Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1861-05-02

recentspeech at Springfield is the best an
swer, perhaps. thst can be made to the
Democrats article. and we reproduce it
for that purpose: @I-
Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.l
SrnINeFIELD. April 20.
sESAToE DoUcLAs,s SPEECH.
The two Houses met in Joint session at
seven o'clock. TIE hall was densely
crowded. Judge Douglas was introduced
by Speaker Cullom, and was received with
rapturous applause. He said
For the first time since the adoption of
Federal Constitution, wide spread con-
spiracy exists TO overthrow the best gov
ernmcnt the sun ever shone upon. An in
vading army is marching upon Washing
ington. The boast has gone forth from the
Secretary Of War of the so-called Confed-
crate States, that by the first of May the
Confederate army will be in possession of
the National Capital and by the first of
July its headquarters will lie in old Inde-
pendence Hall.
The only question for us is whether we
sha II wait supinely for the invaders or rush
as one man to the defence of that which
we hold most dear? Tremendous cheer
ing. Piratical flags are ahoat on the
ocean ruder pretended letters Of marque.
Our great river has been closed to the
commercs Of the Northwest. Taxes have
been levied upon MS without our being con-
suited or represented in the premises. So
long as hope remained for peace. plead
and implored for compromise. Now that
all else has failed, there is but one course
left and that is to rally as one man under
the old flag Of Washington; jefferson.
Hamilton. Madison and Franklin. At
what time, since the Government was or.
ganized, have the constitutional rights of
the South been more secure than now?-
For the first time since the Constitution
was adopted there is no legal restriction
against the spread Of slavery in the Ter
ritories. When was he fugitive slave law
more faithfully executed? What single
act has there been done to Justify this mad
attempt to overthrow the Republic? We
are told that because certain party has
carried presidential election. therefore the
South choose to consider their liberties in
secure? / had supposed it was funda.
mental principle Of American institutions,
that the will of the majority constitution
ally expressed should govern. ZAP
plause. IL a defeat at the ballot box is
to justify rebellion. the future history of
the United States may be read i'm the past
history Of Mexico. Are we to inaucnratc
the Mexican system in the United States?
Suppose the disunion candidates had been
elected by Constitutional means and the
Republicans had been found rebelling
against the rightful authorities. you would
have found iLe rendering to John G.. Breck-
inridge my best efforts TO crush them to
the earth. -.fisss.. ..r...f4 s.,.f
The first duty Of every citizen is TO rem
der obedience to the national Constitution
and laws. sitia. IS 3
Most of you know that am very
good fighter in times of partizan strife. /
hope TO show you that | am equally COOL
patriot in the time of my country's dan
ger. Ii is now your imperative duty to
throw party and party platforms to the
winds. forget that you ever differed. Give
me country where my children can live
in peace, and then we can have theatre
| if we desire for partisan controversies.
We are called upon to fold our arms
and see our Capital seized. our archives
carried away by those who glory in tramp
ling the American flag in the dust. Illi-
nois and my native State would say to-day
that if | had committed an error in my po-
litical career. it has consisted in leaning
too far towards the South. / have never
pandered to the prcjudices of the North
, against the minority section. While /
, will never invade the Constitutional rights
Of the South, nor sanction their invasion
by others, want them distinctly to under
stand that they must not invade my Con-
stitutional rights. Loud cheers. asa
: 1t is prodigious crime against the Free
dom of the world. to attempt to blot the
, United States out of the map of Chris
tendon. What do we sec? Washington
to be bombarded! the President of the Uni
| ted States and his Cabinet. elected and ap-
, pointed to their places by the same author
Iity as George Washington and his consti-
tutional advisers. to be carried off as host
ages! the very demon ofdestruction to be
let loose in the land! How long do you
think it will be ere the guillotine is in op-
eration? Allow me to say TO my former
political enemies. you will not be true to
; your country If you seek to make political
capital out ofthe disasters. [applausel and
| to my old friends, you will be false and un-
worthy of your principles, if you allow
lpolitical defeat to convert you into traitors
to your national land! The shortest way
. now to peace consists in the most stupcn-
dnous and unanimous preparations for war.
|fvociferous cheering. " -
regard whatI have said as the saddest
dnty Of my life. If war must come. let MS
, 50 conduct It that we may be jussified in
| the sight OF Him who holds The universe
in the hollow of His hand. Whatever we
do must be the result Of our solemn convic-
tions of duty-duty that we owe to pos
terity and to the world.
RI Gentlemen it is our duty to defend our
/ Constitution and protect onr flag.
E Successful wars are usually deci-