Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-06-10

Speech Of Hon " A Richardson. Of ILLINOIS, in
the House Of Representatives., Nay 81, le62.

Speech Of Hon. ". A Richardson. Of ILLINOIS. in
the House Of Representatives., Moy 81. le62
The House having under consideration the bills
10 eoufscate the property and free from servitude
the slaves OF rebels Mr Richardson said
MIR Speaker | propose TO reply to "A single
point which has arisen during the progress OF this
dehue.
Republican members have frequently quoted
Judge Douglas within the last few DAYS. and
quoted him. too for their own party psrposes
And now | desire e. remind them and the
tr1 that IN all his speeches IN reference 10 this war
.ud1c Douglas took the bread and statesman
like po>itiou that this war should he conducted
Tor the pre>crvaton OF the Constitution and the
enforce ment at the LAWS, tor nothing more moth
iug less. Ills position i - clearly defined that
fea brief extracts from his last speeches will III
once vindictte the truth of history. and place him
in the proper light before his country men. At
Springfield. Illinois. in a speech maize before the
Legislature during the month of May, lc6I, he
said.
The first duty OF an American citizen. or Of a
citizen of auy constitutional Government l. ODE
dience 10 the Constitution and tie laws Of his
country | have apprehension that snv man
IN Illinois or beyond the limits of our own be
loved State. VII misconsirue or misunderstood
nv motive - FAR a. any of the partisan ques
tions ace conceruei. / stand N equal eternal and
undying opposition 10 the Republicans aud the
seces~40niSts
And again in tie same speech. he remarks:
Hence. | repeat that am not prepared 10
take up arms to sanction a policy OF our Gov
eminent - :axe up arms Ia make any war upon
the rights of the southern States. upon their IN
stitutious. u;aan their rights Of persons or prop
erty but 81 the contrary. would rush % their
defense ard protect them from assault: but while
that Is the case viii never cease 70 urge nv
country men 10 take ~ arts 10 Tight 10 the death
"a defense Of our ndeieasible rights Long con
tinued applause Hence TIA war does come. II l.
war OF self defense on our part. Ii = a war IN
defense Of our Own just rights; in defense of the
Government which We have Inherited price
less legacy from patriotic fathers: IN defense
of teOse great rights OF freedom of trade, COM
nerce. transit and intercourse from the center TO
the circumference Of our great continent. These
are rights We must struggle for and never surren-
der"
And in the last great effort Of his life. his
speech At Chicago. made but iew DAYS prior to
his death. lac SAID
I'VE must Dot invade constitutional rights
The innocent must not suffer. nor women and
children be the victims. Savages must not be
let loose
Neither Republican members nor Republican
officials anywhere can ind anything ia the above
extracts, nor in any speech OF letter Of Judge
Douglas. which ~ill justify them in the slightest
violation OF the Constitution. On the contrary,
every act Of his public life. and even his diving
injunction u his children condemns unequyo
cally al the unconstitutional legislation which