The weekly Butte record., 1861-02-16
Speech ofHon. S. A. Douglas.

The Senator from Ohio tells US he don't
blame you Southern Senators for believing
these things, and yet, instead of doing those
acts which will relieve your apprehensons, and
render it impossible that these outrages should
be perpetrated, talks about force, war, armies
and nayies In the name of the Union, who
are the Disunionists? Those who pursue
line of policy calculated to destroy the Union,
and refuse to arrest that policy, or disavow
that purpose, when they see that revolution
has taken place. If such be not your policy.
why not say so? you never intend to do
what the South think is your purpose, and
which you do not blame them for thinking
what harm is there in making such amend
ments to the Constitution as will render it i'm
possible for you to do SO But we are told
that the Union must be preserved, and the
law must be enforced. agree TO that am
in favor Of ali these things, according to the
Constitution and laws. No man will go fur
ther than to maintain the Union and enforce
ton and to use all the power conferred by the
Constitution for that purpose. But we must
look the fact in the face. We must take no.
tice Of those things whose existance cannot be
denied. History teaches US that rebellion often
becomes successful revolution. And the great
est republics and proudest monarchies have
nd IN
of Government, de facto, in the rebellion of
States and provinces Such was the condition
of the American colonies for seven years after
the Declaration of Independence. AT first, it
was rebellion, and rebellion was treason. A
few months afterwards, it was revolution, and
a Government de fdcto at Philadelphia, Mr.
Hancock President, and Washington Com
mander of the armies. Rebellion had ceased,
and revolution taken its place. 1he American
Colonies were in revolt, had Governments de
fdcto, and Great Britain, proud as she was,
was compelled to recognize the existing state
of facts. The laws of nations and all the laws
of civilization demanded that the Government
de facto be acknowledged. But the laws must
be enforced. In our system of government the
laws are to be enforced by civil authority, as
sisted by the militia and posse comtatits, when
the Marshal is resisted. If the Colonies, or
State revolt, the revolution is complete
When the Federal authorities are expelled,
and no one man left to acknowledge alegence
to the United States, how are you going to en-
force the laws then? How are you going to
do it in South Carolina? She has passed an
ordinance of secession. l deny her right to
secede, but she has done it. The revolution is
complete. She has no human being in her
borders to acknowledge our authority.
This is all wrong, but how are you going to
help it? You tell us we must enforce the
laws. am in favor of that Laws must be
enforced according to the Constitution and the
laws. Under our Constitution, laws can only
be enforced against criminals, and those of US
who are in favor of the Constitution and the
Union must be careful that we do not perpe-
trate the very things we denounce as criminal
in these seeding States. And South Carroll
ma does not stand alone We are told that
seven other States will follow her, and we have
reason to apprehend that seven more States
may follow them. The answer is, we must
enforce the laws. My reply is, you cannot en-
force the laws in countries not in your posses
sion. l deny that we have the right to make
war in order to regain possession, in order to
enforce the laws. Are we prepared for war
do not mean prepared in the sense of having
soldiers, arms and munitions but are we pre-
pared, in our hearts, for war with our breth-
rem? While l affirm that the Constitution
was intended to form perpetual Union; while
affirm the right to use all lawful means to
enforce the laws, yet l will mediate war, nor
tolerate the idea, until after every effort at
adjustment has been tried and failed, and all
hope of the Union is gone. Then, aud not till
then, will | deliberate and determine what
course my duty will require of me. l am for
peace, to save the Union. War is disunion,
certain, inevitable, final and irrepressible. Our
own very existence forbds war
Mr.. Douglas said the Constitution was in
tended to be perpetual, and he denied the
right Of secession under the Constitution, and
against justice and good faith. He said there
could be no government without coercion, but
coercion must be used in the mode prescribed
by law. This is not question Of coercion in
State. Where no authority of the Federal
Government remains, we are bound to recog-
nize Governments lie .facto, when the State
maintains individual sway. The man who
loves the Union, who loves to see the laws en-
forced, will love TO see rebellion put down
There Is no other way or recourse left to en-
force the law in a seeding State except to
make war and bring the State within your
possession first, then enforce the law afterward
A war between eighteen States on the one
side, and fifteen seeding States on the other,
is to me revolving thing. For what purpose
is this war TO be waged? Certainly not for
the purpose Of preserving the Union. l have
too much respect for gentlemen on the other
side Of the chamber, collectively and individu-
ally, to believe there is one among them who