The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-01-16
McGREGOR, IOWA, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1881

"'S' "S Nu1. AiuSoiii uau uu opportunity W
correct his speeches, and the printer struck
out many portions of my replies. (Mr.
Douglas then read from Mr.. Lincoln's
speech, where he speaks of house being
divided against itself, and that the crisis
must come, and the States must become
one thing or the other, &C., and proceeded. }
When the Republican Committee publish
an edition of Mr.. Lincoln's speeches con-
tanning sentiments like these, is it surpris.
ing that the people Of the South think he
was in earnest, and intended to carry out
the policy which he then announced?
should not revive such revolutionary senti-
ments, but for the attempt to cast the re-
sponsib:lity upon the Northern Democracy,
clearly intinating that Mr. Pugh and my.
self were the chief authors Of these misrep-
reservations. would like to find any one
man; on that side of the Chamber, in the
confidence of the President elect, who
would deny that it is his policy to carry out
the very things to which have referred. |
feel bound, however, and take pleasure in
saying, that don't believe the Southern
States are in any danger, or ought to have
any apprehension, that Mr.. Lincoln O" his
party can do any harm, or render insecure
their rights of persons or properly any
where in this country. | have some faith
that Mr.. Lincoln, after having emerged from
the surroundings Of small coun ~ village
and assumed the high responsibilities Of ad.
ministering the law, and protecting the
rights OF great nation, will sink the parti-
Ian in the patriot, and abandon tho ex-
treme doctrines, and step forward and avow
his willingness to save the country by re.
pudiating the extreme doctrines Of party
But be that as it may, neither he nor his
party will have the power to invade the
rights Of any State in this Union. had
hoped, therefore, that the Southern people
would have been content to remain in the
Union, and vindicate their rights in the
Union, under the Constitution, instead of
rushing into revolution, and preparing
themselves to meet whatever consequences
may follow. This apprehension has be.
come widespread, and taken possession of
the Southern mind, and sunk deep into the
Southern heart, and filled them with the
conviction that their firesidcs, their family
altars, their domestic institutions, are to b.
rudely assailed through the machinery Of
the Federal Government. The Senator from
Ohio tells US he can't blame you Southern
Senator'S for believing these things, and yet
instead Of doing those acts which will re-
lieve your apprehensions, and render it i'm,
possible that these outrages should be per-
petrated, talks about force, war, armies and
navies. In the name of the Union, who are
the disunionists? Those who pursue line
of policy calculated to destroy tn" Union,
and refuse to arrest that policy, or disavow
that purpose, when they see that revolution
has taken place. If such be your policy,
why not say so9 If you never intend to
do what the South think is your purpose,
and which you do not blame them for think
ing, what harm is there in making such
amendments to the Constitution as will ren
der it impossible for you to do soy But We
are told that the Union must be preserved
and the laws must be enforced. agree to
that. am in favor of doing all these things,
according to the Constitution and the laws.
No man will 60 further than to maintain
the Union and enforce the laws, to put
down rebellion and insurrection, and to use
all the power conferred by the Constitution
for that purpose. But we must look the
facts in the face. We must take notice OF
those things whose existence cannot be de-
MED. History teaches us that rebellion
often becomes successful Revolution. And
the greatest republics and proudest mon-
arches have found it necessary to recog-
nize the existence Of government de tacto,
in the rebellion Of States and Provinces
Such was the condition of the American
colonies for seven years after the Declara-
tion Of Independence. At first it was re-
bellion, and rebellion was treason. A few
months afterwards, it was Revolution and
government de tacto at Philadelphia, Mr.
Hancock President, and Washington COM
mander Of the armies. Rebellion had
ceased, and Revolution taken its place.
The American Colonies were in revolt,
had government de faet0, and G, eatBritain,
proud as she was, was comp lied to recog
nize the existing state of facts The laws
of nations and all the laws of civilization
demanded that the government de .ftrto be
But the laws must be en-.
fore, d. In our system Of government the
laws are to be enforced by civil authority,
assisted by the militia and posse comitatus,
when the marshal is resisted. If the colo
nies, or State, revolt, the revolution is
complete. When the Federal authorities
are expelled and 10 one left to acknow-
ledge allegiance to the United States, how
are you going to enforce the laws then? :?
How are you going to do it in South Caro-
lima? She has passed an ordinance Of
secession. deny her right to secede, but
she has done it. The revolution is com.
plete. She has no human being in her Dor
ders to acknowledge our authority. This
is all wrong, but how are you going to help
ity You tell us W. must enforce the laws
forced according to the Constitution and the
laws. Under our Constitution, laws can
only be enforced against criminals, and
those Of us who are in favor Of the Consti-
tuition and the Union must be careful that
we do NJ t pcrpetrate the very things which
we dcnounce as criminals in these seeding
States. And South Carolina does not stand
alone. We are told that seven other States
will follow her, and we have reason to ap-
prchend that seven more States may follow
them. The answer is, we must enforce the
laws. My reply is, you cannot enforce the
laws in countries not in your possession. l
deny that we have the right to make war in
order to regain possession, in order to en-.
IVA SC NAS Jaw I1bS wv PiCPdIVA tOI wal .
l do not mean prepared in the sense of hav.
ing soldiers, arms and munitions; but are
we prepared in our hearts for war with our
brethren? While affirm that the Consti-
tuition was intended to form perpetual
Union-while | affirm the right 10 use all
lawful means to enforce the laws-yct | will
not mediate war, nor tolerate the idea,
until after every effort at adjustment has
been tried and failed, and all hope Of the
Union is going. Then, and not till then,
will deliberate and determine what course
my duty will require Of me. l. am for
peace to save the Union. War Is disunion,
certain, inevitable, final, and irrepressible.
our own very existence forbids war; Mr..
Douglas referred to the purchase Of Louisi-
ana, and said it was purchased for the bene-
fit Of the whole Union, and for the safety Of
the Upper Mississippi in particular. The
noSseSsiOn Of that river now Il more neces.