Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-09-13
Speech of Gen. Wilson,
Al The Great Union Meeting in Fam
shl Hall, Sept. oh.

commencement OF the meeting tnere MAJ
been repeated calls for Senator Wilson
in response to which he now made hi
appearance. He was received with tn
multuous applause, and when it had in I
measure subsidized, spoke as follows:
Mr.. President and feliotO citizens
You have listened to the eloquent anC
prtriotc appeals that have been made tc
you tonight to rally around the flag Of
our country and establish the authority
of our Government from the San Jacinto
to the Rio Grande. You have listened
to the appeal of our friend rockingham
of Charlestown, the author of that noble
history of the battle of Bunker Hill, and
one of the conductors of that old organ
of the Democratic party of Massachu-
sets whose fidelity to the country in this
crisis is worthy of our admiration Zap
plause) you have listened to the earnest
appeal of Judge Lord, who few months
ago rallied around the banner that bore
the motto of "The Constitution, the
Union, and the enforcement of the Laws"
Like one of the men of that fold like
Edward Everett (applause) be stands
here tonight in this crisis of the country
to prove that he then believed the glori-
GUS doctrine borne upon his banner. Gap
plause.)
Ard now, gentlemen, the appeal is
made to you, one and all merchants,
mechanics, toiling men, men born here
in old Massachusetts, men born beyond
the sea who have made Massachusetts
their home. The appeal is made to you
OF all parties, sects and creeds, 10 rally
around the flag Of our country and drive
the naughty foe now planting his cannon
on the banks of the Potomac, beyond the
Rio Grande, beyond the boundaries of
the republic. (Applause.) And now
when you are asked to leave yo1r wives,
your children, your babes that you love,
70 leave your homes, 10 leave glorious
old Massachusetts, to follow your coun-
trys flag, to share the hard fare of a sol
der, meet the enemy Of your country
and pour out your blood in the Ian
guage Of your resolution tonight, like
water. What is this for tits for your
country, for your free country for your
free democratic institutions that have ell
evated the great masses of our commu-
nifty so that they have degree of pros
perity, influence and power which is no.
where else on the globe. (Applause.)
This appeal comes to you as strong as
any that ever fell from human lips. and .
1t comes to you TO rally around the flag
OF our country because your country was
made by men who established institu-
tions for the elevation of the toiling mas
ses Of mankind Why and how is it
that this country, founded by such faith
ers; this government, framed by the
wise and noble men who met the power
of England on the ridges of battle and
carried America through the fire aud
blood of revolution. say to you here
tonight that this appeal comes to you to
save such a country and such a govern
ment And why is it that tits menaced d?
Has it oppressed any man? C'NorD 1
Have you felt its power crushing you to
the earth Have the men who stand in
rebellion against this country felt it?
Why is il that $4,000 armed men me-
mace the capitol of our country? Why
do tens of thousands stand on the banks {
OF the Mississippi to overthrow the Fed {
eral Government? will tell you frank {
iy tonight that this movement of confed- I
crate traitors is not made against oppres-
sion, not made against wrong. No one I
ever wronged them, and speak the SEN {
timent of you all when l say that no. t
body wishes to wrong them. (Applause.) '
The leaders of that rebellion wished TO {
pull down our government because our O
government recognizes the sublime creed '
OF human rights. But, gentlemen, there t
are causes in this country for this rebel il
lion which now menaces our country and il
our constitution. / will not here to-
night speak of those causes. trust in p
God that when the star of peace returns
hat this people, this government, the en- u
ire of this Union, will have discovered a
what that cause is, and that they will Il
nave crushed it out forever. loud an il
plause.) S
They ask all of US in this hour, in this u
dark and troubled night that is upon US a
they ask US to leave all that we love, e
sacrifice all that we have and hope to be, v
to save our country. 1t is an awful cost
upon this people. Go to your merchants; g
see what they have sacrificed in this re- fc
oelIion. Go to your toiling masses, men c.
working on reduced wages or not work a
Ing at all. Go TO your wives, that have b