Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-06-13
A BnIHF AND POINTED SPEECH
vINDIOATIoN OF JUDGE DOUGLAS FROM AP
RlLIATl0N WITH tbs ABULITIoaIsEs.


Ia the House Of Representatives, on the "a b
Of May, several speakers of the Abolition iai %
made speeches misquoliDg Mr.. Douglas TO sup-
port their peculiar vieWs on emancipation and
coD6sca,ion. Governor Richardson replied 10
them briefly aud 70 the point. He said:
Mr. Speakei-I propose TO reply to a single
point which has arisen during the progress of
this debate.
Republican members have frequently quoted
Judge DJuglas within the laet lev days, and
quoted hin, too for their own party purposes.
And now desire TO remind them and the couu-
try, that 10 all his speeches In reference to this
war, Judge Douglas took the brosd and states-
manlike position that this war should be con-
Quoted for the preservation Of the Constitution
and the eDforcement Of the laWs--for nothing
more, nothing less His position is 90 clearly
de6ned shat few brief extrslls from his lest
speeches will az once vindioate the truth Of his
tory, and place him 10 the proper ligh. before
his countrymen. At Springfield, III 10 a
speech made before the Legislature during the
month OF May, 1861, be said: "a
'Tbe first duty OF an American citizen, or of
citizen of any constitutional government, is
obedience TO the Constitution aud laws of bis
country. have no apprehensions that any
man in illinois, or beyond the limits of our own
DCtONCN 6toNC3 WAA -Lul1CU1otEu6 Ut mibuuuGF-
stand my motive, So far as any Of the parti-
san questions are concerned, stand 10 equal,
eternal and undying opposition 70 the Republi.
cans and the Secessionists y ls l'ss -
And again, in the same speech, he remarks:
"Hence Irepeat that am nOs prepared to take
up arms or to sanction q policy Of our Govern
mens 70 take up arms 70 make any war upon the
rights OF the Southern States; upon their institu-
tione; upon their rights of persons or properlyi
but, on the contrary, would rush to their defense
and protect them from assault; hut while that
ID the CAGE, will never cease to urge my conr.
tFymen TO take up arms to fight 10 she death in
defense Of their indefeasibie rights. Long
continued applause Hence, II war does come,
Ii is o war OF cell defense on our part Il il
war in defense Of our own just rights; In defense
OF the Government which we have inherited as
a priceless legacy from our patriotic fathers; In
defense OF those great rights of freedom Of
trade, commerce, transit and intercourse from
the center TO the circumference of our great con-
tinent. Thee are rights we must struggle for
aud never surrender" tam go
Aud In the last great effort Of bis life, his
speech at Chicago, made but few days prior TO
his death, he said; i.
I'VE must not invade constitutional rights.
The innocent must not suffer, nor women and
children be the victims. SAvages must no. be
let loose"
Neither Republican members nor Republican
officials any where can fDd anything in the
lbove extracts, nor In any speech or letter Of
Iadge Douglas, which will justify them in the
lightes. vclationo Of the Constitution. On the
,oDtrAry, every act Of his public life, and even
ais dying injunction 70 bis children, condemns
HnequivocAlly al the unconstitutional legisla.