, 1861-06-06
GREAT 9PE1EzCH
OF THE LATE
SENATOR DOUGLAS,
BEFORE the Legislature or Illinois,
Anrtl 2E. IS1ls

The Joint session Of tho Legislature having
assembled In the hall Of the House Of Repre-.
scntatiycs. Senator Douglas, &ccomp1nied'by
several friends, entered at quarter to eight.
Mr. Speaker Cu1lom then introduced him to
tho Legislature
Mr. DOUGLAS 6nid:
1Lr. Speaker, and Gentle,nc7. cf The .SnatJ and
House Of Representatives.:
! nm not inacnsible to the patriotic motives
which hare prompted you to do m3 tie honor
TO invite me to address you on the momentons
Issues now presented IN the condition OF our
country. With heart filled with sadness and
grief l proceed to comply with your request.
For tho frst timo since the adoption Of the
Federal Constitution, q widespread conspiracy
exists to destroy the best government tho sun
Of heaven ever shed it's rays upon. Applause.
Hostile armies are now marching upon the
Federal Capitol, with Wow Of planting Il
revolutionary flag upon its dome; selling the
elected By tho votes Of the people, and hold
Ing him in the hands Of sece*sionists and dis
unioniste. 4 war Of aggression aud Of extcr-
mination is being Waged against the go:ern-
ment established By our fathers. The boaat
lu:s gone forth BY the authorities Of this rsyo-
May the revolutionary flag shall float from the
walls OF the Capital ct Washington, and that
on The fourth day Of July tho rebel armS shall
hold possession Of the Hall Of Independence
IL Philadelphia
1bc simple question presented to us is,
whether we 7ill wait for the enemy to carry
cut his beast Of making war upon our eoil; or
whether VIC shnn rush as one man to the de-
fsnsc Of the government and its capital, and
leftEd it from the hands OF all assailaats who
Lave threat=ard to destroy it. [Great cn:hu-
siasm.l Already the piraiical flag has been Ut.
fur!ed :gaisst the commerce Of the United
States. Letters Of ma.lue have been issued,
To- yct1rt1
bic under tbs! revolutionary flag, and commit
Expectations On the commerce carried on uu-
der the stars and stripes. The navigation Of
cur great river into the Gulf OF Mexico is OBJ
s.1ucted. Hostile batteries have been planted
upcn its baaks custom hous.s have already
been established and we are required now to
LAY tribute ard taxes, without havisg voice
In making The laWs imposing them, or
having Stare in the proceeds after they
1aye been collected. The question is, wAeth-
cr bis war Of aggression shall proceed, and
NC remain nith folded arms, inattentiye apec
tat0rs or whether NC shau meet the a. gres.
sor- at the threshold and turn back the tide Of
revolution and usurpation.
So long as there Tas hope OF peaceful So
1utitu, I prayed and implorcd for conpro-
mise. I can appeal to my country,nen with
confidence TINT have spared no effort, omit
ttd no opportunity, to secure peaceful solu-
tiun OF a!l these troubles, Gnd thus restore
;cacc, lappiless and fraternity to this country.
Whar Ill propositions Of peace fail, and wa!r
cfca.Tsasion is proclaimed, there ia but one
course left for the patriot, and that is to rally
:aaer that flag which has waved over tllc
CAPITOL from the days Of Washington, and
around The government established by Wash.
ingior, Madison, HAMILTON, and 1l:r com
peers. iG!eat chee1ing.]
What is the alleged cause FOR this invasion
Of The rights aod authority Of the government
uf the United States? Inc cause alleged ia
that tho institutions Of the Southern 3taEes are
not s:1e under the Federal Government What
e!ldence has been presented that they are in.
secure! l appeal to every man Within the
sound Of my voice to till me at what period
frcm sh: time that Washington was iuausur,:
ted Go8n to this hour, have: tho rights Of the
Southern Stat s-the rights OF the slayeholtiers
been more sccure than they are at this mo-
meIt? When in The whole history Of this
government Lave they stood on so firm 9
hasls For ihc first time in the history of this
Republic, there Is no restriction by act Of Con.
gress upoa the Institution OF slavery an; Hiaere
within the limits Of the UDitrd States. Tacn
it caaEo1 be the Territorial question that aas
civ en- them cause for rebellion. When Was
Il fugitive elayc Law executed ai:h more Il,
Gelity than si.cc the Inauguration Of tie pros.
