Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-10-08
PEACE,
WHAT IT WOULD COST US.
A Lecture, deliuered by Me Rev. 7. STARR KING,
al Music Hall, San Francisco, California,
Aaqna 81, 1861.

FELLow-clTlzENs AND FRIENDS Were it not
for the seeming necessity you are under of lis.
tening to this lecture, l should say, without re-
serve, ii Is good for as 10 be here. | salute and
greet you, representatives of New York and
Massachusetts, children of the Empire State and
of the Pilgrim Commonwealth, pledging your
selves here, as your brethren do al the East,
shoulder TO shoulder, for the country, and ready
with purses open, in California generosity, for
the wounded and desolate.
am not in the habit of estimating persons or
audiences by the money standard. But eau
not help rejoicing that each auditor here stands
or sits as n representative eharacter-represent-
ing one round, solid, silver dollar, which,
unclippcd or uupunetured for any expenses,
(hanks to the generosity of the lessee OF this
flall.) may yet become, by the blessed magic of
charity, food on the table or fire on the hearth
of u suffering family, whose desolation shall cry
out to God against the Southern rebellion.
was compelled myself by the doorkeeper, very
properly, 10 produce Il ticket, which had been
duly paid for, before could gain admission 10
the evening entertainment Need | guess that
the ioorkoeper is n Massachusetts man? And let
one other fact be told. 1t gave me great plen-
sure to offer, ms it was my duty, lecture to the
| New York fund, and another to the Mnssachu
setts movement. New York was to take this one
as theirs, and Massachusetts, to come later. But
the plan was quickly nIaended 1t was proposed
that each lecture should be given in common, and
the proceeds divided equally between the two
committees. Why so it was asked. because,
said the other gentleman, we shall then have
two committees Interested in Jot6 lectures, and
the receipts will be much larger The dashing
and generous New Yorker held up his hands ii
pleasant amazement, and confessed that only
Yankee born and steeped could have been "cnte'
enough to find out that two halves are mori
than n whole. This meeting. therefore, is only
E.nf aFt tanan Nl.naaV Al.a
type, for noble purpose. 1t is fitting that two
States should thus be associated for patriotic
contributions, which are represented, in polib
cal literature, by Hamilton and Webster. The
first did all he could to make the Constitution
strong the second riddled the theory Of State
Sovereignty and the right of Secession, as by q
storm of grape from broadsde of columbiads
The subject is, " Peace, and sghat ii VouLd cos
u.s."
Why are we compelled to consider any sucl
theme in an American assembly, Why are W.
not enjoying Peace Until, Hnd on the 9th da,
of November last, we had it. That was th
Presidential election day. Three candidates had
been nominated and canvassed. Each party
went into the contest on khe implied unde rsfand
ing Of good faith and submission to the popular
will. OHe candidate represented the xtremi
interest and passion OF class of proper, hold
ers in the South another was the authentic
standard bearer Of the National Demo cracy
the third, born in the South, was the exponen
of the growing conviction Of Northern States 81
to the Constitutional rights in Territories of
small minority of pror.rty-holders in Southern
communities, and represented the known senti
ments, concerning that kind Of property, 0
Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Gadsden, Pat
$ rick Henry, the Randolphs and The Lees
What did the election on the 9th Of November
changc2 The Constitution? No. The anti
Republican majority in the Senate? No; i
left the Northern party in minority there. The
Supreme Court No this august tribunal wal
still, by strong preponderance, an ally and bul
wnrk of the South. Did it give d majority will
anti-slavery proclivities in the House of Repre-
sentatives? Ne. What did it change? Til,
personnel of the Administration for four years
1t put Que man in power for one Presidential
term, gave him the right to choose his Cabinet
lnd public officials for that short period, an'
left all checks in the hands of the opposite par
ty, SO rich in mastery talent for political adrot
ness, combination and intrigue.
The election was peaceful. 1t was singularl,
free from tumult, riots or attempts at fraud
The ballots fell all over the land, as quietly q
the snow falls when there is no wind, over tht
area of a Northern State. And The Constitution
was no more strained by it than n stalwnrt oa
, ! is by the burden Of heecy flakes showered upol
it from the still clouds.
The elements and bonds of pence we're tn
. same the day after the ballot as the day before
The lakes aDd canals, the unscciional trend o
mountain ranges the national tendency an
fraternnl bunds of riyersi the monotone of th'
sea along n coast unbroken by State headlands
tile bonds of intermarriage the network o
s railroads the complex interdepepdenee OF com
merce and trade; the countless ties OF debt an
credit; the common traditions; the unitorI
speech and circulation Of papers and literature
the claim of the national power which ha
bought the land for many Of the souther
= States; the obligation of oaths of allegiance
the Constitution; all these and multitude