Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-11-04
!" Senator Trumbull.


Hon. LYMAN TRUMBULL made speech
at Springfield, Ill, a few evenings ago, of
which we publish the following synopsis
as autographed to the Chicago Tribune ;: ~
He commenced by referring to the
changes that have taken place in the coun-
try since 1854, i. Then the. Missouri Com
promise, enacted a generation before, hadf
just been repealed by Congress- Some of
the dominant party sof that day insisted
that the owner of a slave, in any Of the
States of the Union which recognized
property in man, had the right to take him
from the State to jurisdiction, where slave
ry did not;exist, and there hold him as
property. Others of the dominant party
of that day insisted that the people 2of a
Territory had the right to regulate the
subject of slavery for themselves This
was called popular sovereignty, or the
right of the people to govern themselves.
How untenal)le, not to say monstrous, all
those positions seem to-day Who would
now think that because man had proper
ty in another, or the right to hold him as a
slave by the laws of one State, that he
could, therefore, take him to a locality
where no such property was recognized
and there hold him as slave? And who
would now think of insisting that the
right Of the people to govern themselves
gave them the right to make slaves of
somebody else He said previous to 1854
he had acted with the Democratic party in
the country. It had the control of the
State Of Illinois from its organization to
that time; but the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise disorganized the political
parties of that day, and new parties were
formed, the distinguishing feature between
which was the question of the spread of
slavery. The State of Illinois did not
take sides in favor of freedom until 1860,
although the Legislature which was elect
ed in the fall of 1854 contained a majority
who were the friends of freedom.
Yet it was not until 1860 that IL
linois fairly ranged herself upon the sub
ject of freedom and from that time to this
she has been foremost in the great strug-
giles for liberty. From this State went
forth two men, thenlost illustrious Of their
time and generation One of them now
sleeps i'll the soil Of his adopted State,
near the city of Springfield. The other
after having put to flight the enemies of
his country upon every battlefield in the
Republic where he led the armies, is now,
by the free. voice Of d free people, sitting
as the Chief Magistrate of the nation. The
fame of both these men will be undying as
the Republic ITSELF. Only a few years ago
it would have been as much as a mans
life was worth to say, in nearly half the 4
States OF the Union, that a negro had the 1
right to his freedon' to the possession of
his wife and children, and to the fruits of
his own labor; and yet many of the per
sons who would have Joined in the mob,
and clothed with tar and feathers any
white man who should have announced
that a negro was entitled to his freedom,
now meet in conventions and Legislatures,
and sit down, side by side with the negro,
and even solicit his vote. He said this |
change was wrought without the aid or
assistance Of one of the great parties in
the country, yet he iapprehended that there
is scarcely an individual of that party who |
to-day would desire to see the colored peo-
pie who have been given their freedom
again reduced to bondage, to be bought
and sold inNthe market like cattle and
certainly there is-no member ofathe great 4
party which was instrumental in establish
ing freedom for the cOlored people, whose
heart does not burn within him as he re-
members that he has been permitted to-
take some humble part in giving freedom
TO a race F~FfEs ~sTF@ Cg 81 81
He congratulated the country upon its
present prosperity and greatness among
the nations of the earth, and proceeded to
the discussion of. the issues before athe,I
country. To-day the outstanding debt OIL
the United States, of all kinds, including
bonds issued to the Union Pacific Railroad
Companies, was $2,49I000,000. There
was in the Treasury at the same time, gold |
md currency, $128000 0909 II he whole
lebt, emitting the $64,000000 of bonds |
issued to the Pacific Railroad Companies, |
md the $13, 100000 certificates. of gold de-
posits in the Treasury was incurred in the |
Of the integrity of the Union
md making this Republic a land of free |,
ION in fact as well as in NAME Does any i
me begrudge the fine paid for liberty and I
Union? If he does, let him stand forth |
md let the people see the man-who would |.
)etray liberty for dollars and sell his coun-
ny for price. Does any one propose to
epudiate this debt? Frso, let him stand
orth, and let the people see the man who
or gain would taTnish his country s honor.
nd let him takeathe word r7cheat'' upon
lis forehead, and the stain of dishonesty
lpon his soul. About $685., 100000 of the
ebt of the United States consists of LEGAL
enders and fractional currency, on which
10 interest is paid, and if to this be added +
he bonds issued to the Pacific Railroad
Companies, whielrgthe roads are bound
o provide for, the certificates OF. lid
eposited on which no interest is
aid, the per cent. certificates, and the
avy pension fund, and the aggregate be
deducted from cur entire indebtedness, n