The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-10-30
JUDGE r, w. SMITH.

Democratic Association at Chicago, by Judge
SMITH, at one of its recent sittings
After having defended at length the policy and
measures of the present administration, Mr.. S.
remarked:
Let us, my fellow citizens, look behind
and bevond the "log cabin" scenes of the
present hour. In the back ground, in the
distant perspectiye-we may see the STAN
dards Of all the followers and classes, for
whom this bitter and ferocious contest is
waged. On them may be seen inscribed,
Z" Assumption Of the Payment of The
State Debts by the General Govern
ment;" "United States Bank, with ffly
Millions Of Dollars )" "Let Government
take care Of the rich, and The rich ,ciH
take care Of The poor;" estate Banks,
Monopolies, Special Privileges, and
Privileged Oriers;" Union Of the
Whigs for OGce." In these will be
found the motives for the vast exertlons
now making for the prodigality and pro-
fusion with which the efforts Of the hard
cider band is marked; for the waste and
expenditure of millions to obtain the pos
session and power of the government !;
for the death-like, convulsive tenacity
with which the grasp is made on every
thing within its reach, to save a sinking
cause, and, amid expiring hope, TO stag
ger on in the last agonizing throes of
death, still expecting victory which cam
not be achieved.
Like the great and unfortunate Napolc-
on, though without his noble and brave
spirit, the nearer they approach the hour
of their final overthrow, the more despe-
rate and unyielding their efforts.
And, while they affect composurc
they do not feel, and boast of success
through the ballot-box, what do they, in
their spasmodic and unguarded ebulilions
which tEey cannot control, declare Lis
ten, my countrymen, and know, that
what you now hear is more than true
that it is reality and is indeed no fiction.
(Here Mr.. S. read the declarations of
Preslcn, Stockton, Graves, and others,
who have threatened civil war and revo-
luton if Harrison is not elecied.) These
are not the idle declarations of madmcn,
OF fanatic Abolitionis,s, of wild, inconsid
rate men, who have no stake in the coun-
try, but the sober, deliberate avowals of
men of education, of intelligence, of
wealth, many of whom occupy posts of
high confidence in the state and federal
Governments of men sworn and bound
by the most solemn obligation which can
bind man to man and to his Creator, to
support tn. Constitution and Government
of the country they now solemnly declare
they would by force of arms overthrow
and destroy. What! Has it come to
this +! or do we dream? Is it mere phan-
tom, or illusion of the hour! Alas! it is too
true that these men deliberately declare that
if the people, those who alone have the
right to determine, shall elect chief ma
gistratc of their choice, and not Of the Sc
lection or approval of these men, that we
shall be visited with civil war, with revo-
luton and overthrow of our happy Co
vcrnment; that our peaceful homes shall
be turned into fortresses, and the houses
and temples of the living God converted
into barracks and hospitals that fathers
shall be compelled to bear arms against
their sons, brothers against brothers, and
plunge their bristling bayonets into each
others breasts that the roar of CANON
and the clangor of arms shall be heard in
our peaceful towns and cities that their
streets shall flow rivers Of blood, and our
helpless women and children, amidst these
frightful scenes of blood and slaughter,
flee to the wilds and Businesses of the TO-
rests, to shield them from the phals of
wrath and of mad desolation, poured out
by the demon spirit Of civil dlscord.
That the parricidal arm of rebellion
shall be lifted on high, with the blood
stained weapons which have drunk the
life's blood of the fathers of the nation,
and flourish the incendiary torch, through
the darkness of night rendered dim and
Pickering by the brighter glare of the
bursting flames which it has produced.
amid the consuming ruins of the noblest
structures which human art could rear.
That the fair fabrics of our noble and
proud cities, where now the peaceful seats
of science, of arts, and literature exist and
flourish where natures noblest charities
arc dispensed, and the mild doctrines of
the cross are taught to man, shall be RACED
to the ground, and their streets converted
into vast camps, successfully occupied
by the contending parties, and haggard ia