The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-12-20
"But yesterday and her wishes might have stood
against the world
but now none 50 poor to do her reverence"

And no Antony comes to bury her, much
less to praise her. llerpower and prosperity
are all gone from her. Unable like other
kinds OF riches to take to themselves wings,
the slaves have adopted less poetical mode
of locomotion, and run away.
We are now ut an important point in the
worlds progress. We are creating materials
for history. The past and future have been
torn asunder by commissions. Time has
| leapcd forward half a century at single
bound, and has drawn the past, with its
abuses, its combinations Of rlace-hunting
politicians, and has given us emancipation
from the shackles Of party dcspotism, more
just appreciation of our free institutions, q
more catholic spirit of charity, and purer
love of country and of the whole brotherhood
OF man upon the earth. (Applause.)
The first great duty before us is to crush
out this rebellion and vindicatc the Constitu-
ton. We must treat them us an irrcSponsi-
blc mob, tossing, hcaying and numbering,
directed by seltclectcd leaders who had
rather reign in hell than serve in heayen.-
If We would have an honorable peace we
must conquer it, though the conflict Lc us
protractcd and bloody as that which on
Bosworth field ended the war of the Roses.
Could the spirits of the illus,rous dead par
ticipate in things OF earth, the fathers OF the
X y0lutiOn might aid rs in the duty that
dcyOlyes upon us to strengthen and uphold
the Government whose germ they planted in
the name Of liberty. The conspirators who
have plotted against this Union have not lost
sight of their own purpose, and will yield to
no argument except those which all Govern
ments have extended to conspirators and
traitors. We are admonished by the teach.
ings OF religion and by the necessities of hu-
manity to put down this rebellion as speedily
AS possible; to strike it hardest where it is
weakest. (Applause.) We can strike it
with deadly aim between the joints Of the
harness. While we would preserve the rights
of the loyal, we would coniiscate the proper
ty Of rebels, including pcrsonshcld to service
(applausc), totally, absolutely and mmcdi
ately. cloud and continued applausc.)-
Feed them, clothc them. employ them, and
leave it to Congress to make humane pro-
visions rs the necessity Of the case demands.
(Applause.) The recognition of secession in
any form would be the Inauguration Of
anarchy, comforting a premium upon con-
spircy, offering reward for rebellion. Once
compromise, in the hope of conciliation, and
you will have no government left to com.
promise.
This evil spirit of disunion has been for
years engaged in demorallzing the popular
conscience, weakening the sentiments incul-
Gated by our fathers, and lying in wait for
some opportunity to precipitate the South
ern States into rebellion. Not that they
feared any invasion of Southern rights, but
they seized upon the pretoxt of the election
of Republican President tocommence their
work. They could but fail in their efforts
for dissolution, and it might be crowned with
success. The Brahmins believe that the
shadow of the degraded pOllutes those upon
whom it falls and the shadow of these dis
loyal conspirators covered the people of the
Southern States with that black spirit of
degradation. II slavery had been the cause
of this movement, it would have commenced
in the border States, where they most feel
the influence of free institutions; but they
are the last to join in it, and thOn only when
compelled by force. The prime movers Of
the rebellion were disappointed politicians,
sapped by base uses. and SCARED by the wear
and tear Of conscience.
These are the evil elements which threaten
our government. The government must
crush rebellion by force OF arms, or sink
beneath it. The issue is fairly and fully be-
fore us. IL involves not merely the integrity
Of the government, but its vitality. There
can be no ncutras. Those who are not for
arc against. Those who are for the Union
hut find apologies for rebellion, who would
vet treat with armed conspirators, are more
hurtiul to-day than open enemies, whether
in the Cabinet or field. (Applause.) lie
quoted the noble example Of Brutus, who
sacrificed his own feelings for the sake of
doing Justice, \ man may have many chill.
dren. but he can have but one country. The
blood-bought Union Of our fathers.
Our country's pride.
When once destroyedcsn never he supplied"
We must act together with one heart and
one accord as people, not as party. Po-
litical parties are good servants but bad
masters. The hopes Of the rebellion were
raised on expected sympathy in the loyal
States, and il We but raise the united voice
of a whole people animated bya conmcn
purpose. it would carry more terror to the
heart of the rebellion than an army OF half u
million with banners. (Applausc.) In all
the ordinary Affairs of earth our first instinct
is to act in concert. and in this we must all
labor together. lie would not abando"
prOperly-conccivcd political IDEAS orque'''on'
of internal economy, but hold them in aoey.
auee. I, was folly to discuss the policy OF
,.,,o,, b.fore il was certiin that We had
any government
lie denounced all who attempted to COM
,h;. rcbellion with the American Re'o'
io,iop. The conspiracy is crime against
heaven. Its purpose is to en'la'e' wh''e our
fathers sought rather to release. The doc
,rine that gives the State authority to make