Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-08-27
AN OLD DEMOCRATS VIEW OF
AFFAIRS


day.
We copy below, almost entire the speech ,
Mr.. DICKINSON, MS reported in the columns of
new York contemporary, from which il will b
seen that he does not mince his words in ex
pressing his views of the condition of the counir
and of the character of the war now in existcnc
against the Government of the Union. 1t is de
cideuly tue most unequivocal condemnation q
inc secession movement which we have yet see
from democratic SOURCE
Mr. DICKINSON was always fnyorite with th
Southern Democratic politicians and people
lie was also an active and able advocate OF Mr.
Breckinridge for President. No man ever bat
tied more earnestly or faithfully for what wer
termed 'Southern Rights" than Mr.. D. bu
hndlng the Southern leaders engaged in an un
Juetihable war upon the Government, he can IL
longer sustain them lie thinks they oonuive
ut and aided the very election which they hav
made the pretext for resistance and be says ti
is just such ambition as caused the angels IL
Heaven to rebel. 1t was not because we hal
not good Government, but because they could
not rule it,"
MIR. Dickinson, in speaking of the writ Of
habeHs corpus, holds that the suspension of thi,
writ is one of the terrible necessities of war;
Those who complain of it against the President
nave not word Of censure to offer against those
VINO commenced the war; and who are attempting
|
ment
The speech Of Mr.. Dickinson had an anima-
ting influence upon men of all PARTIES who heard
hlni, and the response to it was Hearty and
emphatic.
SPEECH OF Mn. DICKINSON.
Amid all the diversity of sentiment in our land,
there Is one subject upon which We eau agree :
aud that is, that our country is in most lamen-
table condition-our Government threatened
with disruption, our Constitution with snbver-
sion, and our institutions with overthrow. We
are met here for the purpose Of discussing the
great interests Of common country and OF dc.
termlnlng what becomes us in an exigency SO
trying and SO fearful
meet you here not to discuss slavery or anti
slavery. Though an old line Democrat, brought
up ut the feet Of Gamalel, and adhering with
tenacity to the principles Of Democracy through
an active life, yet come not TO speak to you
upon political partisan subjects. | come to dis
cuss matter that concerns our Union, one that
rises far above and shoots deeper than party in-
tereste or issues.
We have duty. my fellow citizens far beyond
that OF the fathers Of the Revolution. They
were oppressed by tyranny, and they sought to
throw off the shackles of a despotic monarchy.
They hoped that great and free Government
would spring up from their patriotic efforts, but
the most sanguine never imagined that Govern
ment so replete with good would be the fruits of
their beginning What with them was hone,
with us is fruition. They planted, and we
reaped. Their experiment has become a great
success, and we are enjoying or might enjoy,
such blessings as Heaven never before youch-
safed to mortal man. But conspiracy has ap-
peared; strife and division are at our doors i;
and it becomes us now to see whether the fruits
Of this great and benefcent Union must be lost
or whether they can be preserved
1t were needless to 60 back to review dead and
buried issues. There is great fact staring us
in the face, and with that we have to deal. It
matters not whether the origin of our difficulties
was North or South or East or West-the ques.
tion is, How shall it be dealt with and disposed
of? In every Government and especially in
every free Government, political parties will
arise. And it is well that we have them. So
far from being a curse, when restrained within
legitimate bounds they are blessing The strife
OF political parties, like the agitation OF the
natural clements, purfes the moral atmosphere,
and gives life, and vigOr, and freedom to our in
shtutons. There are some questions too great,
some too small, for the exercise of political par-
ties and We have many duties to discharge in
the various relations of life that do not appertan
10 political affairs, but which We should come
together and discharge, us American citizens, as
brethren of one tie, and not inquiring whether
we belong to this or that or the other division of
political parties. When we assemble around the
grave of neighbor, aud hear those words that
have riven SO many hearts, "Earth to earth,
dust to dust, ashes to ashes" and hear the creak-
ing of the cord as the remains are lowered to
their final resting place. the strife of passion is
hushed in the bosom, aud we remember only
that we are men-inquire not what were the po-
litcal views of the dead or living. AT midnight
you hear the cry of " fire ~ You rush into the
street, and find your neighbor's dwelling in ashes
1t is found that in the terror of the moment
mother has left her infant in the chamber The
flames hiss through every crevice, the rafters
tumble, the cnders crumbe, till atlast one is lost
in the flames Every eye-ball is strained, every
heart palpitatee, every breath is hushed, every
muscle stands out like whipoOrds and all believe
he is lost, but finally he appears and restores the
loved and lost TO its swooning mother, but no one
inquiries to what political party he belongs.
When the citadel of our country is in flames,
when tue cdifce that Washington and Franklin
and their associates erected is in flames, it be.
comes US, whatever may have been our political
procivties before to rise far above all other
considerations, and 70 keep this citadel from de-
struction. [Cheers.
cannot afford TO turn away from my duty be-
cause political opponent is acting with me, nor
to stay back flom duty because political friend
deserts me. No must 60 on and discharge
great duty. | hold it to be the first duty of
every citizen, of every party, to aid in restoring
if restored it can be-this great and good
Government. Cheer, and cries of "Thats true
doctrine"
Previous to the last political election, this
country was at peace with the world, and it was
in the enjoyment of greater privileges than any
other Government of earth there was no people
so blessed in any ramifcation of society. This
mighty sea of happy faces testifes to the fact
that they have been in the enjoyment of civil and
religious freedom. And so il was from the North
to the South, and from the East to the West.
with over thirty millions of people, Nnoppressed
by Government, bnt every one enjoying the fruit
of his own industry, and literally none to molest
or make him afraid. Then, what cause is there
for this great disturbance? Why is it that one
portion of this country is in arms against
another Let me inquire the cause Of the
complaint first, and then see If we can prescribe
a remedy afterward
We oil agree that the GRIEVANCE is most seri-
ous. But what is the true way of putting down
what shall term n rebellion And we can all
agree in one thing that that rebellion is either
right or wrong, juslifiable or unjrltifable, to be
approved or condemned as n whole. If il is
right for portion of this country to take up
arms against this Government, it is right to
sustain such action; and if they are wrong, they
should be put down by the power of the people.
TApplause There is no half way house in the
matter; no tarrying place between sustaining
the Government and attempting its overthrow.
There is no peace proposition that will suit the
case until the rebellion is first put down. Zap
plause. Aud were in favor or disposed to
tamper with this rebellion, or to aid or counter.
ance it, would go aud take up arms with them.
Because, if it is right for them to take up arms,
it is right for them to have armed aid and as
sistauce. II they are wrong, if they are guilty
of treason, and murder, and arson, then they
should be oyerthrown by the whole power of the
Government. appauso and cries of ''good, "
and put down so that no insurrecton day will
ever find rebellion again. Renewed applause. ]
Now, believe am one of those who, in
former years, thought that sectional discussions
put in jeopardy the well-being of the Union.