Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-06-26
senator Douglas Last speech.

the bayonet must be used to MAINTAIN the
Constitution-I can say before God, my
conscience is clear. l have struggled
long for a peaceful solution of this diff
Guilty. / have rendered those States not
only what was theirs of right, but l have
gonc to the very extreme of msgnanimity.
The return we receive is; armies march
ing upun our Capital; distractions ard
dangers to our navigation; letters of
marque to invite pirates to prey upon our
commerce.; a concerted movement to blot
out the United States Of America from the
map of the Globe.
The question Isl are we to remain the
country of our fathers, or allow it to be
stricken down by those who, when they
can no longer govern theaten to destroy.
What cause, what excuse do disunion-
lists give for breaking up the best govern
ment on which the sun of heaven ever
shed its rays?
They are dissatisfied with the Presi-
dental election. Did they never get beat
en- before? Are veto resort to the sword
whenever we get defeated at the ballot
box? l understand it that the voice of
the people expressed in the mode appoint
ed by the Constitution must command
the obedience of every citizen. They as
sumo on the election of pertcular can
didate that their rights are not safe in the
Union. What evidence do they present
of this? ! defy any man to show any act
on which it is based. What act has
omitted to be done? appeal to these
assembled thousands that so far as the
Constitutional rights of the Southern
States, l will say the constitutional rights
of slave holders, are concerned, nothing
has been done and nothing omitted OF
which they can complain.
There has never been q time from the
day that Washington was inaugurated
first President of the United States, when
the rights of the Southern States stood
firmer, under the laws of the land, than
they do now there never was a time when
they had not as good cause for disuniou
as they have to-day. What good cause
have they that did not exist under every
Administration?
If they say the territorial question
now for the first time there is no act o
Congress prohibiting slavery anywhere
If it be nor. enforcement of the laws, the
only complaints that | have heard have
been the too vigorous enforcement of the
Fugitive Slave Law. Then what reasons
have they?
The slavery question is q mere excuse.
The election Of Lincoln is mere pretext
The secession movement is the result of
and enormous conspiracy formed more
than year since---formed by the leaders
in the Southern Coniederacy more than
twelve months ago.
They use the slavery question as
means to aid in the plishment of
their ends. They desired the election OF
a Northern candidate by sectional vote,
in order to show that the two sections
cannot live together. When the history
of the two years from the Lecompton
Charter down the Presidential election
shall be written, it will be shown that the
sheme was deliberately made to break
up this Union.
They desired a Northern Republican to
be elected by purely Northern vote, and
then assign this fact as reason why the
sections may not longer live together. If
the disunion candidate in the late Presi-
dental contest had crrried the united
South, their scheme was, the Northern
candidate being successful, to seize the
Capital this spring and with united
South, and divided North. to hold it
: That scheme was defeated in the defeat
; Of the disunion candidate in scvcal of the
Southern States.
But this is no time for detail of causes.
The conspiracy is now known. Armies
have been raised. War has boon levied
to accomplish it. There are only two
sides of the question. Every man must
be for tho United States or against it.
There can be no neutrals in this war, only
patriots or traitors.
Thank God Illinois is no; divided on
this question. | know they expected to
present united South against divided
North. They hoped in the Northern
States party questions wou bring civil
war betecn the Democrats and Republi-
cans, when the South would step in with
her cohorts, aid one party to conquer the
other and then make an easy prey of the
vclors. Their scheme is war, carnage,
civil war in the North.
There is but one way to defeat this.
In Illinois it is being so defeated by clio,
sing up the ranks. War will thus be
prevented on our own soil
While there was II hope for peace was
ready for any reasonable sacrifice or com.
promise to maintain it-but when the
question comes of war in the cotton States
of the South or the cornields Of Illinois,
| say the farther off the better.
We cannot close our eyes to the sad, ,
0 solemn fact that war does exist. The Gov
| ornment must be maintained, and its en-.
3 emies oyerthrown, and the more stupen
r dous the preparations, the less bloodshetl
, and tho shorter the struggle. But we
A must remember certain restraints on our
= actions even in time of war. We are
2 Christian peol 10, and the war must be
}, prosecuted in manner recognized by
s Christian nations.
J. We must not invade Constitutions
i rights The innocent must not suffer, no.
women and children be the victims. Say
ages must not be let loose. But while
:, sanction no war on the rights of others
u | will implore my countrymcn not to la,
>. down their arms until their own right
- are recognized.