The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-01-31
PATRIOTIC SPEEC.
OF THE
Hon. JARED CLEMENs, Of Virginia,

vas permitted, after long sickness, to
take his stand upon that floor in renova
ted health, ct ii ne when his services
might prove most Valable to his coDstit
ueuts He would uotno speak in passion.
It would not beft the solemn and porten
tous issues of the hour They were in the
midst of great events. 1t might be that
they we're in the dying days OF the Repub
lie. and he would not therefore utter, even
in whisper, onc word which might tend
to bring down the impending avalanche
upon the quiet homes of the people He
would at the same time speak as a South
err man identified with all the interests of
the South. He would speak as a Western
Virginian, aud as the custodian Of those
who were not old enough to know the per-
lis to which they we're exposed, by those
who were nov riding on the crest Of the
popular wave, but gho were, nevertheless,
destined to sink into the very trough of the
sea to depth so unfathcm able tha. not
a bubble would ever rise to mark the spot
uhere they went 30 ANONYMOUSLY down.
Well might those who had inangurated
the revolution which was now stalking o.
YER the land cry out with uplifted hands
for peace aud deprecate the efusion of
blood. 1t was the inventor of the guillo
tine who vas the first victim, aud the day
was not far of when they would find
mong their own people those who would
have to rely upon the nagnanimty of that
population whom they had most cruelty
outraged and deceived. He had not the
heart to enter into a detail OF the argu-
meuts, or to express the ndisnsnt emo
tons, which rose to bis Ii ps for utterance.
But before God, and in his inmost con-
science, he believed that Slavery would be
cruciied should this unhappy controversy
end in a Gismembernent of the Union
If not cruciied, it would carry the death
rattle in its throat It remained 10 be
seen whether treason could be carried out
With the same facility with which it ha0
been plotted. There was a holy courage
among the minority of every State, that
might be for a time overwhelmed. Laza-
ru- was not dead, but slept; and ere long
the stone would be rolled away from the
mouth Of the tomb, and they woald ait
ness all the glories of resurrection. 1t
would not be forgotten that among the
clans of Scotlaud beacon fires u-ed TO be
| lit hy concerted signals from crag to cFag
in living volumes of fame, yet expiring
even in Its Own ierceue-s, and sinking
into ashes as the faggots which had them
were consumed. To such a picture as
that snigbt be likened rebellion such a.
political leaders sometimes excite for {
Lrief hour; but the fires Of rebellion burnt
out with the faggots. apd all was cold ane
dark again. There was a striking contras
betweeD such movement. between sucl
rebellion as be alluded to, aud the up
rising of the masses OF the people in vim
dicatio0 Of viola ted rights. As great
difference a there was between Snug, tht
Joiner. and Bottom. the weaver, ho "couI'
roar you as fierce ss lion, or COO you a
gently as sucking dove" One vas tb
stage trick of political harlequin. 1.-the 9th
er was a living reality-.tbe one vas Ii i
and ftful fame, the other was prairi
on fire, finding in esery step of Its pro
gress food for its all-raveniDg nav. L
the present emergency. before this politi
cal conspiracy, it Gight be that be woul
stand alone with his colleague Mr.. VIII
sony Let it be So He sought no Office
His political race was very nearly voluu
,, tariy run. History would record th
proceedings Of this turbulent period an
time-the gentle but infallible arbiter {
all things earthly-would decide the trutl
Upon that he would take his stand. The
lived in the age of political paradozes.-
D Broad, expansive love Of country had be
2 come diseased sentimentality. Patr
y otism bad become a starVeling birding
n clineiog with uuAedged wings around tt
nest of txigs where it was born. A states
}. man muet now not only narrow bis min
d and give up to party what was meant f'
mankind, but he must recede as subUl
sigeiy as blind horse in bark. mill
every perverted opinion which sits, viii
;, in haud, on the revolsing shaft, at tt
:. end of which he is harnesred To be
diamond Of the Grst water he must star
,, in the Senate House of bis country, al
in the face of forbearing people, gloi
in being traitor and a rebel. He mu
solemnly proclaim the death of the matte
1t to which be had sworn allegiance, at
r, With the grave stolidity of an undertake
9, invite its citizens to their own funeral. L
must dwarfand proVinsialize his patrio
ism to the tate on whose local passio
"a be thriyes, the country where he practic
y court, or to the city where he faunts
all the meretricious dignity of Doge
Venice. He can take an oath to suppO
the Constitution Of the United States. b
he can enter With honor into conspir
81 cy to overthrow it. He can, under
'e sanctity Of the same oath advise the 81
cure of forts and arsenals. dockyards a
ships. and money. belonging to the Ualc
whose officer be is and find most lol
10 and convenient retreat IN State autbor
IN and State allegiance. de was ready
[ laugh in their faces il they only told b
ct that before the time when be was "nuli