Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-11-13
SPEECH OF HON S. A. DOUGLAS.
on THE STATE or THE UNION.
DirTcd in the E1tcd states Son
dtc, January 3rd 1861


CONTINUED,
81 regret the necessity which has made
/, my duty TO reproduce these dangerous
und revolutionary opinions of the Presi-
dent elect No consideration could have
Induced nc to have dono so but the at
iempt of his friends TO dcnounce the poll
icywhiuh Mr. Lincoln has boldly adyoCa-
,ei as gross ealumnes upon the Republic
can party. and as bnse inventions 10y the
northern Democracy to excite rebellion in
,he southern country. ! should ike to
find one Senator on that side of the Cham
Der, in the confidence Of the President
elect, who will have tue hardihood to de,
ny lhst. Mr.. Lincoln stands pledged by his
puLlio speeches, to Shiich ke new le'crs
consanuy hs containing niS present onin-
ions, TO carry out the policy indicated in
the speech from which have read. ! take
great pleasure in saying, however, that !
do not believe the rights of the South will
matealy suffer under the administration
Of Mr. Lincoln. ! repeat what ! have said
on another occasion, that Eeiiher he nor
his party will have the power ia co any
act prejudcial to southern rights aud in
terests, if the Union shall be preserved
and the southern States shall retain a full
delegation in both Houses Of Congress
With majority against them in this body
and in the House Of Representatives, they
can do no ast, except TO enforce the laws,
without the consent OF those TO whom the
South has coufided her interests, and even
hisappomtments for that purpose are sub.
iect to our advice and confirmation. Bes
sides, | still indulge the hope that when
(. | tl,, Ii,,l,
sibilities which will soon deyolve upon
him, he will be fully Impressed with the
necessity of sinking the politician in the
statesman, the partisan in khe patriot, and
regard the obligation which he owes to his
country as paramount TO those OF his par.
lv. In view of these Considerat ons, | had
iudu,ged the fond hope that The people Of
the Southern st; tes would have been con-
!ent to remain in the Union and defend
shcir lights under the Constitution, in
s,eai Of rushing madly into revolution
and dsuHoh, az a refuge from Opprehen'
dcd dangers which may NOT exist.
"A Bul this apprehension has become wide
n spread and deep-seu4ed in the southern
"a people. 1t has taken possession OF the
"A southern mind. sunk deep in the outhetn
N heart, and filled them with the conviction
"A that tlcir tiresides, their family altars, and
"a their domestic instildtions are TO be ruth
M lessy as,ailed Though the machinery Of
n The Federal Cox ernmout. The Senator
N from Ohio says he does not blame YOU,
VI southern Senators, nCr the southern peo-
IA lle. for believing those things and YET t,
instead of doing those acts which will re.
M leye your appTehensions, aud render it
81 impossible that your rights should Se in
N W.ded by Federal power under any Adj
M mnlslration, he threatens you with war,
la armies, military rorce, under the Iretcxt
VA Of enforcing the laws and preserving the
Union. We are told u at the authority of
the Government must be yindicated that
the Union must be preserved; that the
i rebellion must be put down that insur,
rection must lie suppressed, and the laws
must be enforced | agree to all this.
am in favor Of doing all these things ac-
cording 20 the Constitution and laws. No
man will 20 furtherthan TO maintain the
just authority of the Government, to pre-
serve the Union, to put down rebellion, TO
suppress insurrection, and to enforce the
laws. ] would use all the powers confer
4 red ty the Constitution for this purpose.
But, in the perfol nance Of these import
ant and delicate duties it must be borne
in mind that those powels only must be
USED, and such measures employed, as drC
dUtOri-Edty the Consultation and lars. Things
I should be called 5y the night names and
n Iacts, whose existence can no longer be
A denied, should be acknowledged,
Instructions and rebellions, although
n unlawful and criminal, frequently become
successful revolutions. The strongest Gov
ernments and proudest m 1narehs on eat
Nhave often been reduced to the humilia
ting necessity of recognizing the existence
#ot Governments dc .tactO, although not d,
8uc, in their revo,ted States and proYin'
ices, when rebellion has ripened into sue
4cessiul revolution, and the national auth
Eorit:es have been expelled from their linn.
bits. In such cases the right to regain pos
session and exact obedience to the laws re-
hnains but the exercise of that right is
Nyar, and must be governed 10y the laws OF
Mar. Such was the relative condition OF
Ail eat Britain and the American colonie,
&ior seven years after the Declaration oil
Dndependence. The rebellion had pro,
Mgressed and matured into revolution. with
navy 10 defend it. Great Britain, regard.
@ng the complaints OF the colonies upioun.
bed refused to yield to their demands
and proceeded to reduce them to obedi-
fnce; not by the enforcement oflhe laws
but by military force, armies and navies,
ecCording to the rules and laws OF war
faptives taken in battle with arms in thei;
bands, fighting against Great Britain, were
POI executed as traitors, but held as pris-
pners of war, and exchanged according to
he usages Of civilized nations. The laws
Nj nations, the principles of humanity, o
#eiYilizaticn, and Christianity, demand thai
he Government dc fac'o should be ack'
Owlsdged and treated as such. While
he right TO prosecute war for the purpose
p reducing the revolted provinces to obe'
Hence still remained, yet it was q militia
N remedy, and could only be exercised
ecordiug to the established principles Of
ar.
1t is said that, after one of TIE earliest
Engagements, the British general threat
ped ~ eGc~te as troitors all the prison