Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-06-25

and Die for the Fling.
The eloquent and able speech of Sena-
tor johnson at Cincinnati, was bat briefly
alluded TO by telegraph We hnve the sat
isfaction of publishing it in full below. It
was delivered in reply To welcoming ad-
dress in behalf of the people, delivered by
Mr. CIR. esbeck:
Fettow-citizeHs and CountrymeH:-
In response to the welcome which has
just been rendered to me by the chosen or
gan OF this city, l have not language to
express my gratitude. On the present oc-
easion am here without expectation of
any such reception as is this which has
welcomed me. Neither have any desire
SO far US am myself concerned, for any
such thing, and might conclude the re-
marks which l shall make on the present
occasion by endorsing and responding to
every sentiment which has beenuttered by
your chosen speaker. feel that while I
am IL citizen of the Southern States. as
they are called, am citizen of the Uni
ted States, and most cordially do respond
to what has been said in reference to
maintaining the Union of these States.-
The Constitution lays down n basis on
which the Union may and can tie preserved,
and for one am willing to live under.
abide by and sustain the flag which WASH
I
Irepear that have no language to ex-
press, no words to utter; rather l have
word which will not express my feelings
OF heartfelt and sincere gratitude, and at
the same time express my devotion TO that
flag. Much has been said about the South
aud the North. l am glad to hear the
language expressed by your organ to-day
that the pending difficulties or existing var
does not grow out of any animosity to any
local institution, but fr m devotion 10
our common country; and, as far as pos
sibie, to bring back those individuals, or
States, If you please, which have taken up
/ on themselves to proclaim the odious doc
trine of secession. characterize Sc -ession
as an odious doctrine, Il here=y, political
RbsErditv. 1t is an odious ami aboniuable
doctrine, and IOok,upo it as contrary
to all government, and us n hercsy which
should be crushed out. Where it is al
Hiitted, no government, political, moral or
religious, can stand. 1t is dIsintegratiug
in its nature, and kind of universal SOL
vent speak it not Prof,nely, but it is
hrll-fornlesi, hell-bouud, and, If permitted
to go on, it will drag everything in its
train thithrr.
In response to whit has hcen said, am
proud that can lay my head on my breast
and say that | am willing TO guarantee
every right, every single right, which be.
longs either to the North, South, East or
West. am gratifed to carry your senti-
ments to the people of whom an one
that there is no disposition to make war
upon any institution, whether of slavery
Ssr otherwise, and Your determination to
leave the disposition of slavery to time
and those circumstances by which tits sur
rounded, and over which no political lcgis.
lation can exert any control.
/ hope that it will not be deemed ont of
place if | makeany allusiOn to myself or
of my own position. Ny position in the
Congress of the United Stntes is familiar to
most if not all of ven. si'hose doctrines
there | lid down, are still mine. still be-
lieve tlal without the power of enforcing
the laws and maiEtainIug Itself there can
be no Government And believe that we
have Reached the time when it is time to
show the world, both pagan and Christian,
whether we have a Government or no. 1t
is time that the world should know that
the Government framed in 1888 was not
dream, and that it has neither been fritter-
ed AWAY nor faded from our sight 1t is
time that the whole civilized world should
know that the doctrine of secession is
hercsy, and that neither States nor inIi-
vidnals can set the Government aside.
These are substantially the doctrines
cited and maintained in 1898, and from
that down to the present time. Let us
look atthe last struggle for the Presidency.
The friends of Senator Douglas presented
him as the best Uaion man. The frienGs
of Mr. Breckenridge, of whom | was one,
regarded bin as the hest representative of
the Union sentiment ',thcrs presented
Hon. John Bell as the best Union candi-
date; and the Republicans, so far as | am
informed, have always been for the Union
Thus we had four candidates, the only
question between whose advocates was:
Who was entitled to Pre-emiuency for their
efforts in preserving the Union? We have
now laid aside all questions of political
difference, all disputes about the division
of the proceeds of the sale of the public
lands, about tariffs, about banks aud no
banks, and gathering around the Stars and
Stripes in one frlterunl hug over our de-
vOtion to it, the flag of our country. So
far as am concerned. am proud of that
flag borne by Washington and his COM
peers, over the bloody battle field and fro
zen marshes of Il seven years war. I am
proud OF that flag, the emblem of our lib
critics.
You are all familiar with the events
which have taken place in Tenn essee. In
February last, a special session of the Leg
tslatnre and bill calling a Convention
was submitted to the people. who voted it
down by a majority of 81, 600. Then
another special session was called, and, in
secret session, the people of East Tennes-
see were soll like sheep in the shamblcs to
the Southern COnfederacy. While the off,
GERS of that Cnnfederacy knew about all
that was going on, my people were not suf-
fered to put an ear TO the keyholc, or peep
through a crevice. while they were being
transferred To the Southern ConfederAcy.
Only little more than thirty days were
allowed in which to ratify or reject the or
| dinance of secession. Fifty-ive hundred
thousand dollars were voted the Governor
by which to arm men, who should overawe
and intimidate the Union men. Even a
slave has usually the privileges of selecting
his master, but here are we, the people of
sovereign State, sold without having a
voice in tie choice of a master. By the
snT1,. hill three thouSa nd offir-prs were ere