Daily national Democrat., 1861-05-12
Speech of Senator Douglas at Columbus
April 23d.

lor ILLINOIS. The train upon which they
were travelling missed connection. and
obliged them to lay over until the 1850 ex-
press train in the morning for Cincinnati.
Douglas was obliged to respond to popular
camor, and at ten o'clock made speech up
on the war question from the Northern porti.
co of the State House. He said:
FELLOW CITIZENS: This large assemblage,
brought together so suddenly and so early in
the morning, indicates the deep interest now
felt in our common country. Never since
the Revolution has there been such crisis
as every American citizen is now about to
experience. The Federal Capital is threat
ened the records and archeves of the Gov
ernment are in danger; the President of the
nation himself might be made a captive Will
the people Of this good valley stay at home
while their rights are endangered, or are
they ready to rescue their Government and
its constitutional authorities from the hands
of all assailants. Cries of eve will defend
him, Rescue" etc
| never will advise or sanction violence or
war against any of the constitutional rights
or privaleges, or local institutions of the
South. On the contrary, | am ever ready to
rush to the rescue, if their rights are invaded.
But they might as we'll understand once and
forever, that the people of this great Western
valley will never permit the navigation of
the Mississippi to be obstructed one whit
more than the Atlantic, or Pacific coast.
Cheers | would never violate their rights;
nor would ever lay lay down our arms while
they undertake to violate our rights Great
shouting. The right of free trade, free com
merce to this valley from the center to the
circumference of the continent, without taxa
tion fraa N with RI hn
restriction, is ours and must not be obstruct-
ed. The issue is not the negro. 1t is now
the great question of free trade, the great
commercial question. This rises supreme
above all others, Whenever we recognize
the right to levy duties on the commerce of
the Mississippi, we open the way to unlimit-
ed abuses. We should even be Shut out from
our seacoasts, be land locked and restricted
in our energies and rights. The people of
this valley, with whom the seat of empire
mus ever remain, will thus be reduced to
mere colonial dependencies, without revenue
of our own, but all collected from our COM
merce, and expended without our will or
agency.
The question is above all the negroes in
Christendom; it involves the freedom and
independence of ten millions-soon to be
hundred millions-of free white men in this
valley. [Cheers Already the worst fea-
lures of European despotsm, without, one of
its redeeming features, have been established
by the seeding States. How would you
like to have the passport system of Europe,
with all its despicable annoyances, establish
ed among you-forbidding you to enter or
leave petty town without nterrogatories
and close examination stopping you, and re-
curing you, like nigger on a Southern
plantation, to show your pass from your
master to go from one neighbor to another
How would you like to sell your horse for
500, and be compelled to pay the Govern
meut another hundred for the privilege {?
Would you permit the States to tax your
produce the moment it crosses the line?
Douglas proceeded, in strong language to
describe the systems of despotic Europe,
which he said the South is now trying to es-
tablsh here, and denounced them with great
power.
These questions ought to command the
united heart intellect, energies, and muscle
of every American citizen. They are above
the negro. They involve our rights So
help me God, will never sanction war
against the rights Of any people on earth, but
if war must come, it must be one of self de-
fense. Therefore, my countrymcn, we are
bound by every duty to defend our Federal
Capital; to rally cheers around the con-
stitutional authorities of the country-legal.
ly and constitutionally placed in authority
by the votes of the American people. Great
applause. We must rally to the defense of
that Government which is the birthrght of
every American citizen.
1t Is not time now to inquire what lines of
policy have produced the present condition
ofthe country whether this party or anoth-
er, this platform or that applausel; but we
mnst re-esablish the Union; LanisIi all party
pleas; restore peace, and when we have a
country, We can amuse ourselves with the
delightful occupation of eliminating one
another, and asking "who did it?' lie could
be as good partisan any other man, but
he thanked God he could rise above his party
and devote himself to the common good, and
be knew every true American had done so.
Douglas then described glorious Union
meeting at Bear, yesterday of which one
third were from Ohio, the masses from Wheel
ing. who had come over to give testimony of
their love for the Union--and 'wo to the
man who, among those Nirginians, would
have raised a secession flag" Tremendous
applause.
But he had already trauscended his limits.
Cries of "Go on 1t is now the time for
acting, not for speeches. lie was glad to
learn, at this noble Capitol of this great
State, that our people are rallying their
whole force to defend the country. lie bid
them God speed. He hoped they would hush
every voice of party, and as one man unite
for the defense of the Government the Union
and the old flag of our country "When
once more we have a country, if you should
then want a speech from me, reckon you
can get one" laughter] but now he could
only speak for the glorious flag of our coun-
try.
WHAT GENERAL SCOTT SAID.
Douglas had closed and was retiring, when
he again faced the crowd, saying: II have
been asked to say one word about the report
that Gen. Scott was about to resign and ac-
cept the command of the forces of his native
State. 1t gives me deep pain and mortlica-
ton to be compelled to notice such a rumor.
Gen Scott, who had shed his blood on almost
every battle field of his country for half a
century, wvs now a subject of doubt and
questioning, and men are seriously wonder
ing whether the noble old hero is now about
to desert his country and the flag he has
serv ed SO long and we'll will make very
short work ofthis report. | saw him just be
| fore left Washington. found him at Army
headquarters, so busy writing orders and
experimenting the business of preparing for
the defense of the country, that he told me
that while he would be glad to have an
hours conversation with me, yet | would be
doing the country service not to interrupt
him moment Cheers.
Leaving headquarters and going down
street. | met distinguished Virginian who
not two months ago, was devoted Union
man. He said he had just been discharging
] i