The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-08-17
From the Columbus (0.) State Journal Aug. Z |
speech of Hon. John j. Crittenden.

lfrom ue ooiutfous va State Journal, Aug. |
Speech of Hon. John j. Crittenden.
The arrival yesterday Of the venerable and
distinguished JohnJ Crittenden having been
announced, large concuuIse of citizens
waited on him at bis hotel, and at their
urgent request he kindly consented to address
them in the evening. Accordingly, directly
after sunset u large asscmblase convened at
the State House, and Mr.. Crittendcn was
introduced. He was looking careworn and
fatigued by travel, and at first his remarks
were not very audible. He spoke of the
great contest before us the snldenness with
which 1t was precipitated upon US. But o
few short months ago, said Mr.. G., such a
calamity as is now shroudng our country in
gloom was nnthought of among the people -
But now that we are involved in it we must
meet il like men.
1t is not war that is to be prosecuted for
The sake OF war, and anght to be conducted
with none of the common barbarles of war.
1t must, nevertheless, be prosecuted by no
halfway measures. My friends. We must
gather the utmost strength Of the country,
and girG up the energies Of our minds to this
most momenIous contest And let it be
prosecuted only for the purpose that it ought
to he carried on, and concluded for the rcstor.
alton OF our Government and the Union In
any event, it is a war that cannot last long
II will prove itself too oppressive upon all
classes of our people to permit of its being
long continued.
1t becomes. therefore. a duty to maintain
TINS great Government and this magnificent
land from the terrible calamity of disnnion.
This would aim by all the powers of my
life to prevent. Hence it is that have lust
ftpn 80
hundreds of thousands of men in order that
the issue may be decided more speedily, and
our crring brethren united to US once more.
There was time when both parties could
have adopted measures Of peace which were
rendered by resolutions the power of secur.
ing peace was then in their hands, but their
party pride prevented both from accepting
the plan proposed. One insisted upon this.
and the other upon that. till between she this
and that of parties the present unhappy omar.
rel has been forced upon us. 1t is wise 70,
US all to purify our own hearts, and see
wherein we too have been in the wrong
We cannot expect 10 carry ourselves along
by Wanting either our courage or our cause
The burden Of the contest is too serious for
that; and it will rest with the people them
selves to end 1t in manner satisfactory "a
themselves. have the strongest confidence
in the genera intelligence and virtue of our
people, but think the world has never seen
such degradation of political intelligence as
prevailed among partisan leaders when this
war began. To such degree had this come
to pass that our Secession friends bad con.
cluded that there was no power in the Gov.
eminent and that they had only to put
forth their hand. and, at single shove, over
turn the whole structure.
But the Government thus nssailed, though
powlesss itself. turned to the people, and
behold it was found to be the stonges,
Government on earth. Even the great
Napoleon. IN the funess of his power, could
not have raised, from all the lcgions OF
France, SLch an army as Mr.. Lincoln has
raised, in the brief space of but ninety days,
for the defence of the Government. That
Government has not been and cannot be
overturned. My friends. my failing voice
warns me to be brief. But let me add that
the world are spectators of this unexpected
strife. And we must consider that we arc
now holding in our hands not only the
material interests of the present but also the
political interests of all futurity. In this
| light took upon the present contest as the
most momentous event that history has
recorded for thousand years past Let us
then, be wise and be walchful in guardi ne
such mighty interests.
After gracefully thanking his attentive
audience. Mr.. e., retired amid pioong
applause.