Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-11-13

Gerrit Smith delivered an address last
evening at the Church Of the Puritans on
"The State and Needs of the Country
The church was crowded in every pare by
large and enthusiastic audience, compri-
sing many ladies. The exercises were
opened with prayer by Mr. Davis.
Mr.. Oliver Johnson introduced the
speaker OF the evening to the meeting. Mr..
Smith, after the applause with which he
was greeted had subsidized, said that he
would re9A resolution, which he would
leave to devoted on by the meeting after
he had spoken to it. IL was as follows:
Resolved, That in the judgment of this
meeting, our beloved country will surely
perish if our rulers shall persist 10 rccogni-
zing the right Of the rebels in all their po-
sessions, and shall persist ii scorning and
repelling the help Of men on account Of
their complexion, or political, social Of do
lnesric condition, Or shallnot be intent to
save the country ana grapple the enemy in
all possible ways, and 1T whatever expense
To usages, systems, platforms, or constltG-
tons; or shais not substitute the sure,
swift, summary, and sweeping processes
Of martial law. for the uncertain and ipli-
rect forms Of civil law Applause.
Mr.. Smith commenced with bslef his
tory Of the course of eyeuts which culmina-
ted in the present war; He said The orig
inal plan Of the rebels embraced the con
qrest Ct Washington, New York, and Bos-
ton, and the overspreading Of the North
with slavery. Their scheme was one mere
of conquest than secession. The North
was fast sinking down to as law and truth
the Supreme Court decision that tue black
taan had no rights which the white man
is bound TO respect. A little more patience
on the part Of the South and the whoe
North would very likely have been carried
to the side Of the South and Of slavery
The speaker said, though lie had argued
the right Of secession, he had never advo-
Gated secession for the carrying on Of the
most shameful and sweeping piracy that
the world has ever known. Those who
are trying to establish a government for
the enslaying of the laborng man, have no
constitutional or revolutionary right. APP
plause They have no right save right
to beconquered and punished. They have
TO rights whatever which white man or
a black man either is bound to respect
Great Applause, They are the enemies
Of the whole world. That being SO, and
considering the power and justice Of the
North. why have we not crushed this re-
belIion?
The American nation bus been conquer
ed by the Government. "Saye the coan-
try" was the cry Of the people. Save the
Constitution, save slavery" was the mis-
cradle Government substitute for that glo-
ricus shout 10 save the Constitution is a
very contemptble object when the Govern
ment is at stake. Applause The Gov
eminent seems to conduct this war 70 IN
flict upon the rebels the least possible
amount Of harm. Cries Of "Thats so,
and applause Gen. Scott has made
very nice calculation that if we Kill one
more rebel than Is absolutely necessary we
are guilty of murder. Had the Govern
ment, instead of its lumors and tastidlous
policy Of picking out the means ics the
war. used all means in its power the war
would have been at an end in our favor
and we should have saved the cruel and
wicked waste Of millions Of moneyand tens
Of thousands OF lives. The spirits Of brave
Lyon and Baker, and hundreds OF others
ia this country, have gone up TO the great
tribunal and carried with them the accu-
sation that the Government had murdered
them. Our Government murders brave
soldiers by Withholding help from them.
+ Applause. All the sreaier asked was,
that the Government should resolve to save
the country at whatever expense to this OF
that institution. He only asked the gov
eminent to be IN earnest. The South Is
terribly in earnest. They maketheir slaves
work for them, while our soldiers are weary
aud worn with thelabor which the slaves
do reluctantly for the rebels, but would
gladly do for US. Applause. Much rs
the South loves slavery, she loatlies the
North more, and will emaucipate lerslaves
when it becomes amilitary necessity. And
lie confessed that considering our former
trucking to the South, and our reluetance
now tosmite her powerfully, the South has
much reason to loathe and des, Use as. The
North was in earnest at the fall OF Sumter,
but the Government has been successfalin
tanning down that earnestness into cool
snivelling, sefyile care, for slavery and the
Constitution. Tie Government employs
the army il capturing and returning run
away slsveS, and is in gieal darn because
Fremont exceeds by a little the limits Of
mere enactment. Applause, Kisses, and
three cheers for Fremont. The President is
i step for slavery, and Fremont a step
against slavery. Why does not the Presi-
dent remember tsiat other enactment of the
House Of Representatives, that Is no part
Of tie work !. the army Of the Union 70
capture and return fugitive slaves APP
plausc The returning If slaves y giwpg
aid 10 the enemy. Tbs Government relr-
ses the help 81 Indians Or negroes and =
Ii dies, Tie inscription on its monument
viii b.. uDied Of excessive mercy and ex-
cessige refinement" [Applause and iau;sil-
teri heearneslness OF the South mikes
sbs;n respectable besides our hali-for and
haIf against the enemy policy. II we bad
the spirit of Our fathers we would have the
devil himself fight for Us # We could only