CIT incui1lent Of the Presidential otii .s :
Much app!ausc Let the people Of chicago
e,',=-h and tell us when were tLl, laws or the
latd execrtcd with q r,uch fi7lnrtss and ildel
IL, tG fat "a the tusiiys slavts %r: co:icescsi
Is ;2t. ::rI nos. Can aEy II IN :ell lo,s oi .sc;
Git III. Ct aggression that HIS becn conn;t.ct,
or ai::1Uptsd since the :3st irssEdeni.l LES.
fioa. s1at ju-tstlts this yiolsnt disruption OF
lit FittrA uiic.?
|, ask y.u TO -tl:et, a,.;; the:: point Gu. :.ay
CHG :.ft :hat bEs bees GaEG--ny one ttut3 that
has Ec:u o1ait;c:; tc be Go:.e e-cf which aay
s'e Ct ti:es: d:E:;ioGie:s ca justly .tp! III.
1=t We arc tG;G, simply .,.cal:c Utah D:e-
l;t5oal r;1Iy Las guccccdcd il. a Pfesilo.Iia!
e.:lGsn, tEt3 tECcs: to eorsid::- :u::1 II I'll
l.;yr:!ss ere LGt sGte, o:.d tairrf5-e Ghay ~,
ju;tilist: i. :'rt aAir..; lip tie government?
FAC supposed fEat it WE c--d:na! anu
'E'o m:st';s 1,::::'re # cu5 sy::2tz: vi gov.
6r MEET Tia lilc decision G; td.i urupse st :ae
:,al.;,4 :1ex, 1i:hou. 'fflu5, according 10 ii.
1nFi1: If the Ce2e::;ut;o1, w.ls to conn: Il
| lbs IiNl1jsi! obedience Of :.Ees5 acci! :.:.i
ger. Load aGplasse.] If ticf.at. 1t !. Pres
;de:.t:ai vlretidn is to justify TIC lui.:u:i.y,
or aty Fcff;cu Of i15 minority, il raisi..s LIZ
trai'crtu" hard o. rtbe!licn against tl,a e:,l,-
E:iat.d an;f q: :tiss, you Will had the ii ire
history oi the C..at<. Sta.ls ,s;t5.u IL he his.
ttry u. M:xjeo. According TO LII; rsali;s as
NJ. x!ran history, there hts nsycr bgea ono
PRESIDENTIAL ser.a, from tbs Inns ct t3e r.:o.
l.iflc', q lS20 aown to this Cay, when t:i:: can
| dla.te fle-tetl Ey the people eyer se=:ta hls
terr yt"'s. II every ~ ta3cc, either .Ac de-
f,;atti candidate l1ae seized upoa the pfeslacn,
l;ai clair ty the Iss. Of The hvyopes, or ne la:
turned Ont ;hc da!y L c..d pres:deus bai;.r.
Bis 's1n exriTtj. Are Ee to Inaugural, 1n:a
MeA:ca, ssst=ii IN tie uu.t1a States Of Anl.ri
Gag mo! A~vsr!j Suppose the ezlse 10 ie r.
been tl:ct.d by aHy 1ntaa5-1 care not that
ii ty l1y means in acco.d.Gce With the f3rins
Of the EcLEt:tu;iu,3-a3 73,a l,.t Tsrsid. .utt1]
election. Then eulpcsc t:.a Ra2ublicaa5 had
1Eisec rebellion against III; aatlorl:y. L.
that case Yen would have found uac rendering
MD TAk,,
inr!dgc to: ru1 do"n tie Republican rebels.
