Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-08-05
SENATOR DOUGLAS LAST SPEECH.

OF Sen. Douglas, delivered May lst, 1861.
Its patriotic utterances are peculiarly re-
treshing at the present time. Were he
alive now no one can doubt what his
position would be. The man who so sin
eerely deprecated war rendered neces-
sary for the salvation of the country could
find no words too strong to condemn the
course of that political party which now
advocates war for the purpose of carrying
out party measures.
Judge Douglas said:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN / thank you for the
kind terms with which you have been
pleased to welcome me; I thank the COM
mlttee, and l thank the citizens of Chic
ago for this grand and imposing reception
But beg you to believe that do not do
you the injustice to consider this oya ton
a personal one, but rather that [ rejoice
in the knowledge that 1t is an expression
OF your devotion to the Constitution and
the laws OF our country | will not con-
ceal my qualification at the uncontrover-
tlble testimony which this vast audience
presents, that whatever differences of op-
inion may have heretofore divided US,
the conviction now exists in your mind
that in niger, my loyalty to my country
may be relied upon. That danger is i'm
nlnent, none can conceal from them
selves, no matter how they may des;r 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. [ have struggled as long
as there was hope, and even after hope had
almost disappeared, for peaceful solu-
ton of the trouble. / have not only ten
dered full satisfaction and ample Justice,
but have profered Cancellation even to
the extent of magnanlmity and generosi-
ty. The return which we receive is
war on our government, the march of
armies on our capital, the obstruction of
our trade, the issue of letters of marque
authorizing lawless pirates 20 prey upon our
commerce, In short, a concerted move
ment to blot the. United Sta es from the
map Of the world. The simple question
is whether we are to maintain the govern
ment, or allow. it to be strict en- out of ex-
istence by those who no longer acknow-
ledge its authority, and seek only to des-
| troy it.. aa s"#.f
What excuse can the disnnionists give
for breaking up the best goYernment the
sunsever shed its light upon2 They are
dissatisfied with the result of the last
Presidential election. Were they never
beaten before Are we to tolerate the
idea that the defeated party is to resort
to the sword !? [ understand it to be
fundamental principle that the voice of
They assume that in the election of 4 par
ty candidate their rights are not safe.
| w hat evidence have we Of it I DEFY
any man to show a fact that Will substan-
tate it. What one act has been omitted
Which they can complain of? So far as
the rights of the aSouh are coneerned-
the rights of slaveholders--no act has
been comitted Of which they can complain
There has never been the day since the
hour OF Washlngtons Inauguration down
| to this moment, when the rights OF the
South have stood frmer under the laws
of the land. There never was the time
when they had not quite as good cause for
disunion as now. WI hat specific griev-
/ ance can they ASST gn from the days, of
|. Washington to this moment? If they
refer TO the territorial question, it is an
extraordinary fact that there is now no
act on our statute books limiting slavery
in any manner. Il 1t tothe enforcement of
the laws, the only complaint is that too
much has been done-that we have been
too eager to enforce the fugitive slave
| law. Then1 ask what excuse has the.
South for the scheme which they have
concocted to winl up the Union The
slavery question is mere excuse. The
election of Lincoln is butt pretext The
|, present secession movement is tn. result
OF. an enormous conspiracy which was
matured a year ago. This conspiracy
was framed by the leaders Of the secession
movement twelve months ago, and they
| have used every means to urge it on.
/ They have caused man to be elected by
a sectional vote, to demonstrate that the
Union was divided and when the his
tory of the country, from the time of the
! Leeompton Constitution to the date of
Lincoln's election is written, it will appear
thata scheme was maturing meantime
/ which was for no end except to break I'D
the Union. They desired to break it up.
and they used the slavery question as a
means. They desired to create purely
sectional vote, to demonstrate that the two
sections could not live together. The
disunion card dictated that the South
was to carry its own election, and that
the North was to elect Lincoln. Then
united Southidwas to- assaiI divided
! North, and gain an easy victory. This
scheme was defeated by the overthrow of
the disunion candidates in Kentucky,
Tennessee and Virginia Still the grand
Pconspiracy existed, and the disunion
movement was the result of ito But I
have no time to enter into details. Arm
les are raised, and war has been levied
There are but two sides to the question,
and every man must be on thu side Of the
i United States or against it. There can
be none but patriots or. ira tors. Thank
God, Illinois is not to be doubted on this
question. They conspired to produce q
civil war among Republicans and Demo
Gratis, expecting tdstep in and accomplish
an easy victory. Their scheme will in
volve civil war and bloodshed 10 the I'm
| tied States, and the calamity is only to be
! ayerted nv united action