The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-01-23

tween Mr.. Lincoln and myself, and may say
they are unfair to me, ras Mr., Lincoln had an
opportunity to correct his speeches, and the
printer struck out many portions of my re-
plies. Mr.. Douglas then read from Mr., Lin
coins speech, where he speaks of the House
being divided against itself and that the crisis
must come, and the States must all become
one thing or the other, etc., and proceeded. ]
When the Republican Committee publish n
edition of Mr.. -Lincoln's speeches containing
sentiments like these, is it surprising that the
people of the South think he was in earnest,
and intended to carry out the policy which he
then announced? l should not revive such
revolutionary sentiments, but for the attempt
to cast the responsibility upon the Northern
Democracy, clearly iptimating that Ar. Pugh
and myself were the chief authors of these
misrepresentation. l would like to find any
one man, on that side of the Chamber in the
confidence of tho President .eleot,. who would
deny that it is the policy to carry out the very
things to which have referred feel bound,
however, and take pleasure in saying, that
don't believe the Southern States are-in any
danger, or ought to have any apprehension,
that Mr.. Lincoln or any of his party can do any
harm or render insecure their rights to persons
or property anywhere in this country. lhaye
some faith too, that Mr.. Lincoln, after having
emerged & from the Surroundings of "a small
country village and assumed the high respon-
sibilities of administering the law, and pro
tecting the rights of great nation, will sink
the partisan in the patriot, and abandon the
extreme doctrines and step forward and ayow
his willingness 20 save the country by repudl-
ating the extreme doctrines of his party But
be that as it may neither he nor his party Will
have power to invade the rights of any State
in this Union. had hoped therefore, that
h boan
to remain in the Union, and ;yindicate their
right in the Union, under the Constitution,
instead of rushing into revolution, and pre-
pairing themselves to meet whatever iconse-
quenoes may follow. This apprehension has
become widespread, and taken possession OF
the Southern mind, and sunk deep into the
Southern heart and filled them with the con-
victions that their fresides their family affairs.
their domestic institutions, are to be radely
assailed through the machinery OF the Federal
Government The Senator from Ohio tells us
he don't blame you Southern Senators for be-
lieviug these things, and yet instead OF doing
those acts which will relieve your apprehen-
sions, and render it impossible that these out
RACES should be perpetrated, talks about force,
war, armies and navies. In the name of the
Union who are the elDisunionistss Those who
pursue a. line of policy calculated to destroy
the Union, and refuse to arrest that policy, or
those who disavow that purpose, when they
see that revolution has taken place.
If such be not your policy, why
say so? If you never intend to do what
the South think is your purpose, and
which you do not blame them for think
| ing, what harm is there in making such
amendments to the Constitution as viii
render it impossible for youcto do so?
But we are told that the Union must be
preserved, aud the lawsmus be enforced
I agree to that. 1 am in favor Of doing
all these things, according to the Consti-
tuition and the laws. n1 No man will GO
further than / to maintain the Union and
enforce the laws, to put down rebellion
and insurrectiou, and to use all the power
conferred by the Constitution for that
purpose. But we must look the facts in
1.-THE face. We must take notice of those
Things whose existence cannot be denied.
History teackes US that rebellion often
becomes successful; revolution and the
greatest republics and proudest monarch.
les have found it necessary to recognize
the existence of Government de factc
in the rebellion of States and provinces
Such was the condition of the American
colonies for seven years aftersthe Declara
tion of Independence. At first it wa:
rebellion, and rebellion was treason. q A
, few months afterward, it was revolution
and Government de tacto at Philaeel
phia, Mr.. Hancock President, and Wash
ingtoni Commander of the armies. Re
belioni had ceased, and revolution taker
its place The American colonies were
in revolt, had Governments de facto, anC
Great Britain, proud as she was, was com
PEELED to recognize the existing state o
facts The laws of nations and all th'
laws eof civilization demanded that tn,
} Government de .facto be acknowledged
) But the laws must be enforced. In ou
system of Government theTlaWs !are to1b,
enforced by civil authority, assisted b.
the Militia and posse con,itatus, when th'
! 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 allie
glance to the United States. Howxar,
! you going to enforce the laws then? How
are you going to do itin nfSouth Carolina
J She has passed an ordinances of secession
l deny her right ito secedep bnti she ha
done il. The revolution lis complete. Sh,
has no human being ini her Borders to &C
knowledge our authority. OF Hbis is al
f wrong, but how are you going to help it
You tell us we mustienforce the Jaws. (.
: am insfavor ofothat. Laws must be en-
forced, according to the Constitution ant
the laws Under our Constitution. law
can only be enforced against criminals
and those of us who areain favor of tn,
Constitution and the Union must be care
ful we do not perpetrate the very thing
which we denounce as Icriminal in athes
! seeding States. And South Caroiini
does not stand alone. We are told tba
, seven other States will follow her, aud W,
) have reasons to apprehend that sever
more States may follow them. The an
swer is. we must enforce the laws. M,