The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-06-26
LAST WORDS OF SENATOR DOUGLAS
FOR THE UNION.


/ their return nom Washington on the evening OF
: the lst day o, May. and were net at the depot
BY an immense asseiablage of citizens of all par
ties, who insisted on escorting Mr. Douglas in
procession to the great Wigwam, which was n
ready packed with ten thousand persons Room
having been nade for the admission OF Mr nuur.
las, he was addressed by Thomas b. Br,an in
behalf Of Chicago as follows:
SENATOR DOUGLAS: Chicago turns from part.
ing with her brave volunteers, t, extend her
right hand 10 you in cordial welcome
Their departure and your arrival are alike in.
vested with peculiar interest, for both YOU and
they enjoy the proud consciousness ot fidelity
10 that flag, which, though sssailei by i'm
pious hands ever has been, and with the bles.
sing of God, ecer shall be the >ymhc! of our Ma
tons glory.
Sir, when you were welcomed lastto Chicago, it
was 10y the hearty applause of party friends, anx-
ious for your elevation to the highest Office in
the gift of the American people aoi, this vas;
assembly convened, irrespective OF parts, in the
very hall erected by your political opponents,
does homage to your patriotism
This Chen Republican Wigwanl, noir bapii-
zed anew asl National Hail." greets you with
the plauditS of ten thousand loyal spirits
In the momentuous scenes OF the present, the
political striies Of the past sink into utter insg-
nitcance. Then the nation was at peace, and
citizens turned aside from their daily avocatious
only TO rally under the standard Of this or that
party candidate. Now We are startled by the
beat Of the drum, and by the bugle's martial
notes. The North unites as with one pulse, with
one arm in the rally. THAT RALLY Is TO THE
BATTLEFIELD; THE wATCHwoRD Is, "oUR Cow
TRY" The more vigorous tie prosecution of
the war, the speedier will be the restoration OF
peace. The North, Sir, did not inaugarste hos
tilities; neither is this war of sections whersin
men are at liberty, according TO their nativity
and residence, TO exercise their option in choice
of friends and foes. 1t is the struggle of patriots
to uphold the majesty OF the law, and maintain
the integrity Of that Government. which of all
others on the face Of the earth is the noJiesi,
the prouiest citadel of human liberty. When
rebels essay to undermine it, no patriot can isl-
ter between allegiance to his country and fellow
ship with those who would implant the cnyon-
omed fangs of treason in her very vitals.
In such crisis as this the people hold TO
strict account their public servants, whether in
council! or in camp. Hence execratcd Is Mason
of Virginia konored is Douglas of Illinois.
Davis basks tor awhile IN the sunshine OF rebel
favor, only to sink the deeper in eternal infamy.
Scott in all the wealth of an approving conscience
right in the sight of God and man--adds new
luster to his eventful life, and ere long he will be
classed with Washington by the glad acclaim of
exuting millions.
Sir, it is because of your prompitude and gal
liant efforts to sustain the Government casting
off the partisan for the freedom of the patriot,
that Chicago receives you this night with open
arms, and charges me in her name, and in her
behalf, 10 bid you WELCOME.
When The cheering had in some measure -ub
sided, Nr. Douglas spoke as follows:
MR.. DOUGLASS SPEECH.
Mr. CHAIRMAN: | thank YOU for the kind
terms in which you have been pleased TO welcome
me. l thank the committee and citizens Of Chi
cago for this grand and imposing reception. /
beg you to believe that | will not do You nor
myself the Injustice to believe this magnificent
ovation is personal homage to myself. rejoice
to know that it expresses your devotion to the
Constitution, the Union, aud the flag Of our
country. Cheers.
| will not conceal qualification at the uncon.
tioyertible test this vast audience presents-;hai
what political differences or party questions may
have divided us, yet you all had a conviction
that when the country should be in danger, nay
. loyalty could be relied on. That the present
/ danger is imminent, no man can conceal. II wal
must ceme-if the bayonct must be used to
maintain the Constitution-I can say before GOD
my conscience is clean. | have struggled long
| for peaceful solution OF the difficulty. | have
not only rendered those States what was their:
of right, but have gone to the very extreme
of magnanimity.
| The return We receive is War, armies marched
upon our Capital, distractions and dangers Il
our navigation, letters of marque TO invite pi
rates to prey upon our commerce. concerted
movement to blot out the United States of Amer
! ica from the map OF the globe. The question Is
are We to maintain the country of our fathers, o.
allow it to be stricken down by those who, wher
they can 10 longer govern, threaten to destroy
What cause, what excuse do DisuniOnists giv'
US for breaking uD the best Government OF
which the sun o. heaven ever shed its rays
They are dissatisfied with the result ot "A Presi
dental election. Did they never get beaten be
fore? Are we to resort TO the sword when w
get defeated at the ballot box ? | understand i
that the voice OF the people expressed in the
mode appointed by the Constitution must com
nand the obedienSe of every citizen. They as
sumo on the election OF a particular Candidate
that their rights are no. safe in the Union. Wha
evidence do they present OF this. defy an,
man to show any act on which 1t IL based
What &C. has been omitted TO be done? / aE
peal to these assembled thousands that so far a
the constitutional rights of the Southern States
/ will say the constitutional rights OF slavehold
ers are concerned, nothing has been done, ant
nothing omitted OF which they can complain.
There has never been a time from the da
that Washington was inaugurated first Preslden
of these United States, when the rights of th
Southern States stood frmer under the laws {
the land, than they DO now there never was
time when they had not As good cause for Di:
union as they have to-day. What good caus
have they row that has not existed under ever
Administration.
If they say the Territorial question-now, fc
the first time, there is no act of Congress pro
hibiIing Slavery anywhere. II it be the non-er
; forcement of the laws, the only complaints tbs
have heard have been of the TOO vigorous an
. faithful fulfllment Of the Fugitive Slave Law
! Then what reason have they:
The Slavery question is a mere excuse. Til
: election Of Lincoln is a mere pretext. The pre-
ent Secession movement is the result OF all emo
: nous conspiracy formed more than year sine.
formed by leaders in the South Confederacy moi
; than twelve months ago.
They use the Slave question as g means:to Al
the accomplishment of their ends. They desire
!; the election Of Northern candidate, by a Sc
tionai vote, in order to show that the two Sc
tions cannot live together When the histoI
= of the two years from the Lecompton chart
{ down to the Presidential election shall be wri
t ten, i, will be shown that the scheme was deli
, erately made 10 break up this Union.
? They desired Northern Republican to
n elected by purely Northern vote, and then a
q sigr this fact as 4 reason why the sections n,
: not longer live together If the Dsunion Ca
] didate in the late Presidential contest had ca
e ried the United South, their scheme was, Il
,,l IN hQ a