The national Republican., 1861-02-15

the fruits OF disobedience instead OF being vis-
tied upon the refractory, shall be returned upon
the. heads Of the innocent; that we who abide
by the laws, shall suffer for the misdeeds Of
those who violate them? Applause.
Coercion coercion! That spectre which at.
frights reasonable men from their propriety,
which dcters the tmid, which destroys and agi-
tates the nervous, and procnms to the ener.
waited, to the feeble, all the world over, that
tyranny is advancing, and liberty is suffering
aud to be oppressed. Why, fellow citizens has
it never occurred to you how great and wide
the distinction is between the coercion of
force" and the coercion Of law?' We all do
know perfectly we'll, that the inalienable right
of the citizen is so dear, that beyond and above
all constitutional law, organic law, and statute
law, is the inaiensble right Of every man to rise
in resistance to oppression too formidable to be
endured. Applause.
1t is the revolution of sovereignty rising
against the opprt ssion Of the tyrant. 1t is that
right to which our forefathers appealed when,
after the oppression of the myrmidons Of British
power they rose in their majesty, declared in yon.
der Independence Hall at Philadelphia, that
these united Colonies are, and of right ought to
be, free and independent States Applause.
1t was the right Of revolution and could but
that strength of tyranny have prevailed against
those rights could but those armed forces have
prostrated and destroyed our undisciplined
troops, either at Valley Forge, at Yorktown, or
| at Saratoga, then would have ensued subju.
CATION more dark, more condign, and more to
| be deplored, than any the world has yet seen.
But the revolution which in its incipiency, and
untried, was rebellion, in its success became
revolution and freedom. Loud applause.
So, you will perceive, that in all trials Of
revolutionary life, the right is to be referred to
the su, IS for it is trial Of physical force.
Coercion Where is the right, if it be not in
the result; for the result proves which OF the
two is the stronger, and, the stronger being the
successful, is raised and elevate in the world
to substantive position, and becomes thence.
forth demonstrative, as well as significant OF
right. But coercion Of law is essentially differ.
ent. Let me say, therefore, in illustration Of
the position which have taken, that in oppo-
siton to an attempt to exert a revolutionary
right, whether that revolutionary right be OF
secession from confederation, or whether it be
revolution against State Government, on the
part of the people themselves, it is equally rev
olution, and is to be resolved for its justification
into the ultimate result, success or failure.
Now, then, let me for one moment distinguish
between this method of force and the "coercion
of law" Law is enacted by the sovereignty
itself. Law is the representation of the sover
eighty of the people. Law is the declaration
Of the sovereign, popular will, through its rep
resentation, declared, certified, and author
lied, upon the statute book and wherever it
right rests, there is its power to be seen. Ant
in the whole of this nation, wherever thu
Federal warrant is to be perceived, there th
Federal Warrant is to be executed, if there b.
: any force in the Federal law, by the Fedora
army, represented through the people Of tn
} community to which the summons is directed
Applause. This is the posse comadtus-thi
, is the power of the county; and the power Q
the county not being able to enforce the righ
7 the laws of the land enable our Chief Magis
trate to bring to its aid the forces both Of tn
army and navy. Applause.
= When oil shall have been exerted, whethe
it be through the instumentality Of the marsha
power of the posse comitdtus, or the power Q
the county or country or vacinage, or of tn
> assistance Of the army and navy, its exertior
= its execution, and its success, are the exertior
the execution, and the success Of the will Q
the people. 1t is the triumph of the law.
g is the success of order. Applause. There
= fore, fellow citizens, that coercion which is q
y ~ tributed to the law of the land is not the coe
II cion which results in subjugation, but is tn
l. coercion which proclaims the majesty and tr
umph of the law. Vociferous applause.
h will not detain you longer by this abstra'
: discussion. but adverted to that as part
4 the argument which prevails at this time, an
6 more especially with reference to the occaso
. of which we constitute part. 1t is to execu
:. that law, sir, for which you are enrolled. 1t
q to proclaim to this community that so long Q
Z there be nerve and vigor in your arm, so Ion
,f may your fellow citizens depend upon yol
n strength, your patriotism to execute that la,
r. and to preserve peace and order within tn
d city of Washington. Applause.
,e We stand here tonight, fellow citizens, in Il
H. shadow of grave and, l am afraid, sorrowf
events. This great Union, in which we all
,f recently gloried, is already broken, disnt
u grated, and destroyed. We look upon the So
~ catastrophe, and, with bleeding hearts an
II lacerated bosoms, we seek to stay the departu
~ of those sister States, upon whose fiat now res
II the hopes, not only of this continent, but ofore
At At dom all the world over. Applause.
,e We are looking with anxious gaze to ther
is Here we are upon a portion Of territory on
n held by that noble ad accent State to which ,
~ now look with anxious gaze. Precarious
you are here in your representation of tn
is ancient State, We beseech her, that by all h
of inherent power, she stay the mad tide of sece
of sion. Loud applause.
lis We look toward Virginia, that mother Sta
ID she, in whose bosom has rested each of all tho
re sister States in turn, and, as we look iowa
n. her, we turn an imploring eye, and require
n. her hands the maternal care to preserve its g
lis istence. Applause.
IS, We look toward Kentucky, and, as we ga
ID. on her armored cnsigns, and perceive the t,
ed ingenious youths clasp each other in cord
st fraternal, and friendly embrace, we would a
q, her to apply to herself the grave legends viii
At, are inscribed thereon" United we stand,
IN vided we fall" Applause.
.e, We look, fellow citizens, toward Tennesst
ur which holds the ashes of her Jackson. A
to plause.
ar We look fellow citizens. towards Virgin