Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-05-08

Position of Judge Douglas.

Position OF Judge Douglas.
We gave on Saturday full report. from The
Springfield Journal, of the speech of J udge Doug
las in the presence of the Illinois Legislature. BY
this time it has been widely read and thoroughly
considered by the people of Illinois aud Missouri
Those who, for any reason, have supposed that
Senator Douglas had in such manner changed
his course as to partake OF the revengeful and
murderOus feelings that have been freely
pressed of late against the people of the slave
States, will find nothing in his speech to justify
that conclusion He counsels no destruction of
cities no burning of farm houses, no devastation
of fields and plantations, no plans of starving out
the women and children of the South, no scheme
of recovering the revolted section into the Union
by military coercion. On the contrary, We inter
pref his speech to be in opposition to any invasion
of the constitutional rights or interference with
the domestic institutions of the South or of the
seeded States. We do not see that he has re
nquished the idea, expressed in his speech last
winter, that however the question of right might
be decided by individuals, the Southern COnfede
racy is, to all intents, a government de fGctO.
Neither do we understand Judge Douglas to have
changed his position in reference to the enforce
ment of the laws in the seeded States, where
there are no Marshals. Courts or Judges, who
will serve. Nor yet has he given out that he is
in favor of the absurd, impracticable. and wholly
preposterous notion of marching down an army
to recapture, hold. occupy and possess the Gov
eminent places which have been seized by the
rev0lut:onsts.
According TO our reading of Douglas Spring
field speech, which, by the way, is the completest
exposition of his views upon the present aspect of
public affairs that has been made, we understand
his position to be simply one of defense against
any aggression made by the Government of the
Confederate States upon our own. And we
agree with our correspondent /" Central" that If
his premises are correct his conclusions are IT.
resistible Judge Douglas evidently believes that
there has been deep-laid plot by the Rhetts, and
Yanceys, and Walkers, and Slidells, of the seces
sion schemers TO seize upon the Washington Gov
ernment and drive the Administration now con-
Quoting it from power and authority. Although
not insensible of the ambition and grasping dis
position of these intriguers, We confess we have
been 10th to think that so infamous a conspiracy
could command anything like general approval
from the masses in the seeding States. There
may be reason to suppose that since Mr.. Lin
coins declaration of war, the Vaccinations
alluded to have gathered many proselytes, par
ticulary in view of the questions of tie right OF
territory arising from the position Of Virginia and
the possible course of Maryland, those States
having originally furnished the local situation OF
the District of Columbia. But up to that time
We had no thought the Capital at Washington IL
danger of any invasion or attack.
1t has been repeatedly stated that even previ
Gus to the battle of Charleston, Mr.. Lincoln haC
been put in possession OF such information as lei
him to the conviction that hostile demonstra
| ton upon Washington City was in contemplation
by the secessionists. III, in his extraordinary
proclamation calling for rs, 900 volunteer troops
instead of assigning reason the ridiculous pur
pose of repossessing all the seized forts. arsenal:
and other government property, he had furnished
evidence of this alleged design, and intimated a
desire to act on the defensive only, we apprehenC
that all the border slave States, Virginia included
might have obeyeds the call with prOmptness anC
alacrity. If now, when the utter impossibility o
carrying out the programme set forth in that proc
lamaton is as clear to all rejecting minds as tn,
| pure light of day, Mr.. Lincoln will abandon th
position-abandon what is considered by the whole
South as an aggressive poicy-we make no doub
that the trouble will quickly end. Tennessee, Ar
kansas and North Carolina, which are fast assum
| ing an attitude to leave the Union, as would ap
4 pear from the course of events in those States
| could then easily be kept in, and would no longe
threaten hostility 10 the Government. Judg'
Douglas, it appears to us is laboring to bring th
Administration to this point, and for ourselves WI
can not denounce him for doing so. That hi
friends in Illinois thus understand his position j
to be inferred from the manly and noble speec
of Mr.. Shaw, member OF the House of Repre-
sentatives of that State. which we printed in ou
last, as also from the reports of numerous publ
meetings in Egypt"
As to restrictions upon the commerce of tn
!, Mississippi Valley, in reference to which tn
speech of Judge Douglas is very strong an
pointed. the people Of the West are almost unan
, mousy of his opinion. His remarks upon thi
subject are predicted upon the understanding tha
} the Southern Confederacy Government ha
!. placed obstructions upon the river trade at IN
dividing line between Tennessee and Mississippi
! by the erection of a battery to enforce the pa,
: ment of duties. There has been a report in ci
culation that such is the fact, but informe
that it is a greatly exaggerated one, vessels NJ
being molested in the free navigation of the rive
At present, the structures Of Judge Douglas appl
e with most force against the policy of Mr.. Lii
I coins Administration relative to a blockade
the river and inland thoroughfares, as exemplifs
? in recent proceedings at Cairo.
e Upon the whole, have nothing yet
: Justify the inference drawn by some that Il
;; distinguished Senator of Illinois has modified
e views of the policy of coercing the South, tn
n he has become sectional fanatic. ConsideriT
= the tremendous pressure in the North, we a
! glad to find him moderate and reasonable
o 81. Louis Republican.