Year: 1861

lie mind is centered wholly upon our fai-


len statesmen, VIC cannot do better than


to give to the world once more his last


speech-an effect by which he placed


himself boldly and unc nconclously on the


side of the right, and wen TO himself the


heart of the people. 1t was delivered on


the frs day of May. 1861. at National


Hail. in the city Of Chicago.


Judge Douglas said


Mr.. CHAIRMAN | thank you for the


kind terms with which you have been


pleased to welcome me | thank the com


mi,tee, and thank the citizens of Chicago


for this grand and imposing reception.


But | beg you to believe that | do not do


you the injustice to consider This ovation


personal one, but rather that rejoice in


the knowledge that it is an expression Of


your devotion to the Constitution and the


laws of our country. | will not conceal


my qualification at the unccn,roverti5le


testimony which this vast audience pre-


sens. that whatever differences of opin-


lon may have heretofore divided us, the


conviction now exists in your mind that


in danger my loyalty to my country may


be relied upon. That danger is imminent.


none can conceal from themselves, no


matter how they may desire to avert the
evil but IT war must be If the bayonet


must crush social order and liberty, then,


before God. l feel my conscience clear


| nave struggled as long as there was
hope, and even after hope had almost
disappeared, for peaceful solution of the
trouble. l have not only rendered full
satisfaction and ample justice. but have
protfered Cancellation even TO the extent
of magnanimily and generosity. The re-
turn which we receive is war on our gov
ernment, the march of armies on our cap
ilal. the obstruction Of our trade. the issue
OF letters of marque authorizing lawless
pirates to prey upon Ouro wn commerce.
in short, a concentrated movement To bio,
the United States from the map Of the
world. The simple question is whether
ne are to maintain the government, or al
low it to be stricken out of existence bv
those who no longer acknowledge its au-
thoritv, and seek only to destroy it.


What excuse can the disunionists give
for breaking up the best government the
sun ever shed its light upon =? 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 il to be fun
damental principle that the voice of the
people must command obedience. They
assume that in the election Of a party can
didate their rights are not safe. What
evidence have we of it ? | defy any man
To show = fact that will subs,anciate IT,
What one act has been omitted which they
can complain of? SO far as the rights Of
the South are commemorative rights of
slaveholders-no act has been omitted of
which they can complain There has
never been the day since the hoar of
Washington's inauguration down to this
moment, when the rights Of the Sonth
have stood irmer under the laws Of the
land. There never WAS the time when
they lad not quite as good cause for dis
union as now. What specific grievance
can they assign from the days OF Wash
ington to this moment9 If they refer to
she territorial question. it is an extraordin
AIRY fact that there is now no act ON our
statute books limiting slvery in any man
ner. If TO the 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 Then |
ask what excuse has the South for the
scheme which they have concocted to
wind up the Union? The slavery ques-
ton is Il mere excuse. The election of
Lincoln is bur pretext. The present Sc
cessiCn movement is the result Of an enor
nous conspiracy which was matured a
year ago. This conspiracy vas 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 history of the
country, from the time Of the Lecompton
Constitution to the date Of Lncoln's elec.
'ian, is written. it will appear that a
scheme WAS maturing meantime which
was for no end except to break up The Un-
ion. They desired to break it up, and
they used the slavery question as means.
They desired to create a purely sectional
vote, TO demonstrate that the two sec.
tion- could not 1.-Two together. The disun-
ion card dictated that the South was to
carry its own election. and that the North
WAS TO elect Lincoln. Then united |
South was to assail divided North. and
gain an easy victory. This scheme was
defeated by the overthrow OF the disunion
candidates in Kentucky Tennessee and
Virginia. Sill the grand conspiracy ex
listed, and the disuni,n movement was the
result Of 1t. But have no time to enter
into details Armies are raised. and war
has been levied. There are but two sides |
to the question, and every man must be
on the side of the United States or against
II. There can be none but patriots or
traitors. Thank God, Illinois is not to be
doubted on that question. They conspi !
red to produce a civil war among the Re
publicans and Democrats, expecting TO
step in and accomplish an easy victory.
Their scheme will involve civil war and |
boodshed IN the United States, and the
calamity is only to be averted by united
action