The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1861-02-28

knowledge. It is far from my purpose
TO take aught from the character and abii-
ty Of Mir. Lincoln. trus. lie may prove
equal to the crisis hope he may sink
the partisan In the patriot. and show that.
though elected sectional President, with
sectional principles. he is still the Execu-
tive of the whole Union. and wiling T.,
sacrifice every party consideration 10 per-
petuate its integrity and honor. | am
free. however, to confess that have vorv
little confidence in the man. but whether
little or much. it is'snot in the power o.
him. or any other enc man to sestle these
difficulties.
They have arrived ST tlai stage whsn
great concessions must be made by all par
lies, or peaceabie adjustments can never
he effected and this Uniou be preserved.
This concession Republicans refuse TO
make. They report bunconbe resolutions
ad intfnitun,. they rise in their seats aud
make patriotic speeches with the yea. snd
fervov Of a Fourth Of July orator and they
tell US that this Union must, and Sh0H BIS
preserved; But how, IN the nams sf God.
is it 20 be preserved? 1t Is no time now
for idle talk and boasting, III. dreadful is
sue Is upon Us, and ne must meet il like
true men and patriots
But. sir, Al, not here to defend the
course of the South Her ec:lon Las
been, In my opinion, uurisc, hasly, Sad, g.,
III some cases, even criminal believe
there Is yet patriotism and justice left in The
American people and had The South ap-
pealed with her grievances to the people
m constitutional mode. and in the spirit
OF the Union, she might have had them
redressed. But what people in State oil
revolution, (and claim that the Southern
people are. ever act wisely and under the
authority OF law 2? The very term revolu-
ton implies resistance to tho laws; it is
the overturEing Of the established Govern
ment. No one, take it, admits that
State has constitutional right to seeds
that she eau, by any legitimate action, ab-
solve her allegiance 70 the Union, and set
up an independent government. This fs-
lacy would be subyorsiye si the very ends
and purposes for which ;he Consultation
was created
The old Articles of CoafoieIsoy were,
on trial, found tco feeble too hold together
the gtea. fabric Of nation ike cur own.
and hence. in rhe language Of The inetru-
ment itself, IN order TO form more per-
feet Union, this Constitution was adopted
md it was adopted not bv the States as
States, bu. by the people Of the United
States. and is, hence. an inyIoiable com
pact that no State sovereignty ear legally
dissolve.
deny then, sir, In toto, the legal right
OF State 10 secede. for secession Is revo-
luton, and 1t never can be lawful to break
The laws. But, sir, was our secession
from the mother country lawful or consti'
lutioAal? l appreheud 40 one viii claim
II was. We broke allegiance with the
mother country because her oppression
became intolerable. our national rights
rose high above our legal obligations, and
We Tevoluiionized
Just so the south. their wrongs becams
grieyious, | will not say 10 the came extent
or ear = Colonies suffered from Tie moth
er country, but they had bee come in their
opinion, SO intolerabls as to necessi.a.e
their taking again into their hands the
powers OF Government they had once dele
gated away.
| dep!ore this action of The sosth, bat
1t Is not in good taste for these who are at
the bottom OF all this mischief to com
pain. When Robsplsrre and his followers
set the causes to work which produced
the French Revolution, they lille though,
they were bringing upon that nation
'reign OF terror But they had set tie
the lde OF revolution in motion, aud they
had TO take, also, the responsibility of the
consequences.
The south. then, is in state Of rcvolu-
ton. 1t is no longer question Of law,
out of fact which we have /, deal with
great and terrible TACT, The Uuion.
That had been 50 sacredly transmitted o
us from The toll of our fathers, s brokon.
The only question now with patriots is,
how may we r.unite these fragmentary
parts and save the land Of Washington
from irretrlevabe ruin.
For the first time, almost, In the history
Of our country. the party opposed 10 De
mocracy are for war They who, in form
er times, when our flag xas dishonered
and our citizens outraged by brutal fo-.
eign foe, were az dumb as . lamb before
the Shearer--have suddenly grown bellig-
erent--they look impatiently to tie sword |
to settle the destinies of this land, in the |
hot blasts of battle they snuff the healing
of the nation.
Preparations ara already beginning for
the horrid srrifs. Iudiana--con s.rvative,
Union loving Indiana, she who knows no |
foe but foreign one--is to be thrown into |
the breach. A military bill Is pressed up
on the Assembly more odious, Oppressive,
and damnabla, than ever brutal IIaynau |
dared TO insult his Austrian serfs wilh.-l
We are asked TO make ourselves and our
people the slaves and minions Of a military
despo;. to do his bidding in a sanguinary
and unhcly war Not while my voice
can prevent it shall such an odious meas
ure ever disgrace our statutes. But
would say tony Republican friends, pom
der well the terrible results Of such a par
rioidal war, before you strike the fatal
blow. Coercion is terrible heresy. L, |