The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-10-12
The Last Speech of Douglas.


The following is the last speech of the
lamented STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS ever
made-in Chicago, few days previous
to his death. We commend its manly
spirit and its noble patriotism to all men
at the present time:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN-I thank you for the
kind terms with which you have been
pleased to welcome me l thank tie COM
mittee and | thank the citizens of Chica-
90 for this grand and imposing reception.
But | beg you to believe that do not do
you the injustice to consider this ovation
personal one, but rather that I rejoice
in the knowledge that it is an expression
of your devotion to the Constitution and
the laws Of our country. | will not ccn-
ceal my qualification at the incontroverti-
bic testimony which this vast audience
presents, that whatever differences of
opinion may have heretofore divided US,
the conviction now exists in your mind
that in danger my loyalty to my country
may be relied upon. That danger is im-
minent none can conceal from themselves,
no matter how much they may desire to
avert the evil but if war must be-if the
bayonet must crush social order and lib
erty, then, before God, [ feel my con-
science clear. L have struggled as long
as there was hope, and even after hope
had almost disappeared, for peaceful So
luton OF the trouble. haze not only
te1dered JUL $dt1Sf0ctton dAd ample Ju$.
tee, Gut P'cFere@ cc"cittd5t0A, even to the
e.ctent q "'"g"0R'"'1y Gn@ generosity.
Tie return acAtch 'se rece1ne IS ardr on
oar G00erH"leat: the march Of drneteS on
onr caPttaL, the 06str"ct'on Of our trade,
me issue az letters o. "'aTQ'se author'=t"J
PtTates to prey uPoa our conmerce-1n
snort, a cG"csrte" "soVe"'e"t to blot out
Me CAIte0 Hl"taS JF0m the @1gp OF the
'1orl@ 1Ae s'mPfe question as echetter
ne are 70 nadt"t0tR tAe G00er0naent, or
Gtt0lo It TO be strtcLea out Of existence Gy
those 'cho no longer acAaowle0ge lts ou-
HorIty, and seet only to destroy 1t. w hat
excuse can the dlsunionlst give Tor break
ing up the best Government the sun ever
shed Its light upon! They are dlSsatls-
fed with the result Of the last Presiden-
tlal election. Were they never beaten
before? Are we to tolerate the idea that
the defeated party is to resort to the
sword? l understand it to be funda-
mental principle that the voice OF the
people must command obedience. They
assume that in the election of a party
candidate their rights are not safe What
evidence have we of it? defy any man
to show fact that Will substantiate it,
what one act has been committed which
they car complain of! SO tar at tie
rights Of the South are concerned-tbe
rights Of sIa0cholders-no act has been
committed Of tohtcA they can complain.
There has never been the day since the
hour OF Washington inauguration down
TO this moment, when the rights OF the
oouth nave STOOD 1rmGr under the laws
OF the land 1here never was time
when they had not quite as good cause
lor oIsuni'n as now " nat specldc grIeV-
2nce can theY assign from the day OF
" aShlngton 10 TINS moment ( II they
refer TO the territorial question, 1t Is an
extraordinary tact that there Is now no
ACT on our statute BOOKS limiting slavery
IN any manner II to the enforcement
OF the laws the only complaint IS that too
mueh mas Ceen done, that we have been
too eager TO enforce the fugitive slave law.
linen ask, Wnat excuse has the South
lof Tue scneme Wnleh they have concoct-
Gu 10 "1na up the Union Lhc slavery
question Is mere excuse. The election
OF Lincoln Ii but pretezt. The present
secession movement is the result of an
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