[}1tu,e.silous apriaus2.] Ana ii YOU had at.
ten,E:ei auca 4 Icb=llic1, would haze fusti
lid Lam il calling fo-:h all The pc 7cr an;
cie si:s Ct this country t., have crushed you
o1!:. i.cafi::acta arplanscl
nc Arot GE:y Gf u Aule7ican cit;zea, or o|
aci:ixtn Of any conititut;:,nai .ovcrn:s: :ns, i
G-ctf 1t ace 10 the constitution aud laws of ais
c--I1try. lArp':nse.] I have n3 :pp:las;-
son TIKI a!iy luall III HliGcis, or beyond Inc
M':s Of cur cSn hc2ovea S.ate, will mi5coc-
ssrGc or 1nisuoGcrs{and my motive. s. far s.
2Ey q The partisan qEc:tis;ns SIC c-rc.raEu,
s';'nt: IN equal, irsecorc:l2h:e a1i uadyiag op.
le':i;Icn au.ll 10 :Ec Republicans aal !1l s.
c.ss'o,ls:s. [App:za=e.] You all lir.w si,.t
IN: : vsry good partisan, s:sbscr il partisan
tiE:es. asi.l;st AID cheess.l Au1 I tru5t
ySu VIII 1Ir2 me cqna!l5 q gooG pAt.i3t "! !.e
| tho ccuLtE5 is IN danger. |Ch=cr;.1
| N:w rcr2:;.x ms to say 10 The Esscu,c]
He. rese!'tatiyts and aena:or5 of Cur lo:el
s;;te, cn1nIM:ses of la.n Ct both YoI:t;cI ;,ay.
s:::, il. my 2l':1ior it Is your duty to la;
asl::e, !tr tLe 1;ul1 being, yen: ;,a.Sy cr:eIa
! ard l''-t5 liatfc11ns; to Il s7e.sc witt; YOU,
:nr'F <rgaa!zsti:ns and partisan app:,:6 to
i'1sts f4:a. tsu were ever divided, until you
Iavo rescued t1a Goyernmeut ard Tie c5un.
| tT3 fFopl their assailaNts. ANtea this uaca.
1aour: duty shall hare i'ecu performed, it will
TIC Trcpc7 or cach OF us to resume OIL! rssucet.
sve Fol'tical p.si;ions,. according to our coa.
rict!cns Of 1'unlic duty. lapplsuse.} Give
me. country tirst, that r.ly children 1iiay Hy.
ii peace; then We will have theatre for our
| ratty rr2anizasicrs to oTer,tc upon.
Are VIC to he called upon to fold our arms,
! *llcW Tic Satsona: capi!al to be se;z:l oy 4
;''i1it2:y 1olc1 under 4 foreign Revolutionary
lag; to see the archives Of the G 3y27au1ant III
the bards ci 8 people Tho affect to tlespsa the
fias aid Government Of the United States? I
:nl ros N;ll'; to be cxael!ed by military
tcrcc, Eor 10 fiy from the Federal Capitol. Il
tas been my daily acocation, six months in the
yeas, for eighteen y.:a1s, TO walk into that
marble br'lding, and from its portico to sur
Sey prosperous. happy and un,tsd coun:ry
~ @ no.n eaass Of Tho P3tomac. Ibalieya my
| WI! eau.uS.:ee appeal to tho people us eyerv
fcctlSai Of he country to bear test;monv tn u
l tavs tccn as thoroughly nat:oaa! in my 20.
.lflcai cplniors sEd uctl5n as a:y n1an 1Iat nas
lived in my day EArp;ause.1 And I belieye
i sAeuld make Ar appeal to the people OF the
State uf Illinois, or OF the Northern States, fol-
their Impartial verdict, they would say that
whatever crro1s have committed have been
| in leaning too far to Tie Southern gcct;on OF
the unlcn against my Own. [App!ause1 /
think can appeal to friend aud zoe: Iuse the
tt1m IN political sense, aud trust use the
word i6c In past sense: Much applauso.] I
can appeal 10 them with confidence, tha: I