Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-09-20
THE WAR FOR THE UNION.
Union Mass Meeting at Bridgeport.
THE VOICE OF CONNECTICUT.

D. S. Dickinson, Col Thos. Francis NcagAei
and others Thorough going patriotism Of
People.
On Saturday the people of Fairfield, Litchfeld
NeW-Haven, and other counties turned out i
their might to testify their unswerving dcyotio
to the Union, and 10 declare their deternlinatio
to support the Government in the most yiaorou
war measures The meeting was held undc
an immense pavilion in the Fuir grounds a
Bridgeport, aud the arrangements for the pur
pose were most admirable
Over the SFeakcl's platform was the motto
''Liberty and Union now and forever" Tn
number present was estimnted at 10000.
VIM. II. Noble called the meeting to order, an,
the organization was effected by the choice o
large list of vice Presidents
After prayer by the Rev Dr. Hewitt, sprite,
resolutions were read aud unanimously adopted
SPEECH OF HON. DANIEL :. DICKINSON.
The Hon. D. s. Dickinson was then introduced
and received with henity applause. After it hat
in measure b.iied, the speaker commenced
by asking why that vast cUncuurse OF people was
there? They In come, he suid to commune
together OH matters that concerned our cAist-
ence as nation, lie had never voted amy Other
than the Democratic ticket, aud he was II son ol
Democrat Of the times Of Thomas Jefferson
That Democrat taught the speaker to revere the
Constitution. Democracy, the true and genuine
Was not necessary to file specification. 1t was
not like some Of the India rubber patents that
could be pulled out to great length or allowed
to shrink to small dimensions. II became every
individual to 60 forward, leaving behind him hs
party politics, nnl bringing his choicest Offering
to the altar of his country. Cheers We had
been 50 long governed by opiniun that we sup
posed everything must now originate with
opinion. The ballot box would answer for the
wants Of peace, but the cartridge-box was better
calculated for war Cheers aud laughter |
When opinion was governing US it might be met
by opinion; when argument was addressed TO
us we could meet 1t with argument; when pro-
test was addressed TO ~, We could meet il by
conciliaton. But, when great armies eutered
the field, aud declared it to be their intention to
overthrow us, arguments, Cancellation, protest,
were feeble instruments, and we must meet force
by force, arms by arms Cheers Tenderly
touch the nettlc and it will sting you but
"Grasp it like IL man ut metlle,
And IL soft Ms silk remains.
Human government wns based on the form of
Government Of the universe but when there
was a rebellion in Heaven, the author of that
rebellion was not met by propositions of peace
Laughter lie was hurled down upUn the
pavementa Of perditon mud darkness forever,
where every rebellion 30 causelcss and wicked
should be- and where the present one WILL be
hurled. Cheers. lu regard To the right of
Secession, there never was Government on
the earth that thought mcnnly Of itself that it
provided for its own desti ucuOn--sowel the
seed Of destruction ia lta own bOsum. And vet
we were asked to believe that our Government,
founded in the best patriotism the world had
ever seen, in the choicest hearts blood that ever
flowed, that thai Government, unlike every other,
provided for its own dissolution To allow a ret of
robbing, speeulaung politicians to divide the
boundaries Of the nation. Whatever might
justify the standing by and seeing the country
destroyed, he would tel them what woud not
justify such II course thomas Jcllrrsons nor
Andrew JHcksoh's Democracy. Cheers Those
who claimed the right oi renceful Secession
knew it was ialsr, lUr every Awye er, every Judge,
every statesman, every intelligent person ia Tie
country knew that no such provision was con
tanned in the Constitution. Had the strong arm
of power been extended to the Rebels earlier il
would have suited their condition better. But
il was not now too late; a triumph awaited our
arms, and in one week time there would he
stirring events upon our borders, between rebel
lion and the anus OF the United States. few
were for making propositions OF peace to rebel
lion; but ifproposltiOns were made, propositions
must also be received, and treating with them
would be acknowledging that they hnd rights as
q Government. Those who would know such
propositions were the sappcrs and miners OF the
Constitution, they did more To drive dagger to
the heart Of the Constitution and destroy this
nation than all the Rebel armies in the field !
[Cheers We proposed no such thing lor the
rebellion, but to my the quarrel hilt 10 hilt"
[Cheera We had 10 heart Tor rebellion, but
the heart that put it down. Cheers. Put 1t
down by force. Renewed cheering 1t had
been already tried and condemned, and awaited
only the axe OF the eStcutloncr thut was sus-
pended over ii and We proposed to let it fall |
But it was said that this would be coercing State
and State could not he coerced. 1t was true |
that it could not he one Of the United States |
but suppose it was in estate Of sin and misery" |
then we could cUerce. Laughter The loyal |
people were not coerced, only the dsloyal. We
had words Of amlty for the loyal Southern peo-
pie, but arms for traitors cheers and hemp |
for them too. Renewed cneers. Those who
were carping at the Government aud nttcmptiug |
to throw distractions in It's way would have |
their names, those that were worth record |
ing, placed in no enyiabic light on the pngc Of
hstOry-they would Gull Tor the rocks and the |
mountains to fall on them and hide them from
the face Of an indignant and outraged people |
When it was written, Abraham Lincoln would he |
more justified IN the sight ol God and lnau for |
the strong measures Of taking hold Of treachcry |
and perjury than Tor any other act of his Ad- |
minislration. Cheers As To the right of the |
Press it was assumed TINT ii n man spoke trenaon |
he was guilty, il he wIOte treason he was also |
sacred. In times OF peace the press could dis |
ouss all measures vi Government but in q time
Of war ii had no more right to play trensOn, no |
more immunity from peril than any person who |
HoeVer President Lincoln was right in suspend |
ing the habeas corpus and Il trensunnble Press |
and the speaker dared those who he'll to the
contrary to take the trial Un well established |
national law Sell defense was the first law OF |
nations as ofindiyduas Hence the war power
ta.4tl
tory Of man, and would he exercised until men
should learn war no more forever. 1t was COM
planned that thispower was improperly exercised,
but
mo rogue e'er Iolt the halter draw
With good opinion of the law"
1t was said that they had IL Confederate Govern
menl. II was got up on the mutual admiration
plan
"You tickle mo- Billy do, do, do,
And in return III tickle yon, you, you"
We had lately heard OF two Confederate heroes
in Western Virginia Floyd had au encounter
with Rosecrans, which was cut short by the
shades Of night, when this yalarious Governor
aed, probably to the music ui the old hymn;
al love to sieai awhile away"
But he was not the only hero. Wise run very
well for Governor when he was elected hut he
had run better us a General. Laughter Mr.
Dickinson then paid high tribute to the yolun-
teer soldiers who had gone from Connecticut
He would ask young men to march forward tn
the battlefield to put down this rebellion; aged
men should come up with their wisdom aud their
counsel and women should cheer on men to
fight these battles for form Of Government
which has elevated her to - position which she
has had accorded her Nowhere else in the world;
little children should invoke the blessing Of God
that they may inherit the her tage their fathers
left them. Our Government had lasted little
more than the memory OF Que Inan-shOuld il 20
down at MONDAY should it go down in ruin on
account of this terrible rebellion Bring out,
bring out the locomotive Uniou; bring her from
the great turn table, and put her upon the track,