Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1868-10-09
Speech OF Robert M, Son OF stephen
A. Douglas.


A. Douglas.
AT the great Republican mass.meeting
in Raleigh, N. G., on Sept. 16, Robert NJ
Douglas made the following speech
, Ealosc Ofize'sss Though 1t may appear
presumptuousino one so young to attempt to
discuss questions which task the energies
and abilities of our greatest statesmen, yet,
feeling in this vital struggle ON which j
believe the future prosperity, if not the
very existence, of our country depends, it
is the duty of every one, young or old, to
exert his utmost in defense of our sacred
cause. l obey your call. This probably
the first time in our nations history thata
young man has had the opportunity of ap-
pearing before popular gathering as the
advocate of a truly national party--a party
that is governed by no sectional interests
or partisan preiudices; but whose motto
is our whole country, whose eternal prin-
ciples are equal rights and equal laws l
do not look upon this as q canvass which
will decide the manner in which the gov
ernment of the country shall be admins
tered; but as an issue on which will de-
pend the vital question, "shall we have a
country"
Sincerely believing in this, 1 shall not
attempt to deal with minor questions of do
mestic policy, but shall come at once to
the main issues, Union or Disunion, Peace
or War
What satisfaction does the true patriot
derive from the adoption of his dearest
theories of government, if, in the adop-
ton of those theories, begins the ruin of
the land he fondly hoped they would
lead to greatness Laws founded even
upon Divine inspiration, would be use
less if there were no country for them to
govern.
What theatre is there for the display of
the energies of a young and aspiring citi-
zen just entering upon the important du-
ties oflife, in country torn by civil strife
Well has an eminent American statesman
remarked: "There is no path ofambition
open to me in q divided and distracted
country"
To prove that the real issue Is peace or
war, we have only to refer to Frank p.
Blair's letter, written with view to his
nomination, and subsequently indorsed by
the very fact of his nomination by the Ma
tional Democratic Convention. a- saif
| Blair in his letter says:
There is but one way to restore the
Government and the Constitution, and
that is for the President elect to declare
/
to undo its ustlrpations at the South, dis
perse the carpet,bag State Governments
allow the white people to reorganize theil
own governments, and elect Senators aIC
Representatives. mpaIsIh n uja
OF course, any attempt to subvert the
Government of these Southern States by
force, would lead to war, as the Governor
and all other State officers, civil and mill
tary, are sworn to obey, support and de
fend the Constitution of the State O
North Carolina; and we will defend it.
Further down Blair says
1--WE must restore the Constitution be
fore we can restore the finances, and to de
this we must have President who will
execute the will of the people by tramp
ling into dust the usurpation of Congress
known as the reconstruction acts. 1 wisl
to stand before the Convention upon thi
issue, but it is one which embraces every
thing else that is of value in its large anC
comprehensive results. 1t is the one thing
that includes all that is worth contest
and without it there is nothing that give
dignity, honor, or value to the struggle"
On this issue he was nominated. l
any further proofs were needed to show
the revolutionary spirit of the Conserva
tive party, it could easily be found in thu
|
us, their bitter prosecutions of Union men
a and their unrelenting hatred of the Nortl
and its loyal people.
This bitterness toward Northern men
| who prove true to their principles, ant
who do not bow in slavish submission tt
the opinions of these naughty aristocrats
selfconstituted judges of honor and mo
rality, know from personal experience
Though descended from one of the oldes
families of this State, and born and par
TALLY raised in Rockingham county, upol
my return nearly two years ago to m,
native place, l was denounced as Yam
kee, and generally received with all tn
coldness and distrust due to one of tina
detested race. Notwithstanding my owl
nativity and the position of my mother
family, they could never forget the Puri
tan birth of my father, whose native State
| Vermont with her 10000 majority, 81
nobly leads the van; and may add, coul,
never forgive his dying efforts in defens
of his country.
Speaking of him, and feeling that what
ever importance any words of mine ma,
have, is derived from the name bear, AM
the affection many still feel toward on
who through life proved himself the pee
i pies friend, a few words concerning m,
|
with feeling of surprise, and I must add
of Indignation, that / saw his name in
I scribed upon one of the transparencie
born in the late Conservative procession
l thought that common decency at leas
would have prevented them from drag
from the tomb the name of man whom
they had betrayed and denounced througl
life, and after his death, whose orphan
| children they had Dersecuted
While gazing upon that name remem
bered the time when these same men dc
clared him a traitor to every principle G
honor because he preferred his country Z
his party, and bitterly denounced him 70
his efforts to rally the people of the Yves
for the defense of the Union.
remember all these when / am d.
clared degenerate son; and for eyer
quotation they give me from his speeche
/ will give them dozen. When the Ser
tind parades a sentence concerning
white mans government, will remin
them of his dying words When the wit
bent over the scarce breathing form of th
expiring statesman, and asked if he ha
no message to send to his children, Te
them" said he, in a voice rendered almol
] inaudible by the near approach OF dealt
5 TO obey and support the Constitution an
: Inc laws OF Lne lanu. lHls bOlSLnn III
junction l intend to obey. When | st
J myself personally abused by the Conse
p vatlve press, on account OF my p'
I litioal sentiments, and called a traitor
the State in which / was born, wonl
Z recall 70 their recollection the time whe
l was called an alien enemy. About Il
, year 1852, bill was filed summoniI
Thomas Steele (now Associate Justice
the Supreme Court) aud II. A. EllingtC
: 10 Greensboro, to show why they shou
not surrender the property of Robert ]
T and Stephen a. Douglas alien enemes
Z the Confederacy; and when ] am denouncl
4 as Yankee and Carpet baggeF, won
!, remind them of their efforts to drive n
an exile from my native State, and rend
: me stranger ~ the soil that gave =