The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-26
ILLINOIS.

The Democratic Mass Meeting at Spring.
field, Illinois, On Wednesday last, was a
magnificent affair. From $4,000 to 1OO,-
600 people were present, and the enthusi-
asm was unbounded. Hon. WILLIAM A.
RICHARDSON presided. Speeches were
made by Messrs. VOORHEES,, Cox, Rich
ARDsoN, DIoKKY, EDEN, ALLEN, MORRISON,
MEERICK, DEAN, MARSHALL, REYNOLDS,
ROBINSON, Gen. McK1NsrRY, and many
others. Resolutions were adopted declare
ing for peace upon the basis of restoration
OF the Union, and demanding the recall of
MIR. VALLANDIGHAM The subscription
taken in behalf of suffering Illinois SOL
diers amounted to nearly $4,000.
The resolutions are very long. They
recite the guarantees of the Constitution
and laws for the protection of free speech
and the press, and denounce the Admins
tration for this infracton; the arrest 0
Vallandigham is denounced, and call isf
made on the President for his return; the
sup preston Of the Chicago Times is re-
buked and the sovereignty of the State,
subject only to the Constitution of the
United States, is asserted The resolu-
tons close as follows:
90. That as citizens of the United States, and
OF the state OF Illinois, we shall obey all laws
nov Ylnx
right in our judgment we will endeavOr to per-
petuate them; if wrong, we will endeavOr to
effect q remedy in constitutional manner by
procuring their repeal; who doubt exists as to
its validity, we will appeal to the proper Judi
cial tribunal for Il decision, and cheerfully
abide the result
u. That we denounce as heretofore. the rll-
nous heresy Of secession, and declare that we
would hail with JOY the manifestation of q dis
position on the part Of the seeded states to re-
turn to their allegiance to the constitution: in
which event we would cordially cooperate
with them In procuring recognition of their
rights and such guarantees as would secure to
them equality with the other states under the
federal constitution.
%. That we denOuncc as libellers of the De-
mOcralic party, and wilful instigators of mis-
chief, those fanatics who are engaged in mis-
repsentng the, Democracy as wanting in sympa-
thy for our soldiers i'm the field Those soldiers
are our kindred, our friends and our neighbOrs,
whose interests are identical with our own;
whose prosperity is our pleasure: whose sutt-
erings is our pain: and whose brilliant achiev-
mentS are our pride and admiration. Prompt
ly rushing to arms as they did, in answer to the
call of their country. they merit our warmest
thanks, our sympathy and our support. And
we earnestly request the President of the Unit
ed States to withdraw the proclamation of
emancipation" and permit the brave sons of
Illinois to fight only for the 8 Union the con-
stituion and the enforcement of the laws
%. That we are opposed to the further Of
tenSve prosecution of the war as tending fast
to subvert the constitution of the government.
and entail upon the nation all the disastrous
consequences of misrule and anarchy that we
are IN favor OF peace upon basis of a restora-
ton of the CnOn and for the accomplishment
OF which We propose a national convention to
settle upon terhns OF peace, which shall have in
view the restoration of the Union as it was.
and the securing by constitutional amendments
such rights to the several states and the people
thereof as justice demands.
The monster assemblage was addressed
from four stands, but not half the multi
tude could get near enough to hear the
speakers. Speeches were made by Sena
tor Richardson; S. S. Cox, Of Ohio; D. W.
Voorhees,, of Indiana Christopher krib-
ben, OF ST. Louis; and by several others
of this State, The enthusiasm was in
tense, and the cheers we're constant and
tremendous. Some of the speeches were
very radical; other, anI majority of
them, were Democratic and conservative.
Senator Richardson and several other
speakers a,ivorat-d and supported the
views exprc>~e1 r " The resolutions ex-
cept the - a.e. Richardson took the
ground that it is the solemn duty of every
citizen to obey the laws aud support the
constituted authorities in their enforce
ment; and that while this is the duty Of
the citizen, it is equally the duty OF those
who administer the government. He
would obey the laws and support the gov
ernment himself, and would try to compel
the administration to obey the laws and
support the constitution.