Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-08-23
Hdat. Carpenter On c,he War.


lowing extract from the able speech Of
Mr.. Carpenter, Of Milwaukee, delivered at
tie reception Of the I'd Regiment. It's
marked contrast with the toryism of some
Democrats in this city is truly refreshing,
and shows that it is only the lowest sedl-
nent of that party, which lifts up its I'M
potent heel against Tie ADMINISTRATION
The extract contains all the speech bear
ing upon the subject, and fully presents
the sentiments of the distinguished au-
thor:
In this interval between the return Of the
First and the departure Of the Seventh and
Eighth Wisconsin Rec iments, we naturally pause
aud ask ourselves what are the ends and aims
Of this war Is it a war fought for partizan
purposes, for private and selfish ends or is it
"a war for God our country and truth If in
this struggle we fall, 90 We fall blessed mar
tyrs, or do we fall The just victims ofan unholy
ambition
This is an important question and we ought
to examine the matter honestly and thoroughly.
Patriots may say. Our country, right or wrong:
but in cur enlighteI' age the moral force ne
cessary to success is in the thought that car
country as right.
This is a question above all party politics.
We should forget that we were ever separated
by party lines. In this emergency we are all
Republicans, all Democrats, all Americans
Perish every party distinction, watcn-Word and
organization but live our country
We are struggling, fighting, dying. to MAIN
tain the government our fathers established for
themselves and their posterity forever. 1t is no
new invention, 10 modern theory, we are try
ing to fasten on an unwilling people. The
government of the United States WAS ordained
by the free act Of the American people, and ev-
cry new State that has been admitted has been
received upon her own request The great body
OF the American people, in all the States, North,
South. East and West are pledged by the ho-
Hest sanctions 10 support the Constitution OF the
United Sta es President Lincoln well said to
the traitors and rebels who surrounded him at
his inauguration, You have taken 10 oath to
violate the Constitution, and have taken
solemn one to support it."
More than seventy-seven years this govern
ment has been in full operation. What act Of
injustice has it committed What man er set of
men can tax it with cruelty or Cypress on
What State can complain that it has been pill
laged or plundered Unitedly, unanimously we
have gone on in tide Of happiness and pros
peyity that has turned our heads. We are wild
with our success. mad with our achievements
In the midst of unparalleled individual and ma
tional well-being. at peace with all nations, res
pccted by all, our graneries filed. cur fields
grooming with harvest-with all this.
There is sshurrying to ard fro
Ard gathering tears and trcmblings of Distress"
There is amounting in hot haste the steed
The mounting squadron, and the gathering car"
Go ..roUrirg forth with impetuous speed,
Swiftly fOImiI e in the ranks OF war,
And all this. for what and why? Because
slavery is sick with su1feiting and pants fer
fresh fields fol her ambitious schemes. Ioer-
ated, yes protected by the Constitution, as an
existing evil too deep for immediate eradication;
it has grown, deeper and deeper in It's faunda-
tons, and higher and higher III its preteusions,
undermining the strength and sapping the
power Of the Constitution, until at length it
feels itself stToger than the Government and
turns its destructive and poisonous fangs upon
the Constitution under which it has grown to
such fearful greatness. This blac spe cimen Of
the reptile genus warmed into life in cur bo-
som. now rears its scaly crest to wage war,
in which it or we must perish.
We have undertaken this war and are now
prosecutin il solely to restore order. and Gil
sure future obedience to the Constitution. We
would gladly cease cur efforts here with these
objects accomplished We would gladly renew
our guarantee to the Southern States that they
shall be protected in person and property. as
Of old. Would gladly do all the Constitution
ever required, and have peace again. The
South can enjoy this security nG2c. How long
it will be in the power of the South make
such terms, God only knows. Wars rarely end
where they are expected to. The revolution
could have been stifed at its birth by very
/ tile graceful concession On the part of the
British Crown. The colonies sought only for
redrcss of grievances and would gladly have
accepted such favor, and returned 10 their ODE
dieUce.
This the crown denied and the colonies cod
not win the result they contended for, without
shaking the power Of the mother country TO its
foundation. Before the colonies had achieved
the long sought for redress Of grievances they
had achieved thier total independence. Can the
South learn nothing from the lessons Of history?
Or has God decree the destruction Of slavery.
and does he purpose TO accomplish it thro the
madness and folly Of Shareholders.
If the South expects that we are much longer
to fight this war with kid gloves much longer
10 send armies to the South, but strictly watch
them to see that they 90 dot much tnisre the
South she is sadly mistaken. The powers that
be may say so wish so but the rising deter
lHination of the North, the absolute imperious
necessities of lfeXistence, are impeling
things forward. where SECRETARIES Of War and
smooth faced officials cannot stop the course Of
events by crying, respect all the rights Of
Southern properly"
If this st4se of things is long continued On
the para of tbs South, armies viii march in that
direction with the express purposes Of Hjuring
the .SO'Hk. This rebellion is not in strict con-
formity with the constitution and the South
may find that there is an unconstitutional way
to suppress it. The South is carrying on war
that violates every principle of gratitude and
fealty. every cath and sanction Of religion and
calls out to the North. Now, remember yonr
Christian principles remember your oath to
support the constitution and protect our
rights but the South may find that like the
Me hodist in the fight, ace have fllen from grace
This is sad state Of things dire necessities
are limiting at; hut fearful may be the
consequences Of this Southern treachcry and
folly Yet If it must be we can say to the South
five shall see her bleeding in c war, and expi-
ring in seryile iusurrection with more truth
than it was originally spoken
You canst not say did it,
shake not your cory locks at
1t seems to be the unalterabe decree of Heav-
en-, that nations like individuals shall : : per-
fected through sHfsriag Our prosperity
had hardened our hearts. and was fast chang
ing US fran love Of country to a love of peIf
In the impulse this terrible war has created.
all the better feelings and emotions efthe heart
are again Il full play; our money. our lives
even, are rs nothing, weighed against our coun-
try and liberty. This last best effort of self
government must not perish thus But we
have work, lgcgk before US Southerners are
not Mexicans, will not run at a yell-tbey too