The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-05-14
SPEECH OF STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.
He sh0Us the cloren foot at /

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Stephen \. Douglas, who, becoming alarmed
at the state of things in Washington, fled inglori
ousl " from brahams bosom addressed both Houses
of the Illinois Legislature in the Representative
Hall, at Springfield, on the night Of the 18th of
April. He said:
A war of determination and oppression is now
being waeed against the Government Walker
boasts that on the 1st of May the Confederate
flag will wave from the dome of the National Cap
tol, and on the 4th of July the army will occupy
Independence Hall. Already their piratical flag
is unfurled against our commerce, and the nav ga
ton of the Mississippi is obstructed, and we are
required to pay tribute at its mouth. The ques-
ton is: Shall we allow this to proceed, or meet
the oppression? He said there was no cause for
this rebellion; that no evidence had been present
ed that their institutions insecure; that the
fugitive slave laws were never executed with more
frmncss than recently at Chicago. Are we to in
augurate the Mexican systemin the United States?
Had the candidate of the disunionists been elect
ed, and the Republicans of the North rebeled,
would have used my best efforts to crush them
The first duty of American citizens is obedience
to courts and laws. In my opinion, it is our duty
to lay aside all party creeds and platforms until
you have rescued the country from her assalants
| will never acquiesee in any warfare upon the
constitutional rights or institutions of the South
If any attempt is made to invade these rights OF
lncite servIle instructions among them, would
be the hrst to rush to the rescue, yet they must
distinctly understand that will never acquiesce
in their ainvasiOns of our constitutional rights
1t is crime against constitutional freedom to at.
tempt to guch the United States out of the map
, of ehristendom. lie appeals to the men of all
arties not to allow their passions get the better
| Of judgment and not to attempt to manufacture
partizan capital out of the niseres and struggles
of their country To Democrats, he wonld say
don't allow party considerations to make you trait
Ors The most stupendous and unanimous pre-
partitions for war is the shortest way to peace The
greater the unanimity the less blood will be shed
Every friend of liberty must feel that this cause
is his own. The seeded States have proceeded
to obstruct our most inalienabea right of naviga
ton of the Mississippi, The people of the Missis
sippi Valley can never consent to be excluded from
free access to the Gulf of Mexico. | will never
cease to urge my eountrymcn to take up arms and
+ fight to the death in defence of these rights Ii
is war of self-defence. believe it is duty VIZ
owe to ourselves, our children and our God, I,
protect and sustain our Government and flag frou
every assaant. lie was frequently interrupted
with enthusiastic applauses. g.. ..'s
/ Can Mr. Douglas show one instance where the
South has attempted to invade the constitutions
rights of the North, or obstruct the free passag,
Of the Mississippi River While pretending t.
want to aay passion, his language is calculated tt
arouse the passions of the Northern people