Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1860-11-30
SPEECH OF
Hon. Lyman Iru1nbuIl,
AT SPRINGFIELD, Nov. 2o1H.

can Jubilee at that place. The speech is more
important at the present juncture Of national
affairs, as it is presumed to speak the senti,
ments of the President elect. 1t is short and to
the point
FeL5O1o Citizens, 1t is meet that Republicans
should make merry and be glad for the spirit
of Liberty, which. with our rulers was dead is
alive again; and the Constitution. ordained to
secure its blessings, which was lost sight of is
found. In view of the recent political triumphs
Illinois Republicans have especial reason for
congratulation. In Common with their political
brethren throughout the Union, they rejoice in
the general result, which secures to the coun-
try a Republican President, who We uust ard
believe is to bring back the government to the
policy of the fathers, and thereby restore the
fraternal feeling which existed between the diff
ferent sections of the country in the purer and
better days of the Republic In addition, they
have elected the entire Republican State ticket,
and have the satisfaction Of having secured a
Republican Legislature, and thereby Repub-
lcan United States Senator and the power TO
enact the necessary laws to prevent illegal vo-
ting, and to give to every part of the state, ac-
cording TO population, its proportionate share
in the legislation of the State. And more than
this, We Illinosans have especial reason to re-
joice in the fact that the standard bearer in this
great political contest, who has led the Republi-
can hosts to victory, is our fellow citizen.
the pure, incorruptible, patriotic and talented
Lincoln, than whom the Constitution in all its
parts. has not faithful supporter nor the
Union abler defender
But while we rejoice in Il victory so complete,
let it not be by way Of triumph over political
opponents, for we are all, by whatever name
called, brethren Of a common country and inter
ested alike in guiding the ship Of State through
the boisterous waves Of these tempestuous times
as to bring it to a haven of peace and safety ;
rather let rejoice the success Of the prin-
ciples we advocate, the maintenance of which
we believe essential to the preservation Of our
free institutions and the perpetuity Of constitu-
tional liberty.
Mr. Lincoln, although the candidate Of the
Republican party, as Chief Magistrate will nei-
ther belong to that. or any other party. When
inaugurated he will be the President Of the
country and the whole country, and doubt not
will be as ready to defend and protect the State
in which he has not received a solitary vote
against any encroachments en- it's constitutional
rights as the one in which he has received the
largest majority.
While they. by whose votes he has been de-
signated as Chief Magistrate Of the Republic
will expect him to maintain and carry forward
the principles on which he was elected, they
know that in doing so, no encroach1acnts will
be made on the reserved rights Of any Of the
States They know that the Federal Govern
ment is one Of delegated powers, that it can do
nothing except the authority Of the act can be
found in the instrument that created it !; and
that all powers not conferred are reserved to
the States, or the people of the States Hence,
when their political opponents have charged
them with abolitionism. or attributed to them
a desire to interfere with slavery in the States,
or some fanatic has insisted that they ought to
do so, the reply has invariably been. that the
people who made the Federal Government did
not think it proper to confer on 1t such auth0rl-
ty and it therefore has no more right to med
die with slavery in State, than it has to inter
fere with serfdom in Russia nor are the pee
pie of the non-slaveholding States in any way
responsible for slavery in the States which tol-
crate it. because. as to that question, they are
as foreign to each other, as independent govern
ments.
l have labored in and for the Republican Or
ganiz ton with entire confidence that whenever
it should be in power, each and all OF the states
would be left in as complete control Of their own
affairs, respectively and at as perfect liberty
to choose and employ THEN own means Of pro-
tecting property and preserving peace and or
der within their respective limits. as they have
ever been under any administration Those
who have voted for Mr., Lincoln have expected
and still expect this, and they would not have
voted for him had they expected otherwise. l
regard it as extremely fortunate for the peace
of the whole country that this point upon which
the Republicans have been so long and persist
emily mis-represented, is now to be brought to
a practical test and placed beyond the possibil-
ity of doubt 1t should be a matter ofrejoicing
to all true Republicans, that they will now have
an opportunity Of demonstrating to their politi-
cal adversaries and to the world, that they are
not for interfering with the domestic institutions
Of any of the States, nor the advocates of negro
equality. or amalgamation. with which design
ing political demagogues have SO often char
ged them When this is shown reaction will
assuredly take place in favor of Republcanisnl,
the Southern mind even will be satisfied, the
rights of Northern men will be respected, and
the fraternal feeling existing in olden times,
when men from all parts of the country went
forth together to battle for common cause,
against q common enemy will be restored.
Disunionists. per Sc, of whom, unfortunately,
there have been a few in the country for some
years understand this. and are now in hot
haste to get out Of the Union, precisely because
thev perceive they cannot much longer main.
tain an apprehension among the Southern peo
pie that their homes and fresides and lives are
to be endangered by the action Of the FEEDER
al Government With such, = N0aU neUeT r.
is the maxim. Hence they seek to infame the
public mind by mis-representing the object!
and purposes of the Republican party, with tht
hope Of preuipitating some Of the Southern
States into position from which they cannot
without dishonor, afterwards recede well know
ing, if they delay till after the new Administr,
ton is inaugurated and tested, it will furnish NJ
cause for complaints. Secession is an mprae
ticability, or rathei an impossibility. The Con
stitution provides no way by which State ma.
Withdraw from the Union-no way for the dis
solution Of the government it creates. The gen
| eral Government interferes but little with III
/ individual rights Of the citizen, except for pro
! lection. 1t i. chiefly felt in its benefits ant
/ blessings. not in it's exactions. If every FEEDER
/ al officer in South Carolina were 10 resign
| their offices to remain vacant, and It's Leglsia
1 ture declares the State out Of the Union,
would all amount to little except to lnconver
! ience the people Of that State. so long as III
State did not interfere with the collection Of th
revenue On the seaboard. The people Of othe
nortions of the Union would not be in the leas
/ incommoded What is the South Carolina 4
nv TO do when raised Manifestly if it con
mences war on the {. S. officers engaged j
| collecting the revenue, it becomes the aggrei
sor
This would be revolution and making wa
without cause for South Carolina makes 4
complaint against the present revenue laws
Is she prepared for this TO become the az
gressor The only use for her minute me
4 that can see is that they will enable the pc
pie more readily to suppress any uprising
their midst which their misrepresentation
our purposes may have encouraged She con
plains that the fugitive slave law is not exec
ted in some of the States. This, if true, Il
whole country knows to be sham SO far
South Carolina is concerned She is SO situ