Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-11-13
SPEECH OF HON. s. A. DOUGLAS.
on THE STATE OF THE UNION.
Del.caed in the United States Sen
0ts January Bird 1861.


tiny duty to reproduce these dangerous
sad revolutionary opinions of the Presi-
dent elect. No consideration could have
induced rae to have done so but the at
TEMPT Of his friends 10 deaounce the pol"
lev which Mr.. Lincoln has boldly advoca-
TED, as gross ealumnies upon the Republic
eau party, and as base inventions by the
northern Democracy TO excite rebellion in
the southern couutry. should like to
find ouc Senator on that side Of the Cham.
Der, in the confidence Of the President
elect, who will have the hnrdihood to de,
ny that Mr.. Lincoln stands pledged by his
public speeches, to which lie now refers
constantly as containing his present opin.
ions, to carry out the policy indicated in
the speech from which have read. | take
great pleasure in saying, however, that
do not believe the rights of the South will
materially suffer under the administration
of Mr.. Lincoln. | repeat what Lave said
on another occasion, that Eciih her he nor
lis party will have the power to co any
at preiudicial 10 southern rights and in
tercsts, if the Union shall bc preserved,
and the southern States shall retain tul
delegation in both Houses of Congress.
With majority against them in this body
and in the House Of Representatives, they
can do no ast, except to enforce the laws,
without the consent of those 10 whom the
South has Confided her interests, aud even
his appointments for that purpose are sub.
iect TO our advice and confirmation. Bes
sides, still indulge the hope that when
Mr.. Lincoln shall assume the high Iespon.
si6ilites which will soon deyolve upon
him, lie will be fully Impressed with the
necessity of sinking the politician in the
statesman, tho partisan in She patriot, aud
regard the obligation which lie owes to his
country rs paramount 10 those OF his par.
Is. In view Of these Considerat ons, had
indu,gcd the fond hope that the people oi
the Southern ST tes would have been cou-
.ent ~ remain in tho Union aud defend
lheir lights under the Cuni'itution, in
stead OF rushing madly into revolution
and dlsunion, a. refuge from appGehen"
tcd dangers which may not exist.
But this apprehension has become wide.
spread and deep.Scutcd in tho southern
people. 1t has taken possession Of the
southern mind, sunk deep in the southern
heart and filed them with the conviction
tha! their iiresidcs, their fatuily al,ars, and
their domestic instilotiops are To be ruth~
essly assailed through the machinery Of
the Federal GoS ernmont. The Senator
from Ohio says he does not blame you.
southern Senators, nor the sonthcrn peo-
pie. for believing those things; and yet,
instead sr doing those acts which will re.
lieye your apprehen>ions, and render it
impossible that your rights should We in.
yGded 10y Federal power under any Adj
ministration, he threatens you with war,
armies, military rprce, under the lretcNt
Of enforcing the laws and preserving the
Union. We are told Il at the authority Of
the Government must be yindcated that
tue Union must be preserved; that tho
rebellion must be put down that insur>
rection must be suppressed and the laws
must be enforced | agree to all this.
am in favor Of doing all these things ac-
cOrding 20 the Constitution and laws. No
man will 20 further than | TO nlaipt ain the
Just authority Of the Government, 10 pre-
serve the Union, to put down rebellion, to
suppress insurrcction, and to enforce the
laws, would use all the powers confer.
red ty the Constitution for this purpose.
But in the performance Of thesD import
ant and delicute dutes it must be borne
in mind that those powels only must be
used, and such measures employed, as are
athorisedIy the Constitution and talsS. Things
should be called 5y the right names; and
acts, whose existence can no longer be
denied, should be acknowledged
Instructions and rebellons, although
unlawful and criminal, frequently become
successful revolutions. The strongest Gov
eruments and proudest monarchs on ea:th
have often been reduced to the humilia'
ting necessity of recognizing the existence
Of Governments de facto, although not dc
jre, in their revo.ted States and provn-
Ces, when rebellion has ripened into sue
Cessn revolution, and the national auth
critics have been expelled from their lin,
It's. In such cases the right to regain pos
session and exact obedience to the laws re-
mains but the exercise OF that right II
war, and must be governed by the laws of
war. Such was the relative condition of
Geat Britain and the American colonies
for seven years after the Declaration of
Independence. The rebellion had pro-
ressed and matured into revolution, With
aGovernment de .facto, and an Amy and
navy 10 uelenu ~ ureat Drllaln, TeSaTu'
ing the complaints of the colonies untoun'
ded, refused to yield to their demands,
aud proceeded to reduce them to obedi-
tnce not by the enforcement ofthe laws,
but by military force, armies and navies,
according 10 the rules and laws OF war
C.arlives taken in battle with arms in their
hands, fighting against Great Britain, were
not executed as traitors, but held as pris-
oners Of war, and exchanged according to
The usages Of civilized nations. The laws
Of nations, the principles Of humanity, of
civilization, and Christianity, demand that
the Government dc .fae,o should be ack>
nOwledged and treated as such. While
me right to prosecute war for the purpose
o. reducing the revolted provinces to obe'
dence still remained, yet it was militia
y remedy, and could only be exercised
according to the established principles of
war
1t is said that, after one Of TIE earliest
snsagements, the British general threat