Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-05-04

have heard have been Of the too vigoe-
Gus and faithful fulillment OF the Fugi-
tive Slave Law. Then what reason
have theys
The slavery question 10 mere excuse.
The election Of Lincoln 10 . mere pre-
text. The present secession movement
10 the result Of an enormous conspiracy
formed more than year since, formed
by leaders 10 the Southern Confederacy
mose than twelve months ago.
They use the Slavery Question -
means TO aid the accomplishment OF
their ends. They desired the election
Of Northern candidate by sectional
vote 10 order to show that the two sec
tons cannot live together. When the
history Of the two years from the Lee
compton Charter down to the late
Presidential election, shall be written. 1t
will be shown that the scheme was de-
lberately made to break up this Union.
They desired . Northern Republican
to be elected by . purely Northern vote
and then assign this tact % reason
1 ~hy the sections may not longer live to-
| gether. II the Disunion candidate in
The late Presidential contest had carried
the united South, their scheme was, the
| Northern candidate successful, to seize
the Capitol last spring, and by q uni
ted South and divided North hold it.
That scheme was defeated in the defeat
Of the Disunion candidate in several Of
| the Southern States.
But this 10 no time for q detail of
causes. The conspiracy is now known.
Armies have been raised. War is lev
led to accomplish it. There are only
two sides to the question. Every man
must be for the United States or against
it. There can be no neutrals in this
war, only pdtriots-0rt traitors.
Thank God, Illinois is not divided on
this question. (Cheers.) ! know they
expected to present . united South
against divided North. They hoped
in the Southern States, party questions
would bring civil war between Demo
Gratis and Republicans, when the South
would step in with her cohorts, aid one
party to conquer the other, and then
make easy prey Of the vic'ors. Their
scheme was carnage and civil war in the
| North.
There is but one way to defeat this
In Illinois it is being so defeated by
| closing stp the ranks. War will thus be
prevented on our own soil. While
there was hope of peace ! was ready
for any reasonable sacrifice or comprom-
Use to maintain it. But when the ques-
ton comes of war in the cotton fields OF
the South or the corn-fields of Illinois, |
say the farther Oft the better.
We cannot close our eyes to the sad
and solemn fact that war does exist. The
Government must be maintained, it's
enemies overthrown, and the more stu
pendous our preparations TIE less the
hloodshed, and the shorter the struggle.
But we must remember certain restraints
on our actions even in time of war. We
are Christian people, and the war
must be prosecuted in manner recog-
nized by Christian nations.
We must not invade constitutional
rights. The innocent must not suffer,
nor women and children be the victims.
Savages must not be let loose. But
others, 1 viii implo, my countrymen
not to lay down their arms until our
own rights are recognized. Cheers.
The Constitution and it's guarantees
are our br,hright, and | am ready to
enforce that inaIienable right to the last
extent. We cannot recognize secession.
Recognize it once, and you have not
only dissolved government, but you have
destroyed social order, upturned the
foundations OF society. You have inau-
onrated anarchy in its worst form, and
viii shortly experience all the horrors OF
the French Revolution.
Then we have . solemn duty; to
maintain the Government. The greater
our unanimity the speed,er the day OF
peace. We have prejudices to over
come, from the few short months since
OF fierce party contest. Yet these
must be allayed. Let US lay aside ali
examinations and recriminations as to the
origin Of these difficulties. When We
shall have again country with the
U nited States flag floating over it, and re-
spected on every inch OF American soil,
it will then be time enough to ask who
and what brought all this upon us.
have said more than intended to
say, cries OF "Go on."] 1t is sad task
to discuss questions SO fearful as civil
war, but sad as it ls, bloody and disas
trous as expect it will be, express it
as my conviction before God, that it is
the duty Of every American citizen to
rally round the flag Of bis country.
thank you again for this magnifi-
cent demonstration. By it you show
that you have laid aside party strife.
Illinois has proud position. United,
firm, determined never to permit the
Government to be destroyed. (Pro
longed cheering.
At the close OF bis address nine cheers
were given to Mr.. Douglas, who was es-
corted to his hotel by the committee.
Tux SOUTHERN LoAN.-That 4l5..
100000 loan which has been taken at
par and at premium SO many times over
10y telegraph,) don't seem to be taken
yet, though, all the while, "there is a
perfect rush to get some of it.'' The On.