The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-05-01
W00DSFIELD MONROE COUNTY OHIO MAY 1861.

~ L =. O1IlO. U1 II L T. ICS
point out the dangers upon which We were
cushing.
And we have no time now to stop TO
Enquire as to the causes of these mis-
[chiefs, nor as to the merits or fobles Of
sects or parties. Unite as baud of
brothers, and rescue your Government and
its Capitol and your country, from the
enemy who have been the authors of your
calamity. Tremehdous cheers. and cries
IF 1--WE will''-..That's what We are GO
ing to do
My friends, should not have been de-
lighted at meeting the same number Of
people, nor even ten times the number an.
mated by the patriotism that 1 find in all
of you, at scarcely any other place as
much as On the very spot where am now
standing, upon the borders Of this beau
tiful river, separating the State OF Yir-
ginia from the State of Ohio; and Jet in
stead of being barrier il is one of those
great arteries that infuses its life aud vigsr
into both sides and binds yon together In
one indissoluble system. This great val
ley must never be divided. ("Never,
neverl'') The Almighty has SO arranged
he mountain aps the plain end the water
courses, as to show tha: i. is his will and
design that this valley in all time shall
remain one and indissolnbIe. Let no
man attempt to sunder wha. Divine Prov.
idence hasrendered indivisible Amer,
and cheers The nerves Of this grea'
valley center in unity. We are bound to
have the right of travel. Of Intercourse, of
transit free to all the ports of the A.
lantic and to all the por,s of the Pacific
and the Gulf of Mexico, without having
custom houses or passports Or tax gath
erers or bayonets toimpede US.
You can all see the results of the in
fuenees which have been operating within
the last few weeks for the breaking dawn
of the. barriers that protect f,cedom aud
liberty. Those before me Who sre natives
of the continent of Europe kuow What
the barriers Of the passport system are
Every few boors, "stsp"--niih tie bayo
net at your breast" passport if yos
please.' Men living on different sides
of the river, though neighbors or broth
ers could not visit each other without per-
mission from their superior. You have c
horse on one side of the ,irer worth e
hundred. dollars. and you wan! TO send il;
to a'neighbor, but You will not be allowed
to do It unless you pay sno'her huEdred
for permission 10 do 1t. laughter
And here we are to have custom houses
aud bayonets guarding every state lire,
every railroad track. every gorge in the
mountains, every bank Of river, demand
ing the payment of duties on every pound
of tea, or coffee, or sugsr the$ crosses
the Iise, and for every article of clothing
your people wear, aad then for every bush
81 of wheat and corn, and every pound o.
pork or beef yeu sci in paymeat Of these
Beginning with Illinois. they are to be
taxed on the Indiana line and again on the
Ohio line, and agaio on the Missouri line,
on the Maryland line, and on the liae cf ev-
cry petty or big State you may have TO
cross. Just look what Germany was q
few years ago, before ter free trade was
established, and you will fiad what Amer
lea will soon be if you do not rally to the
fag of your country aud ALLEVIATE these
distracted elements and restore peace and
fraternai feeling and eersti.utionaI gov
ernment on the basis oar fathers estab
j lished it. e7T9s ss's7,.ti
/ My friends, will not de.aip yeu.
did not intend when came here to utter
!, a word; but when found so many Of my
fellow citizens icoming here-se mary
from Virginia--so mary from distance
; to pay as it were RESPECTS to me, | could
not resist the inclination to respond te
the call to speak to yop; for have tos
much patriotism and sense of the circum
stances that brought you together to be
f lieve for q moment that it is intended fol
| personal compliment Il is testimo
t nisl of your devotion to the Union o
these States, and to the Gag of our couu
8 try. It is testimonial that you think
have done my duty in my efforts to pre-
J.. serve them. (Cheers.)
/ thank you sincerely and from the bot
? tom of my heart, for this kind reception
D trust I may again meet you here on tn
bank of this river. from both sides, q
brethren and countrymen, as losg .
? Ged's Providence permits noe to pas
!, from the prairies of Illinois to the Capt
d tai of the country.
> Mr.. Douglas concluded. and retire'
!, amid vociferous and prolonged cheering
r After some very inspiring uusic by tn
Bsllair Brass Band. which graced the oc
o casion, Jas. r. Morris, being loudl
called for. came forward, and made th
crowd very excellent aud fervent it'll
}. Union speech. He was followed after a
|. interval by Rev VIM Grimes. Of Cadi:
j. Ohio.
Subsequently Mr. Douglas came ou
q on the balcony and said: