The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-05-08
MISCELLA

| !" NV "A ~ IN ~ NJ
Douglas
The speech Of this great man to the II
linois Legislature, on his recent return to
his western home abounds in patriotism OF
the highest order. Almost every sentence
was vociferouSly applauded, and at the con.
clusion, a unanimous vote to print 5000
copies of the speech was carried.
7 We give such extracts as our space will
allow:
am not inscnsiblc to the patriotic
motives which prompted you to do me the
honor to invite me to address you on this
occasion, upon the momentous issues now
presented Of the condition Of our country
With heart filled with sadness and griei
l comply with your request.
| For the first time since the adoption oi
the Federal Constitution, widespread
conspiracy exists to destroy the best gov,
ernment the sun of heaven ever sheds its
rays upon. [Applsuse.I Hostile armies
are now marching upon the Federal Capi-
tol, with view of planting revolutionary
flag upon its dome, seizing the national ar.
chives, taking captive the President elected
by the hands OF the people, in the hands
Of secessionists and disunionists.
X *
Already the piratical flag has been un.
furled against the commerce of the United
States. Letters of marque have been is.
sued, appealing to the pirates of the world
to assemble under that revolutionary flag,
and commit depredations on vessels under
the stars and stripes. Hostile batteries
nave been planted upon its batteries; Gus.
tom Houses have already been established !;
and VIC are required now to pay tribute and
taxes without having voice in making the
laws, imposing them, or having share in
the distribution of them after they have
beon collected.
| II Il
We are called upon to fold our arms, al
low the national capitol to be seized by a
military force under foreign revolutionary
flag; to see the archives Of the government
in the hands of a people who affect to dys-
pise the flag and government of the United
States. l am unwilling to fly from the
federal capitol. 1t has been my daily avo-
cation, six months in the Year, for eighteen
Years. to walk into the marble building and
from its portico to survey a country at the
north and that lying south of the Potomac.
| believe may with confidence appeal to
the people of every section of the country
to bear testimony that have been as thor
oughly national as any man lived in my
day. [Applau>e.] And / believe if |
should make an appeal to the people of H.
linois, or Of the Northern States, to their
impartial verdict, they would say tina,
+, whatever errors | have committed have
been in leaning too far to the Southern sec
ton Of the Union against my own. Ap,
plause.] think can appeal to friend am,
foe-l use it in a political sense, and l trust
| use the word foe in a past sense. Much
applausr.l can appeal to them with con
tidence that have never pandcred to the
prejudice or passion of my section againS,
the minority section of this Union; and |
will say to You now, with all frankncss and
in all sincerity, tina will never sanction nor
acquicsce in any warfare whatever, upon
the constitutional rights or domestic insti
tutions OF the people Of the Southern
States. Applause. On the contrary, il
thyrc was an attempt to invade those rights;
to stir up servile insulrection among their
people, | would rush to their rescue, and
interpose with whatever Of strength might
possess to defend them from such a calam
lity. [Applau>c] While I will never in
wade them; while will never fail to de.
tend and protect their rights to tie full ex
tent that a fair and liberal COZ struction o
the Constitution can give them, they mus,
distinctly understand will never acc uie sct
in this invasion of our constitutional ri.h;
So long as there was hope of peaceful
solution, lrayed and implored for com.
promise. can appeal to my countryme,
with confidence that have spared no eff
fort, omitted no opportunity, to adopt I
peaceful solution of all these troubles, anC
thus restore peace, happiness and fraternit,
to this country. When all propositions Of
peace fail, there is but one course left to the
patriot, and that is to rally under that flag
which has waved over the capitol from tn,
days Of Washington, and around the gov
ernment established by Washington, JEFF
ferson, Hamilton, and their compeels
[Great cheering.
What is the alleged cause for this inva
sion of the rights and authority of the gov
ernment of the U. S? The cause alleged
is that the institutions of the Souther.
States are not safe under the Federal Gov
ernment. What evidence has been pre-
sented that they are insecure? Iappeal t.
every man within the sound Of my voice t,
tell me ut what period, from the time tina
Washington was inaugurated, down to thi.
hour, the rights Of the Southern States
the rights Of the Shareholders been NOR,
secure than they are at this timer Whel
in the whole history Of this government
have they stood on SO firm a basis! Fo
the first time in the history Of this republi
there is no restriction by act of Congress
upon the institution Of slavery any wher
within the limits OF the United States.-
Then it cannot be the territorial Questio
that has given them cause. When was tn
fugitive slave law executed with more fide
ity than since the Inauguration of the pres
. ent incumb. mt of the presidential Office
|. Much applause. Let the people Of CHI
y cago speak and tell us when were the law
y Of the land executed with as much tirmnes