, 1861-10-10

III the people of the United States have al
ready become so degenerate-may | not say so
craven Pin the presence of their foes as to surren
der up this Republic to be dismembered and sub
verted by the traitors who have reared the stan
dard Of revolt against it, then trust the volume
of American history will be closed and sealed up
forever, and that those who survive this national
humiliation will take unto themselves some other
name, having no relation to the past-no relation
to our great ancestors--nO relation TO those mon
uments and battIe-felds which commemorate alike
their heroism, their loyalty and their glory" Be-
for. this shall be, let me heave my last sigh; let
me otter my last prayer let me breathe my last
breath for and in my native land and let my voice
be hushed in the silence of the grave-my name
and posterity cease to be-
The doctrine of Southern secession is national
suicide. To allow States to leave the Federal
Union on that basis is 10 proclaim the jubilee Of
anarchy-the millennium Of barbarism. II this
rebellion succeed, it will involve necessarily the
permanent disruption Of the Republic. Disunion,
once begun, will go on and on indefinitely. Each
returning election will bring new grounds OF civil
commotion and traitors prepared to strike at their
country will spring up on every side. States will
secede from States, counties from States, towns
and cities from counties, until universal anarchy
prevail. "a government into whose practical
administration such principle has been introduced
could no more continue to exist than man could
live with an angered cobra in his bosom"
Would you know the legitimate fruit OF seces-
siOn read It In the schools deserted courts OF JUS
tice closed public and private credit destroyed,
commerce annihiated, debts repudiated, contisca-
tions prevailing cheeks blanehed with fear, hearts
frozen with despair, and the hand of inluriated
passion recking with crime. ! donot wonder that
before such question all other issues sink from
sight like lead in the oceans depths. All party
lines are Oblterated here, and the millions Of the
North stand in solid phalanx and appeal to the
Almighty for the Righteousness Of their cause.
This cause is one every patriot can feel to die for
it is one every Christian can plead before bis Re
deemer and his God 1T is one every minister Of
Jesus Christ can carry with him to the pulpit, and
advocate with the same voice with which he pro-
claimed the wonders Of Redemption"
II is remarkable in what an extreme form those
who have rebclled against the government have
staked the controversy. While adhering to the
old issues, they could ask US to come and reason
together" But now the scene is changed. Thy
have fired upon our flag; they have declared we
are not nation, and never have been, and never
shall be- only by reconstruction upon principles
that would make any freeman blush And this,
too without single hostile act by the Government.
most firmly believe, II ever q nation could stand
uncovered before the God Of battles and plead His
aid we are that nation in this contest. Let no one
imag n. because this rebellion has sprung up among
us, fOstered and guided by men renowned in our
civil and military history, it is the less guilty, or
less to be resisted. The purest spirits and best
institutions Of past history have met opposition
from similar source. England bad its Monks.
France its BOnaparte, Rome its Caesar and Gait
line and the Savior Of sinners his lscariot."
Sirs, Irepeat: at lisa parriedal hand that has
been lifted. The blow that has been struck has
been delivered against the breast of the National
Government The question is-the only peril.
nent question What has the General Govern
ment done to injure or offend one or seven States
Of the South? And that question cannot be
answered It will 60 down the stream Of bis
tory unanswered and unanswerable. Not one
right has been trampled on /; not one immunity
withheld; not one privilege denied; not one lib
erty iniringed; and not even solitary interest
threatened. u the issue were with Northern
freemen as individuals, il cnuld not be success
fully maintained that the South had ever suffered
any wrong. II any right IN this land Is sacred
and universal, it is the right Of free discussion,
and the exercise Of this right is the extent Of
Northern SHINING. We have thought and felt
and believed, and have therefore spoken, but We
have Obeyed the laws. We have kept the Con-
stitution, only ccntending that 1t should be in.
terpreted as the Fathers framed il, and as all
parties now cOnfess--eVen the authors Of the
new-in tho interests Of justice and freedom.
But what possible indictment against the national
supreme administration Not q wOrd-nOt q
whisper-not a shadow. Before the present
administration was inaugurated the plot Of trea-
son was perfected and eonsummated. To-day
each State is absolutely supreme In the matter
Of its own institutions and laws, and not one sta
tute Of the Federal Government has crossed the
lines of State sovereignty, certainly not at the
South. to interpose another and q restrictive au-
thouty. Utterly, utterly and forever groundless
is this great crime Of assailiRg the ost generous
the most liberal, the most bene6cent Govern
ment upon the face Of the whole Garth"
Weare asked BY men Of whining philanthropy
to cease this civil strife, this dreadful war, and
make peace. The question arises, can this be
done? Is there way? Yes, there Isl way. Yield
all that Rebellion asks the national fortresses on
Southern SOIL the national territories, the national
capital; yield the principle that government is q
farce, that an empire, q kingdom, republic may
go to pieces at the pleasure Of a few, who may
torswear allegiance to and burn the old constitu-
tion tear down that old timehonored banner that
to-day floats upon the breeze and run up that
trnitorOus rag that dishonors Sumters walls-re-
open the African slave trade, and enthrone an oil
garchy, titled nobility in the persons Of the Da
vises, Beauregartls, and kindred spirits, and you
may have peace for a time, Il you will ignore the
freedom Of speech and the press, and rejuvenate
old ieudal times. But am not willing 10 pay
such price. have the unbounded qualification
to know that the maSscs Of this great nation are
not willing to pay such price. am glad to
know that the President Of the United States is
not willing to pay such a price. am proud TO
know that we have President who is not afraid
to look traitors fully in the face in the discharge
Of NaEa lnf
his fears.
As intimated in the proclamation Of the Presi-
dent, this conflict should be undertaken in the
strength Of God. end under His constant bcnedic-
ton. There need be no hesitation in our minds
concerning HIS attitude in this conflict. / rever-