, 1864-09-09
Great Speech Of Senator Douglas.
DELIVERED BEFORE THE LEGIsLATUEE OF I'LL
NOIs, APRIL 25, 1861.


kr Speaker, and Gentlemen Of tie Senate and
Hoase Of Repressntatipss
am not insenSible to the patriotic motives
which have prompted you to do me the honor to
invite me to address you on the mOmentOus is
sues now presented in the condition Of our cOuR-
try. With heart filed with sadness and grief
I proceed to comply with your request.
For the hrst time since the adoption Of the
Federal Constitution, a widespread conspiracy
exists to destroy the best government the sun of
heaven ever shed its rays upon. Applause.
Hostile armies are now marching upon the Fed
eTal Capitol, with a view Of planting a FeVOlu-
tiOnary flag upon its dome seizing the national
archives taking captive the President elected
by the votes of the people, and holding him in
the hands of secessionists and disunionists. A
war Of aggression and Of determination is being
wagsd against the government established by
our fathers The boast has gone forth by the
authorities Of the revolutionary government,
that on the first day of May the revolutionary
flag shall float from the walls Of the Capital at
Washington, and that on the fourth day Of July
the rebel army shall hold possession Of the Hall
Of Independence in Philadelphia.
The simple question presented TO us is,
whether we will wait for the enemy to carry
out his boast of making war upon our soil; or
whether we shall rush as one man to the defense
of the government and its capital and defend it
ened to destroy it, Great enthusiasm. Al
ready the pirstical hsg has been unfurled
against the commerce Of the United States
Letters Of marque have been issued, appealing
to the pirates of the world to assemble under
that revolutionary flag, and commit depreda-
tiOns on the commerce carried on under the
stars and stripes. The navigation of our great
river into the Gulf of Mexico is Distracted
Hostile batteries have been planted upon its
MI Hav oil dxrk koor H.
lished; and we are required now to pay tribute
and taxes, without having a voice in making
the laws imposing them, or having q share in
the proceeds after they have been collected
The question is whether this war of aggression
shall proceed, and We remain with folded arms,
inattentiYe spectators or whether we shall meet
the aggressors at the threshold and turn back
the tide of revolution and usurpation.
So long as there was hope Of peaceful sOlu-
ton, prayed and implOred for compromise
can appeal to my countTymen with confidence
that have spared no effort, omitted no oppor-
tunity, to secure peaceful solution Of all these
troubles, and thus restore peace happiness and
fraternity to this country. When all PROPOSE
tiOns of peace fail, and war of aggression is
proclaimed, there is but one course left for the
patriot, and that is to rally under that flag
which has waved over the Capitol from the days
of Washington, and around the government es-
tablished by Washington, Madison, Hamilton
and their cOmpeers Great Cheering.
What is the alleged cause for this invasion Of
the rights and authority of the government Of
the United States The cause alleged is that
the institutions of the Southern States are not
safe under the Federal Government What evil
dence has been presented that they are insecure?
appeal to every within the sound of my
voice to tell me at what period, from the time
that Washington was inaugurated down to this
hour, have the rights of the Southern States
the rights of the slavehOlders-been more Sc
cure than they are at this mOment2 When in
the whole history of this government have they
stood on so firm basis2 For the first time in
the history of this Republic there is no restric-
tion by act of Congress upon the institution of
slavery anywhere within the limits of the Uni
ted States. Then it cannot be the territorial
question that has given them a cause for rebel
lion. When was the fugitive slave law execu-
ted with more fidelity than since the inaugura-
ton of the present incumbent of the Presiden-
tial Officer Much applause. Let the people
of Chicago speak and tell US when were the
laws of the land executed with as much firm
ness and fidelity, so far as the fugitive slaves
are concerned, as they are now. Can any man
tell me of any one act of aggression that has
been committed or attempted since the last
Presidential election, that iustifes this violent
disruption of the Federal Union 2
ask you to reflect, and then point out any
has been omitted to be done-of which any one
Of these disunionists can justly complain. Yet
we are told, simply because certain political
party has succeeded in Presidential election,
they choose to consider that their liberties are
not safe, and therefore they are justified in break
ing up the government?
had supposed that it was a cardinal and fun
damental principle of our system of govern
ment that the decision of the people at the bal
lot box, without fraud, according to the forms
of the Constitution, was to command the i'm
plicit obedience of every good citizen loud
applause. If defeat at a Presidential election
is to justify the minority, or any portion of the
minority, in raising the traitOrous hand of re-
bellion against the constituted authorities you
will find the future history of the United States
written in the history of Mexico According to
my reading of Mexican history, there has never
been one Presidential term, from the time of the
revolution of 1920 down to this day when the
candidate elected by the people ever served his