Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-10-15
Speech Of stehpen A. Douglas.
DELIVERED AT CHICAGO MAY 1sr, 81.

pTSScutS-lHdb WudtSNoi poiiliSh N'hCi
ences or party questions may have divi-
ded us, yet YOU all had a conviction that
when the country should be in danger,
my loyalty could be relied on. That the
present danger is imminent, no man can
conceal. If war must come-if the bay
onet must be used to maintain the Con-
stitution-I can say before God my con-
science is clean. l have struggled long
for peaceful solution of the difficulty.
| have not only rendered those States
what was theirs of right, but | have gone
to the very extreme OF magnaninity.
The return we receive is war, armies
marching upon our Capitol, distractions
and danger placed upon navigation, let
ters of masGue granted to pirates to prey
upon orr commerce, concerted move
ment to blot cut the United States of
America from the map of the globe
The question ia, Are we to maintain the
country of our fathers. or allow it to be
stricken down by those who, when they
can no longer govern, threaten to des-
troy
What cause, what excuse do disunion-
ists give us for breaking UP the best gov
ernment on VIII Oh the sun Of heaven ev-
er shed his rays? They are dissatisfied
with the results of Presidential cleo
ton. Did they never get beaten before !
Are we to resort to the sword when we
get defeated at the ballot box? | under
stand it that the voice of the people, ex-
pressed in the mode appointed by the
Constitution, must command the obedi
ence Of every citizen. They assume on
the election of particular candidate,
that their rights are not safe in the I'm
ion. What evidence do they present OF
this? | defy any man to show an act
on which it is based. What has been
omitted to be done? | appeal to these
assembled thousands that so far as the
constitutional rights of the Southern
States, will say tho constitutional rights
OF the shareholders are concerned, moth
ing has been done and nothing omitted
of which they can complain.
aaybfFa hes asGYfg hafn dti im lsS.f T9m the
first President Of the United States, when
the rights of the Southern States stood
firmer under the laws of the land, than
they do now; there never was a time
when they had not as good cause for
disunion as they have to-day. What
good cause have they which has not ex-
listed under every Administration.
If they say the territorial question
now, for the first time, there is no act o.
Congress prohibiting Slavery anywhere
If it be the non enforcement of the law;
the only complaints that l have heard
have been of the too vigorous and faith
ful fulfilment of the Fugitive Slave Law
Then what reason have they!
The slavery question is mere excuse
The election of Lincoln is mere pretext
The present Secession movement is the
result of an enormous conspiracy formed
more than year since-formed by
leaders in the Southern Confederacy
more thar twelve months ago.
They use the slavery question as
means to the accomplishment of theiI
ends. They desired the election Of {
Northern candidate BY sectional vote
in order to show that the two sections
cannot live together. When the histo
ry of the two year, from the Lecomp
ton Charter down to the late Presiden
tial election shall be written, it will b
shown that the scheme was deliberately
made to break up this Union.
They desired Northern Republican
10 be elected by purely Northern vote
and then assign this fact as reason why
the sections may not longer live together
If the disunion candidate in the lat
Presidential contest had carried the uni
ted South, the scheme was, the Northern
candidate successful to seize the Capito
last Srring, and by an united South anC
divided North, hold it. That schem
was defeated in the defeat of the Disun
ion candidate in several of the Southern
States.
But this is no time for detail of eau
ses. The conspiracy is now known. Ar
mics have been raised. War is levieC
to accomplish it. There are only tw'
sides to il. Every man must be for tn
United States or against it. There cal
be no neatrals in this war-oSLY PATRl
OTIS or TRAITORS.
Thank God, Illinois ia not divided Of
this question. (0heers.) [ know the.
expected to present an united Soutl
against a divided North. They hopes
in the Northern States, party question
would bring civil war between Democrat
and Republicans, when the South woul
step in with her cohorts, aid one part
to conquer the other, and then make a
easy prey of the victors. Their schem
was carnage and civil war in the Nortt
| There is but one way to defeat this
In Illinois it is being so defeated by Gle
sing up the ranks. War will thus b
prevented on our own soil. While ther
was hope of peace | was ready for an
reasonable sacrifice or compromise I
maintain it. But when the questio
comes of war in the cotton fields of Il
South or the corn fields of Illinois, / 81
the farther off the better.
We cannot clope our eyes to the 50
and solemn fact that war does exist. :
The government must be maintained, !
enemies overthrown; and the more stV
uendous our preparations the less Il