Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-04-30
VOL. Is NO. as.


to their colors and the thickest Of the fght
and shed imperishable upon the fame and
glory Of Illinois-nOw. that the struggle is
for our worry nationality and for the stars
and stripes, her every son will be soldier
and bare his breast to the storm Of battle.
The attack upon Fort Sumter produced
most startling transformation in the
Northern mind, and awakened a sleepiag
giant, and served 10 show, as no other event
in all the history of the past ever did, the
deep seated iervor and affection with which
our people regard our glorious Union
Party distinctions vanished as a mist in a
single might, as if by magic; and parties
ana party platforms were swept as q morn
ing dream from the minds Of men md
now men OF oil parties by thousands are
begging for places in the ranks. The blood
of twerty millions of freemen boils with
cauldron heat to replace our national flag
upon the very walls where it was irsulted
and by traitor hands pulled down. Every
village and hamlet resounds with beat Of
drum and clangor of arms Three humid.
req thousand men awsit the click of the
wires for marching orders, and all the giant
energies OF the Northwest are at the conn
mand OF the Government. Those who have
supposed that the people Of the free States
Will not light for the integrity Of the Union,
and that they Will suffer another govern.
ment to be carved out Of the boundaries of
this Union, have Rugged fatal delus;on to
their bosoms; for our people will wade
through seas of blood before they will see
a single star or solitary stripe erased from
the glorious Flag of our Union.
The services already rendered to me in
my Efforts to organize troops, provide
means, arms, and provisions. by the dis
tinguished members of the party hitherto
opposed to me in political sentiments, are
beyond all praise, and are by me in behalf
OF the State most cheerfuily acknowledged.
There are now more companies received
than are needed under the Presidential
call and almost unlimited numbers have
formed and are forming, awaiting further
orders. a single inland county, La Sale.
tenders nire full companies, and our prin-
cipal city. Chicago, has responded with
Of men and money worthy of
her fame for public spirit and patriotic de-
votion. Nearly million of money ha.
been offered TO the State rs a loan bV cur
patriotic capitalists, and other private citi.
Zens, to pay the expenses connected with
the raising of our State troops and tempo
rarily providing for them.
Civil war, it must be confessed, is one of
the greatest calamities which can befall a
such a war =" When Greeks
meets Greek, then comes the tug Of war"
When Americans shall meet Americans.
when the fiery impetuOus valor of the South
shall come in contact with the cool, de-
termined bravery Of the North, then blood
will flow to the horses brides. Would
that. the calamity might be avoided but
the destruction of our Government is far
greater evil. A Government which is the
hope OF the world, promising more of hap
piness to us and our children, and the
millions who are to come after us, and TO
the struggling free in every land, than any
government ever invented by man, must
MT, shall not be destroyed. a govern
ment that submits to peaceable secession
signs its own death warrant. What would
be left of our Union? No matter how ma
ny States it might for the present comprise.
this would give US not moments puaran.
tee against further dissolution, If the right
20 secede were once peaceably tolerated.
Government is established for the protee-
ton of rights and property, aud when built
upon the principle of voluntary dissolution.
it ceases to furnish that protection il
ceases to be government under which ma
tioual men can live. We draw the sword
then, not in spirit of Indignation or re-
venge, but clearly and Enthusiastically in self
defense, and in the protection Of our own
rights, our liberty and security, for our
word, for the nearest and
dearest interests of ourselves and posteritv.
| have thus spoken because an impression
may still prevail in the minds OF some that
this conflict was one of our own seeking
and one which might have been avoided
without any imminent danger to the vet
loyal parts of the country. This is not SO.
Secession has brought about its inevitable
results, and we must crush it and treason
wherever they raise their unsightly heads,
or perish ourselves.
In this sudden emergency, when the call
was made by the National Government, ]
found myself greatly embarrassed by what
still remains IN our statute book as a mill
tia law and by the entire want of oryaniza-
ton of our military force. A great portion
of this law has grown entirely obsolete.
and cannot be carried out, and moreover is
in conflict with the instructions os the War
Department, which latter are based on the
various military laws of the United States
now in force. But, as far as possible, /
have made an effort to keep within the pro.
visions of our law. have to call your at.
tention most emphatically to the enactment
of a practicable militia law as recommended
in my Inaugural Address, which should
recognize the principle Of volunteering as
Que OF its most prominent features. Ii
ought to yrovide for many emergencies and
future contingencies, and not for the pres-
ent moment alone. ! trust that our con-
tiict may not be protraeted one but if il
unfortunately should be, we NAV we'll ex
pect that what is now done by enthusiasm.
and in the first eferyescence Of popular ex.
citement, may hereafter have 10 be done by
a stern sense of duty to be regulated by an
equally stern law. Trials nav come which
can only be met by endurance and patient
performance of prescribed duty. / deem
the passage of well dieested militia law
the more necessary, as it seems to me that
the present levy of troops, which will soon
pass under the control Of the General Goy>
eminent, Is insufficient to protect our State
against threatened invasion and such com-
motion as frequently follow in the train Of
war. would recommend to keep an active
militia force, consisting of infantry, cavalry
ana artillery. for some time to come at
least; also, reserve force for protection
against dangers Of any kind, and for the
purpose of readily complying from time to
time with the requisitiOn Of the General
Government. 1t is for you, Representatives
If the people, if you coincide with my-yiews
n this respect, to pass the proper Avs t.
accomplish the object recommended to yoxr
most earnest consideration.
In the organization of troops, the collect
ng Of provisions, arms and munitions of
var. prepar ng a camp, employing various
agents to carry out the orders which had /
% be given for these purposes, some ex-
1enses have been already incurred, which 1
cannot be met by the contingent fund. I
Which, you are aware, is q very limited
me. The expenditures which will have IL
,e made before our troops are mustered
nto the service of the United States, though