Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-09-11
SPEECH OF STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.
HIs Last Words for The union.

All paftlesi VINO lilslSued on escOrtlnB MT. DouB-
las in procession to the great Wigwam which
was already packed with ten thousand persons.
Room having been made for the admission of
Mr.. Douglas, he was addressed by Thomas B.
Bryan, in behalf Of Chicago. a
Mr. Douglas replied:
Mr. Chairman:-I thank you for the kind
terms in which you have been pleased to well
come me. / thank the committee and and citi-
zens of Chicago for this grand and imposing
ceptiof. beg you to believe that will not do
you nor myself the injustice to believe this mag
nifcent ovation is personal homage TO myself
rejoice to know that it expresses your devo-
tion to the Constitution, the Union and the flag
of our country. Cheers
/ | will not conceal qualification at the uncon-
trOvertable test that this vast AUDIENCE presents
that what political differences or party ques-
tions may have divided us,-yct you all had
conviction that when the country should be in
danger, my loyalty could be relied on. That
ceal. If war must come-if the bayonet must
be used to maintain the Consttuton-1 can say
before God my conscience is clean. ] have
struggled long for peaceful solution of the diff
ficulty. / have not only rendered those States
what was theirs of right, but have gone TO the
very extreme of magnanimity.
The return we receive is war, armies marched
upon our capital, distractions aud dangers to our
navigation, letters of marque to invite pirates to
prey upon our commerce, concerted movement
TO blot out the United States of America from
the map ofthe globe. The question is; are we
to maintain the county of our fathers or allow
it to be stricken down by those who, when they
can no longer govern, threaten 10 destroy2
What cause, what excuse do disunionists give
US for breaking up the best government on which
the sun of heaven ever shed its rays? They are
dissatisfied with the result of a Presidential
election. Did they everget beaten before? Are
we to resort to the sword when we get beaten at
the ballot box? / understand it that the voice
of the people expressed in the mode appointed
by the Constitution must command the obedi-
ence ofevery citizen. They assume on the elcc-
tion of particular candidate, that their rights
are not safe in the Union. What evidence do
they present Of this? l defy any man to show
any act on which tits based What act has been
omitted to be done? appeal to these assemb-
led thousands that so far as the constitutional
rights of the Southern States, will say as fan
as the constitutional rights of Shareholders are
concerned, nothing has been done, and nothing
omitted of which they can complain.
! There never has been a time from the day that
Washington was inaugurated first President of
the United States, when the rights of the South
ern States stood firmer under the laws of the
land than they do now; there never was time
| when they had not as good cause for disunion
as they have to-day. What good cause have
they now that has not existed under every Ad-
mnistration?
! If they say the Territorial question-now for
| the first time there is no act of Congress pro-
hibiting slavery anywhere. If it be that nom
enforcement of the laws, the only complaints that
| | have heard have been the too vigorous and
! faithful fulfllment of the Fugitive Slave Law.
! Then what reason have they?
The slavery question is mere excuse. Tho
election of Lincoln is mere pretext The pres
ent secession movement is the result of an enor-
nous conspiracy formed more than year since,
| formed by leaders in the Southern Confederacy
more than twelve months ago.
| They used the slavery question as a means to
aid the accomplishment of their ends. They de-
sired the election of Northern candidate by a
sectional vote i'll order to show that the two Sec
tions cannot live together When the history OF
the two years from the Lecompton charter down
to the Presidential election shall be written, il
will be shown that the scheme was deliberately
made to break up this Union
They desired Northern Republican to bC
elected by purely Northern vote, and then as
sign this fact as reason why the sections maN
not longer live together If the disunion can
didate in the Presidential contest had carried
the united South, their, scheme was, the North
ern candidate successful to seize the capital las
spring, and by united South and divided Nortl
hold it. That scheme was defeated in the de
feat of the disunion candidate in several of the
Southern States.
But this is no time for adetail Of causes The
conspiracy is now known. Armies have beer
raised, war is levied to accomplish it. There arr
only two sides to the question. Every maj
must be for the United States or against. Their
can be no neutrals in this war; only patriots-o
traitors. -.-
Thank God, Illinois is not divided on thi
question. (Cheers.) 1 know they expect t,
present a United South against divided
North. They hoped in the Northern States
party questions would bring civil war between
Democrats and Republicans, when the Soutl
) would step in with her cohorts, aid one party t,
conquer the other, and then make easy prey o
the victors. Their scheme was carnage anC
civil war in the North.
There is but one way to defeat this. In Ill
inois it is being done by closing up the ranks
: War will thus be prevented on our own SOIL
While there was hope of peace was ready
for any reasonable sacrifice or compromise t
|, maintain it, But when the question comes o
war in the cotton fields of the South, or th
cornields of Illinois, l say the farther off tn
y better.
We cannot close our eyes to the sad and sol
emn fact that war does exist. The Government
must be maintained, its enemies overthrow
and the more stupendous our preparations, tn
less the bloodshed, and the shorter the struggle
But we must remember certain restraints on Ou
action even in time of war. We are Christia
people, and the war must be prosecuted in
manner recognized by Christian nations.
We must not invade Constitutional rights
The innocent must not suffer, nor women an
children be the victims. Savages must not /
let loose. But while 1 sanction no war on tn
rights of Others, will implore my countryme
not to lay down their arms until our own right
: are recognized. (Cheen.)
i The Constitution and its guarantees are ou
i birthright, and / am ready to enforce that in
alienable right to the fullest extent We can
not recognize secession. Recognize it onct
and you have not only dissolved Governmen
but you have destroyed social order, and VI
turned the foundations of society. You hav
inaugurated anarchy in its worst form, and wi
- shortly experience all the horrors of the Frenc
Revolution.
Then VIC have a solemn duty-to maintai
the Government. The greater our unanimit
: the speedier the day of peace We have pre-
udiees to overcome from the few short month
since OF fierce party contest. Yet these mu
: be allayed. Let us lay aside all the crimini
: tions and recrimnations as to the origin of the'
difficulties. When we shall again have
country with the United States flag foatin
e over it, and respected on every inch of Amer
: can soil, it will then be time to ask who an
y what brought all this trouble upon us.
| have said more than l intended to say
+ (Cries of ego on.'') 1t is a sad task to discu
questions fearful as civil war; but sad as
is, bloody and disastrous as l expect it viii b
l express it as my conviction before God that
is the dutv of every Anarican citi1ap 10 roll