Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-08-16
POLITIC AL.
SPEECH OF HON. Joseph HOLT.
fallaey Of ofNeutraiity---kentseky Urged
To do her Duty.

fsllaey ofNeutaiity---kentscky Urged
To do her Duty.
We have never witnSssed. says the Louis.
vile Journal, a popular ovation to publ,S
nan ,ha, could have proved more gratifying
9, the rseipien, than the demonstration n
Masonic Temple, on Saturday evening, on
The occasion Of the reception Of Hon. Joseph
Holt. The Temple was crowded with ei,i
Gems Of both sexes, who met spontaneously
20 30 honor to the gallant Ksntuekian, who
a. the citizen and statesman, had the man
lines. the courage, and the patriotism sc
rcsis; the iniquitOus influences brought to
bear upon him during the late Admini'irs'
tiOn-bunsing all his grea, ability, and the
mighty weight, Of hi. influence. to the sup
port Of the government whose existence be
had sworn 10 maiatain. Mr.. lloli was IN.
trOdueod to the audience by Hon. Henry
Pirtle, who addressed him isw words OF
welcome. Then taking the ssand, amid
prolonged cheers, Mr.. HOl,'POkS as follows ;
Introduction.
FELLnw-CIrIzENs A few weeks since,
in another form. lysnturSd freely to express
nv views upon those tragic events which
have broush, sorrow to every hearth stone
and TO every heart IN our distracted country,
and i, Is no, nv purpose on this occasion to
repca; those views, or TO engage In any eS'
tended discussion Of the questions then eI-
amined. IL Is not necessary tha, should
DO 80. since the argument n exhausted, and
the popular mind Is perfectly familiar with
il IN all It's bearing Twill. however, with
your permission, submit few brief 0bser
vitions upon the absorbing topics Of the day,
aud IL 10 % with an earnsstness and en-
ph,.r. due alike to the sincerity Of my con-
yictions and to the magnitude Of the inter.
es,s involved, it 10 trusted that none will be
offended. no, svsa those who may mos; wide
ly diasr from me.
The Government.
Could one, an entire stranger 10 our his
tory, now look down upon the South, and
se there hundred or hundred and City
thousand men marching in hostile array.
threatening the capture Of the Capital and
the dismembsrmen, OF the territory Of the
Esrublls. and could be look again and see
that this army /. mar.halIed and directed
by Oacers recently occupying distinguished
plaoe. in the civil and military service OF the
country aud, further. that the states from
which ,hi. army has been drawn appear to
be one vast .esihing cAldron ot ferocious
passion. he would very naturally conclude
tha, the dovernment Of the Uni,-d States
bad committed some great crime asaius, lt'
people. and that this uprising was in resist
Ance TO wrOpg and Ou,rsses which bad toea
borne until endurance MAS no losssr posi-.
bic. Apd yet no conclusion would 30 fur
,her from the truth than this The Gov.
rrument OF the Unite! States has been faiih.
fol TO all its constitutional obligations.
For eighty years l, Ia. maintained the IA
tional honor a, home aud abroad. and by il,
prO~ess, iu wisdom, and its justice, has
given 10 the title oi an American citizen an
elevation among the nations ot the earth
which the citizens Of no republic have en-.
joyed snce Rome was mis,res. Of the world.
Under its administration the national do
main was stretched away TO the Pacific, aud
that constellation which announced our
birth a. people. has expanded from ihir-
teen 70 thirty-.our stars, all, until recently.
moving undis,urbed and undiumet in their
orbs Of light and grandeur. TIE rights Of
no states have been invaded no mans pro.
reriy has been despoilei, no mans liberty
abridged. no mans lits Oppre-sively jsoPar-
diled BY the action Of this government.
Under It's benign influences the rails Of pub
lie aud private prosperity have .xel!ed into
rivulets. and from riyuleis into rivers ever
brimalbs in their falness, and everywhere,
and =, all periods Of its history, its minis.
trAtion. have fallen as gsa,ly on the people
OF the Unitsi States - DO the dews OF a
GUNNER. night on Tie aowsrs and grass oI
the gardens and soa4s.
Cause OF th. Rebellion.
Whence, then, thi. revolutionary out
break? Whence the secret spring Of ,hi,
gigantic conspiracy. which, like some hug,
Joa, had completely eoIlOi itself around tn,
limbs and b,dy Of the Republic, before 4
single hand was lifted TO r.sistit3 Srang,
snl. indeed, s,arilin; as the annoa neemsn
must appear when i, falls on the ear, OF .h'
next generation. the national tragedy, ID
whose shadow We stand tonight, has come
upon US because. in November last, John
{. Brvckinridge was not elected President
Of the United States, and Abraham Lincoln
was. Th.s sis the whole story. And would
pray now 70 know on what was John L.
Broekinridge FED ths, he has grown 50 grea,
tha; a republic founded BY w.,nNCroS,
and eemented by the best blood tha, has
ever eoursed in human veins, is to be over.
thrown because. fOr.OOtb. he cannot Be IL.
President? Had hs besn ehossI, we ws!