The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-06-19

las in vindicatng the honor, name and patri-
otisrn Of the patriot Jackson, let me read one
clause from the last will and testament Of
that truly great and good man
Seventh, | bequeath to my well-beloved
nephew, Andrew j. Donelson. son of Samuel
Donelson, deceased. the elegant sword pre-
sented to me by the State ofTennessee, with
this injunction, that he fail not 10 use it when
necessary in support and protection of our
glorious Union, and for the protection of the
constitutional rights Of our beloved country,
should they be assailcd by foreign enemies
or DOMESTIC TRAITORS.
The Mexican boundary question being
under consideration, the comprehensive
mind Of Mr.. Douglas, grasped the subject as
common place, and he demonstrated to an
acquiescing Congress and country, our rights
Of Territory to the Rio Grande, and thus
vindlcated his country and Government in
war necessarily and constitutionally declared
and carried on against Mexico.
The rights of selfgovernment being in.
volved-prompt in decision, firm and deter
mined in action, on the reading of an Execu.
tive Message recommending the admission
ofa new State under Constitution emana.
ting not from the people, whose rights he
was ever vigilant to. guard, he seized it at
the moment. and sent it back to the people,
VINO were to be governed by it. Looking
neither to the right nor the left, hesitating
not to learn who might appreciate or con-
denim, but only governed by rigid adher-
ence to the doctrine and right of self govern
ment, he seized Lecompton at the very in.
slant and sent it back to the people. sB as
But cannot speak of q titLe Of the great.
crowning public acts Of Mr.. Douglas, it is
not proper that | should do SO, this field
has been judiciously assigned to my learned,
most worthy and eloquent friend who sits
here, (E. Il. Stiles, ESQ., but l must refer
to one other subject in connection with Mr..
Douglas, before introducing the Resolutions
which the committee haye to submit.
Perhaps 1t is known to most 81 you, that
after the commencement ofthat illness which
terminated in his death, Mr.. Douglas had
been addressed by Virgil Hicox, chairman Of
the Democratic Committee Of Illinois, on the
subject Of the unhappy condition in which
the country is placed. In Mr.. Douglas re-
ply which bears date Chicago, May 10th,
1861 he after briefly alluding to the history
OF the times for the past few months, says
"ln view of this state of facts there was but
one path of duty left to patriotic men. II
was not a party question, nor question in.
volving partisan policy it was question
of Government or no Government, country
or no country and hence it becomes the
imperative duty of every Union man. everv
friend OF constitutional liberty, to rally to the
support ofoar common coustry, its Govern.
ment and flag. as the only means of checking
the progress of revolution and of preserving
the Union of the States.
am unable to answer your questions in
respect to the policy of Mr.. Lincoln and his
Cabinet. lam not in their confidence as
you and the whole country ought to be aware.
] am neither the supporter of the partisan
policy, nor the apolngist for the errors Of the
Administration. My previous relations to
them remain unchanged; but trust the
time will never come when shall not be
willing to make any needful sacrifice of per-
sonal feeling and party policy, for the honor
and integrity ofmy country. a
Iknow ofno mode by which a loyal citizen
may so well demonstrate his devotion to his
country, as by sustaining the flag, the Con.
stitution and the Union under all circum-
stances, and under every Administration,
(regardiess Of party politics. against all ms.
sa:iants, at home and abroad" asa1
This short extract from that letter. shows
the pure, lofty. living loyalty Of Stephen A.
Douglas, tho man, the Statesman, the
Patriot.
E. H. Stiles, Esq, then being invited to
the stand, delivered an able, eloquent, and
appropriate GRAFTON.
EElLow-CiTIzEss, LADIES AND GENrLexES:
tits with feelings Of distrust as well as Of
sadness, that undertake to fulfil the SOL
emn duty that has been imposed upon me-
With the very brief time that have had for
preparation, feel myself almost wholly in
competent to perform my mournful task with
that degree ofjustice which it merits. Trust.
ing to your generosity. and pleading the
depth Of my feeling in extenuation Of the
meagerness Of the effort, proceed to speak
of the subject Of this occasion. 1t were not
necessary that should state its object None
need enquire its character National
Flag draped in mourning-the solemn coun-
tenances Of all present-the air Of gloom and
s'dness surrounding this large .assemblage-
the suhducd voice and the look Of grief-the
signs Of sorrow and the habiliments Of woe
AL, Az tell US that the heart Of the country
is wounded, and that some great national
misfortune has hefallen us; that to the ca
lamity of our beloved Country torn with
civil discord and rufiled with rebellion, anoth.
cr great calamity has been added A GREAT
NAN HAS FALLEN! and the nation mourns
its loss! At . time when dark foreboding
clouds dim the national armament, and seem
gathering to burst in desolating fury-when
our distressed Country is writhing in the
maniac arms Of c,nvulsing revolution, and
baptizing her national robes in the blood of
.har sonS ~ s;,no ,rLo,, 80 - 1....L.'.~i