The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-05-04
THE vOlCf. OF DOu0LAS.
Preservation of the Union.


The DUTY Or FAT lOTs
By invitation Of the Legislature, Hon
Stephen A. Douglas addressed the Legs
lature last evening upon the existing N.
tional troubles He said
] am not insensibIe 10 the patriotic mo-
tives which prompted you to 90 me the
honor to invite me To addres you ON this
occasion, upon the momentous issues now
presented of the condition of our country
/ With a heart filled with sadness and grief
J comply with your request.
For tue first time since the adoption o! the
Federal Constitution, a wide spa cad con-
splracy exists 10 destroy the best govern
ment the sun OF heaven ever shed its
rays upon. Applau,e Hostile armies
are now marching upon the Federal Cap
itol, with view of planting revolutionary
flag upon its dome, seizing the national
archives, talin. captive the President
elected by the hands of the people. in the
hands oil secessionists and disunionists.-
A war OF aggression and Of determination
is being wa2ed against the government
established by our fathers. Tile boast i.as
gone forth 3y The Secretary OF War, of
this revolutionary government, that on the
first day OF Nav the revolutionary nag
shall float from The walls Of the capitol at
Washington, and that on the fourth day
Of July the revolutionary army snail hold
possession of the Hall OF Independence in
Washington.
The simple question presented to us i,
whether we will wait for the enemy to
carry out this boast of making war upon
our soil, or whether we Will rush as one
man TO the defense Of the government,
and its capital, to defend It from the
hands of all assdllauts who have threaten
ed it. Great applause Already the pi-
ratical lia- has been uu'uiled against the
commerce OF the United States. Letters
OF marque have been issued, appealing TO
the pirates OF the world 10 assemble un-
der that revolutionary flag and commit
depredatioHs upon the commerce carried
on under the stars and stripes il.stile
batteries have been planted upon its bat
trri--: custom HOUSES have already been
established; and we are required now 10
pay tribute ard taxes without having q
voice ia making the laws imposing them
OF having "a share in the d ,tribution OF
them after they have been collected. The
question is whether this war OF aggression
shall proceed and we remain with folded
arms inactive spectators or whether we
shall Meet the a"gr-S~ors At the threshold
aud turn back the tide
50 long a. there WAS hope of peace
tul solution, ! prayed and implurei Tor
compromise. can appeal to NY country
men with contid-uce that ! have sptred
no effort. omitted no opportunity. 70 adopt
a peaceful solution OF all these troubles
aud rni,, restore peace, haupiuc-s and ina
trrnijy io ;hi- country. men ali prupo-
sit.uus Of peace fail. there Is but one
coutSe LEFT !" the patriot, and that is 10
rally uu,;er tina: flag which has waved over
the capitol since the daYs OF Washington,
and around the government established
by Washington, jefferson. Hamilton and
their campr.rs Great cheering
What J. the alleged cause for This inya
-ion OF the ri-Lts and authority Of ;lie
government of the United Statcs2 The
cau-c alleged j. that the Institutions OF
tie SoI t.vln states are not .air under the
F.ieral Government y hat evidence has
been presented that ;aoy are !n.ccure2 !
appeal 10 every man within the sound Of
my voice 10 tell ne 1T what period trom
the Tine that Washington wa~.iil; "a .litat66
down to this hour, have the Ii5!,'s oi the
Southern Stat,.>-the rights of the slave
holders been more secure than tI"y are
1T tHi- timcr Wien iu the whole history
Of tins g"verumen have they stood GA 80
f,ru a basis For tie first time in the
history -; this republic there j. nn restric-
t.u, hy Ct Of Congress upon the iusiru
;.on of slavery aHywhcr- within tic limits
Of the United >tate-. Then ii cannot be
.le territorial question shat has given
them cauSe When was the fugitive slave
law executed with more fidelity than since
the Inauguration of the present incumbent
of the ,se~ideutial ctiicr2 Much 10
,.,au.rl Lit the rcoi l. %: Chicago speak
aid tr.. u when were til" laws al IT,
laud cNrcu,ed with a. much Er,nne~. and
fidelity. far ~ fugitive slaves we're con
crln,d. a. they agr now Caa amy man
tell IN. oE ANY one act of aggression thai
ha- t'cu committed or attempted since
the i'-t presidential election. that iu>tiii-s
this disruption of the Federal Uni"n2
! ak You to r.!lrc; and ,hcn point out
any ou, act ihn$ha- been. done; amy oI.,
duty that has been emitted /" hc done of
which any nne ot these diSuni"ui>tS can
Justly complain. Yet we are told. simply
because one ral:y has succeeded in pres
idrntal c!roti. II. Therefore they choose TO
consider that their ltrtti, are not safe
a,d there lore they viii break up tie GOV
erDWert
had supposed ,hat it was a cardinal
and fundamental principle of Our system
of government that the decision of The
people at the ballot OK. without fraud,
~ riding 10 the forms nf the Constitution
was TO command the explicit obedience ot
every good c.t Zcns Lnud applause II
their defeat a a presidential election is to
Justify the minority in raising the tra tor
ou~ hand Of rebellion against the coiI-tItu
ted authorities You Will find the futu
history OF the United States written in
the history of Mexico According to nv
res,, ~ of Mexican history, there never
has been ore Presidential term from the
time Of the revolution OF ] so down to
the day when the candidate elected hv
the people ever served his four wears In
every instance either the DEFEATED candi
date has sezed upon the presidential chair
bv the use OF the bay"net. or he has turn
ej out the duly elected candidate before
his term expired. Are veto inaururate
this iiryican system in the United States
of America, No, nevcrl] Suppose the
case to be reversed. Suppose the disunion
candidate had been elected by any means
i care not what, if 10y any means in ac.
corelance with the forms of the Consti,u-
,ion-at the last Presidential election
Then, suppose the republicans had raised
rebellion against his authority. In that
case YOU would have found me rendering
my hes. efforts and energies to John c.
Brecdnr,lse to put down the Republican
rebels Tremendous applause And it
YOU had attempted such a rebellion, !
would have called forth ali the power and
energies OF this country to have crushed
you out TContin.ned applause.
The first du'y of nm American citizen.
or of a citizen of any constitutional gov
ernnent, is obedience to the Constitution
and law of his country. Applause. J
have no apprehension that any man in
Illinois or beyond the limits Of our own
beloved State, will misconstrue or nnisun-
derstand nv motive So far as any of the
partisan questions are concerned, stand
IN. ,,n,ly 0nnnsiIinn