Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-05-03
DOUGLAS ON THE WAR.


Senator Douglas arrived at Bellair
which is in Ohio, just across the rivel
from Wheeling, Va, on the goth inst.
and being compelled to lay over the nexI
day, large crowd gathered from the
surrounding country TO pay him then
respects. The Wheeling hatelhgeace'
says Of the gathering:
About half-past three o'clock a crowd
of all the citizens, and large delegation
from this city, and hundreds from the
surrounding country, gathered in front
of the La Belle House, where Mr. Doug,
las was stopping. We never saw a crowd
of the same number Of people so full OF
enthusiasm. They cheered the Union
and Major Anderson,the stars and stripes,
and everything and everybody else that
happened to suggest itself
From Mr.. Douglas speech we make
the following selection
Gentlemen: 1t is gratifying to me
and my sense Of patriotism to find the
people on bctl. sides Of this beautiful
river giving their cheers and their hearts
in behalf of the flag of our country
(Great applause trust the time never
is coming when that flag will not wave
as the emblem of peace and union, and
of constitutional 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
prosperity or the right of States border
ing along upon the Gulf Of Mexico and
upon the Atlantic ocean, or upon the
Pacific to separate from the Union of
our fathers, and establish and erect tax
gatherers and custom houses upon our
commerce in its passage to the gulf or the
ocean. If we recognize the right in one
case, we give our assent to it in all cases ;
and if the few States upon the Gulf are
now to separate themselves from US and
erect a barrier across the mouth of that
great river of which the Ohio is a tribu- |
tary, how long will it be before New York |
may come to the conclusion that she may
set up for herself and levy taxes upon
every dollars worth of goods imported
and consumed in the Northwest, and tax
es upon every bushel of wheat and every
pound of pork or beef or other produc-
tons, that may be sent from the North
west 10 the Atlantic in search of mar
ket? The very existence of the people /
in this great valley depends upon main /
tanning inyiolate and forever that great
right secured by the Constitution, of free
dom of trade, of transit and of commerce, /
from the center of the continent to the
ocean that surrounds it. This right can
never be surrendered voices in the
crowd, "never" } !; our very existence
depends upon maintaining it. The prop
osition now is to separate these United
States into little, petty confederacies.-
First, divide them into two; and then,
when either party gets beaten at the next
election, slbdivide again Daughter, and
never ') then, whenever one gets beat
en- again, another subdivision and then,
when you beat on Governors election, the
liscomfted will rebel again, and so it
will 90 on. And if this new system
1f resistance by the sword and bayo-
net to the result of the ballot box shall
prevail here in this country Of ours, the
history of the United States is already
written in the history Of Mexico.
1t is not a question of union or disun-
on IL is a question Of ORDER Of the
liability Of tie Government; Of the peace
i communities. The whole social sys-
EN- is threatened with obstruction and
With disruption. / cannot now 20 into a
discussion Of these questions. have al
most exhausted strength, and voice, and
ife, in the last two years, in my efforts
o point out the dangers upon which we
we're rushing. And we have no time
low to stop to enquire as to the causes
# these mischieis, nor as to the merits
r toibles of sects or parties. Unite as o ,
and of brothers, and rescue your gov
rnment and its capital and your country
rom the enemy who have been the au- t
hors Of your calamity. (TTemendous Y
beers, and cries Of, Fe sOiH," "7Aats 7
That '0e are going to do.' l
Mr.. Douglas subsequently referred to '
he large number of Virginians present, t
nd thanking them was greeted with great '
heering. He made another in which he r
indicated General Scott. b
Gentlemen IL have been requested a
y SO many different ones to make 0
atanant in resDonsa fo fhe encuirias