btrders to acknowledge our authority
THIS is all wrong, but how are you going t
helpit! You tell US we must enforce the laws
am in favor OF that. Laws must be enforce
! according to the Constitution and the law:
a Under the Constitution, laws can only b
}. enforced against criminals, and those OF U
=! who are in favor CT the Constitution and tn
g Union must be careful that we do not pei
D petuate the very things which we denounc
D as criminal in these seeding States An
. South Carolina does not stand alone. w
are told that seven other States will follow
e her, and we have reason to appfohend tha
i. seven more States will follow them. Th
i answer is, thut we must enforce the laws
a My reply is, you cannot enforce laws il
t countries not 10 your possession. den.
7 that we have the right to make war in orde
t to regain possession, in order to enforce tn
9 laws. Are we prepared for war! ] do no
. mean prepared in the sense of having col
diers, arms and munitions but are we pre-
. pared in our hearts tor war with our breth
3 rem :? While affirm that the Constitution
] was intended to form perpetual Union
' while affirm that the right to use all lawtu
al -..n n l.,s, I mill