Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1861-09-12

!
much fear that the citizens Of Cincinnati
do not fully realize the greatness. the
awfulness, the height, the depth and
the breadth, and the accursed wicked
ness of this thing called Secession. 1t
is only those who. like my henored
friend (alluding to Mr.. Johnsoul and
myself, have lived and moved amid the
accursed thing, that can realize ii in
all its length and breadth. -
What is Secession? 1t is the alb
sence of all good, 1t is the presence
and concentration of all that 5 evil,
and all that is vile beneath the sun
/ Applause What effect doesh pro-
duce upon the proud american --what
effect does il produce upon the fsiresi
part Of the creation? l have seen il
transform the gentle, refined AMI beau,
tiful woman into a demon Of bell.
have seen it make a mother and 6
daughter thirst for the blood Of Der own
son and her own brother. have seer
it destroy the closest. the nearest, and
the dearest friendships and associations
. that ever existed upon earth. Why,
here is a man (Mr. Johnson) J whose
neighbors--men and womeu--whom
t he has nourished and cherished from
their childhood up to the day wher
Secession frstinfatuated them-peoplt
who would laugh with JOY now to see
him suspended from a gallows. / have
frIends--former friends-they are my
enemies now, because they are enemie:
of my country. l have former friend:
with whom l may almost say have
grown up from the very cradle-witt
whom have walked to school in child
hoods sunny days-men with whom
never had an unkind word in all th,
days of my life. but to-day are thirst
!, ing for my blood, and l dare not ven
/ ture to my own home where my fathers
. have lived for a hundred years--whert
: three generations of my kindred Ii,
t buried to-day. If l should venture
: there tonight, they would assassinatt
me.
. 1t is painful for me thus 10 speak o
, my own former friends and my owl
countrymen, but what say is, before
! God, the truth.
! Just here arises a question. 1t il
/ this: Why have Americans taken sucl
awful steps in so wicked way? Why
: is it? How can you account for it?-
: 1 can not account for it except on th'
, principle that as in the time of ou
! Savior, so now, mullitudes are possess
, ed not only Of seven DEVILS. but Of {
legion. Applause and laughter.
, have lived with Secession he.T ths frs
nf June last mp tn the time y ieH m,
home, and I have done nothing duripl
that time but fight it day and night
, Applause. l and my friend, here
5 (Mr. johnson, may both return thank
to Almighty God that we have 10
r perished long since at their hands.
Now, perhaps l may say things whicl
: will sound rough to you Tonight
Perhaps may say something whicl
, will sound unbecoming, as falling from
, the lips Of clergyman; but the trutl
} is, fellow citizens--for l regard you a
my fellow citizens a voice, "We are
that, ,"1--that we who have lived be
meath the oppressor's yoke. have be
come accustomed 10 saying hard things
We have to receive hard things and Il
return hard things for them. Thi
must be my apology. An individual
who has been crushed to the earth, cal
not speak with the same patience ant
kindness with which one not so tram
/. pied upon can speak. generally con
fess my sins in advance, and if | shoulC
happen to get into bad humor tonight
, l hope this assembly will keep its TEN
per.
Now there are many reasons assigned
by Secessionists for their present course
l beg leave to remark that / am a slave
holder, and so far as can trace bacl
my ancestors, they have been slave
holders also, therefore il cannot be pre-
supposed that l am prejudiced agains
the institution. While | acknowledge
the fact that am STAKEHOLDER. l mus
say to you that l regard the Union o
these States as of infinitely more valu,
!, than all the negroes in America and il
7 Africa TO boot. Loud applause.
Notwithstanding one Of our news
: papers report to-day that l am a dis
4 tinguished politician from Tennessee,
beg leave to remark to you that an
q not politician, neither am / distin
guished man. AS for the tirst part
the politician-with all due respect anc
!. Difference to my honorable friend, (Mr
Johnson) l hope it may never be my
. fate to become one. Applause.
Twill 90 further, and recollect that
e am speaking for myself io-night. ant
e not for politicians-for some politicians
e are tolerably wary when they express
= themselves upon this question. If il
t course of this war-and say it not
s withstanding a portion Of all l once
q owned in this world--ror do not know
: that tonight own anything--if in the
n progress of this war it becomes neces
u sary for the salvation of ibis Govern
e ment, and for the preservation of the
4 Union of these States, that African
: Slavery should die, in the name Of high
heaven 1 say let it perish. Loud and
: long continued cheering. 1 tell you
: honestly that the negro question has
= in my estimation, nothing more to dc
E with this trouble in our country, ex'
e cent In one asnect--it has no more tc