Year: 1861




the authorities for permission to sell hin


Would you permit other States to lev


taxes Oh the beef, the corn. the wheat, Il


merchandise. that were crossing the lii


in search Of a market?


! Such had been the condition of German


till the establishment of the great Zallv


rein Union. Would you permit this OdioU


system to be established for the first tin


on the American continent? Permit it s
the Gull, or at Charleston harbor. an


next you will have it at New York. and ;
every seaport on the Atlantic.
! This would indeed be nice scheme fc
these States, which were as the hem of
garment to the whole cloak. to thus lev,
taxes without our consent, to be expended
without our having a voice in it or ber
eft from il.


These questions ought to command tn
united heart and intellect and muscle Of ev
cry American citizen. He repeated. thes
questions did not pertain to Slavery. or th
negro So help him God. he would neve
sanction war against the rights of an.
people on earth. If war must come, j
must be ore of self-defense


He called, therefore, on them as hi
cOuntrymen to defend the Capital of tn
country; Ccheers:l t, rally to the supper
of the constitutional authorities of th
country. legally and properly placed in au
thority by the voice of the American peo
pie; tumultuous cheering;l to the defense
of that Government which was the price
less birthright of every American citizen.


1t was no time now to inquire what lines
of policy had produced these disasters
whether this party or that one, this plat.
form or that one had most harmsnized
with .the peace of the country. Now We
must re-establish the Union; then We eau
amuse ourselves with the delightful occu-
patton of eliminating one another rs to
who did it?''


He had not intended when he left Wash
ington the other day. on his return to his
own State, to say one word on these mat
ters. But yesterday. having CHANGED to
miss a connection on the Central Ohio
road, be mad been witness to scene that
had gladdened his heart ehad declined
to 60 over to Wheeling to see them at their
meeting there, and SO the whole city had
adjourned to meet him. They had had a
vast meeting. two thirds Virginians, the
rest Ohioans, and woe to that man who
should have have dared to attempt rlisin G
there Secession flag! Loud Cheering.


But he had already said more than he
intended, (cries of "Go on. 60 on" 1t
was now time fer action, net for talking
He was glad to learn at this noble Capital
Of this noble State. that they we're rallying
their whole force for their country. lie
bid them sod speed He hoped they
would hush every voice of party, and as
one man unite for the defense of their Gov
ernment, their Union and the flag of their
country.


When ence more they kId country.
aRd should then want a political speech
out of him; be reckOned they could get it
CHEERS and laughter.) He was a good
partisan in party times; now be could only
speak for the glorious old flag of his coun-
try.


Amid loud cheering the Senator retired.
In an instant he returned.


He had been asked by friends On the
platform to say one werd about the report
that General Scott was about to resign his
1fice and accept the position Of Comman-
der Of the forces of his native State of
Virginia Il gave him great pain and
to be compelled to notice such
/ rumor.


General Scott, who had shed bis blood
IN every battlefield of his country for half
century. was NV a subject of doubt and
and men were seriously won
iering whether the noble cid hero was now
lbOut to desert the country and the flag he
lad served so lOngl


He would mike very short work of the
-eport. He had seen him just before leaT-
ng Washington and he had found the old
Head of the Army SO busy writing orders
ind experimenting the business ofprepar-
Bg for the defense of the country, that he
Scott had told him that while he would he
Tery glad to have an hours conversation
With him, vet he Douglass would be do
ng the country service not to interrupt
lin fer moment Going out from the
headquarters, he had met an eminent Yir-
,ian, SIX weeks ago an ardent Union man,
Vho told him that he had Just been per-
orming a sad duty. He had been ap-
,e:nted chairman of committee of the
Virginia Convention, authorized to tender
o General Scott the command Of the Vir-
,inia forces The old gentleman, the Vir-
,iniaa said, had received him cOurteously,
lad listened to what he had to say, and
lad then replied: "Sir. for fifty years 1
lave devoted my life to the flag of my
,ountry; so long as God permits me to
i've, will continue to stand by that flag, /
md to defend it against all assailants even
t [ should find among those assailants ny
mother. the old State of Virginia" Loud
md prolonged cheering


Mr.. Douglas supposed this all it was
aecessary for him to say of Gen. Scott
The old here was engaged night and day
n his duties for the whole country; so he
lad seen him few days ago, and so he
would remain }


AS Mr. Douglas retired, three rousing
:heers were given for Douglas, and three
more for the Union.


Sam Cox was then called for, and re-
IpOnded with brief speech, declaring that
he first gun that was pointed against the
lag. the first sand bag that was erected as
fortifcatiOn against the guns Of the ma
ion. it had been the duty of the Govern
nent at once to demOlish every erection
.gainst theold Star Spangled Banner; that
he Government was to be supported NOR
.lly as we'll as martially; that the aggres- |
ion had come from the other side, and
hat now the moral worth. the mental cal
bre. and the genuine muscle of the people
must defend the Capital and the Govern