The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-09-04
FROM A SPEECH OF HON.
DANIEL .. DICKINSON. DELIVERED
AT TCNkAANNOO K, Pa, AUG. l9, ls6l.

Amid al the diversity of sentiment in our
land, there is one subject upon which We can
agree-and that s, that our country 10 in a most
lamentable condition, our Government threaten
ed with disruption, our Constitution with subver.
sion, and our institutions With overthrow. l
meet you here not TO discuss Slavery or anti
Slavery. Though an old iine Democrat, brought
up at the feet OF Gamaliel and adhering with
tenacity to tie principles of Democracy through
an active life, yet come rot TO speak to you
upon political partisan subjects. | come to dis
CUES matter that concerns our Union, one that
rises far above and shoots deeper than party in
terests or issues. We have a duty. nv fellow
citizens, far beyond that OF the fathers of the
Revolution. Their experiment has become a
great success, and We are enjoying, or might er.
joy, such blessings as Heaven never before vOuch.
safed to mortal man. But conspiracy has ap.
peared strife and division are at our doors
and it becomes ua now to see whether the fruits
Of this great and benefcent Union must be lost
or whether they can be preserved. II matters
not whether the origin of our difficulties was
north or south, east or west-tbe question is,
How shall it be dealt with and disposed Of?
When the citadel Of our country is in flames,
when the edfce that W ssbingtOn and Franklin
and their associates erected, is in flames, it be-
comes US, whatever may have been our political
prOciivities before. TO rise far above all other
considerations. and to keep this citadel from de
struction. l cannot afford to turn away from
my duty because political opponent is acting
with me, nor to stay back from my duty because
political friend deserts me. No, l must go on
a d discharge great duty. hold it to be the
6rst duty of every citizen, ofevery party, to aid
in restOring-if restored it can be-this great
and good Government.
Previous to the last political election, this
country was at peace with the world, and it was
in the enjoyment of greater privileges than any
other Government on earth; there was no peo-
pie so blessed in every ramhcation of society.
This mighty sea of happy faces before me tes,i
fes to the fact that they have been in the enjoy
ment of civil and religious freedom. And SO it
was from the North to the South, and from the
East to the West, with over thirty millions of peO
pie, unoPpressed by Government, but every one
enjoying the fruit Of his own industry, and liter
ally none to modest or make him afraid. Then.
what cause is thsre for this great disturbance
Why is it that one portion Of this country is in
arms against another? Let US inquire the CT use
of the complaint first, and then see if we can
prescribe a remedy afterward. We all agree
that the grievance is most serious. But what is
the true way of putting down what shall term
rebellion? And can We all agree in one thifg
that that rebellion is either right or wrong, jus.
tifiable or unjusti6able-to be approved or con-
demned, as q whole. If it is right for portion
| of this country to take up arms against this Gov
ernment, it is right to sustain such action; and
il they are wrong, they should be put down by
the power of the people. Applause. There
10 no halfway house in this matter-no tarrying
place between sustaining the Government, and
attempting it's overthrow. There is no peace
proportion that will suit the case until the re.
bellion is first put down. Applause. And
we're l in favor, or disposed to tamper with this
rebellion, or aid or countenaHce it, l would GO
and take up arms with them. Because, if it is
| right for them to take up arms, it is right for
| them to have armed aid and assistance. If they
are wrong, if they are guilty Of treason, and
murder and arson, then they should be over
| thrown BY the whole power Of the Government.
Applause, and cries of "good"] and put down
so that no resurrection day will ever find rebel
lion again. Renewed applause. Now, be.
| lieve l am one of those who in former years,
| thought that sectional discussions put in jeOp-
ardy the well-being OF the Union. L believe
now, as then, that there never was sectional
controversy that justified this or any armed re-
bellion. l believe this rebellion did not arise
out of sectional agitation, but from a blind,
wicked, reckless ambition. And believe it is
the duty of every man, woman, and child to
raise an arm against it to crush it. Our Consti
tuition is never to be put down. An indistinct
voice in the crown" Compromise What
does my friend say, "Compromise" Well
will get at Compromise" before get through
Laughter and cheers believe in the integ'
rity Of the Union; believe in the integrity Of
the Constitution; believe in sustaining both by
the power of the Government. But they say
"YOu would not cOerce State?" No; would
not coerce State have said I would not CO
cree q State-frst, because it is impracticable
because you cannot eoerce State. Second, be
cause it would be unjust to coerce a State in it:
domestic policy if it could be done. But yor
may coerce rebellion in State until you give
that State an opportunity to act through its loya
citizens in its duties to the Union. And woult
coerce rebellion wherever l could find it. YO,
may not coerce q community, but you may CO
cree its thieves and murderers. You may coerc'
State criminals, and thus enable the State an,
it's loyal citizens to fulfill their relations in th
Government of the Union. II We can sustain
our Union, if We can uphold our Constitution,
is not by compromising with rebellion--it is b.
putting down rebellion, and making our com
promise with fidelity.
Every indication has shown that wheneve
there has been an election in any Southern State
and fair opportunity given, you have seen tina
the Union sentiment has prevailed. You wi
see that it is by military power, by threats, in
| timidation, destruction, murder and arson tha
. they have succeeded in getting in advance tn
. cause Of Secession. In some States, as for in
stance Louisiana, they never submitted the ques
ton to the people at all. 1t is base humbu
: of Davis, Cobb and Co., to place themselves j
power. The election of political opponent
never q cause of Secession or for disturbance
and if those Secession leaders had opposed Nj
Lincoln's election from the time of the Charles
c ton Convention with half tthe pertiuacity an
force that l did, he never would have been elet
! ted. charge in all my public speeches tbs
! they connived at that election; and the sam
has been charged home upon them by their ow
people in the South. Their time had come.
must 60, or they would be ruined. They remin
one of little boys who went to ride hors'
Those in the city get hobby.horse. and the
can ride that. Country boys get astride of
, stick, and ride that. This knot of Office seeker
failing to get q horse to ride, or even hobb!
= have mounted this poor stick of Southern Coz
+ federacy, and are riding that. 1t is just sue
l. ambition as caused the angels in heavel to rebe
Y 1t was not because We bad not good Cover
, ment but because they could not rule it. Ca
Il them Democrats, or entitled to sympathy
:, Democrats, With arms in their hands against the
n Government, and their hands red With the bloc
u Of our murdered citizens! They are enemies
IS their country; they are traitors against the Fls
and the Constitution, and as such arraign the
in the lame of the Constitution and the Cnio
l arraigu them in the name Of civilization l a
y raien them in the name of Christianity l a
raigu them in the name of the fathers of Il
~ Revolution, who poured out their blood to Ga
I, thu Ishortv transmitted tn ma I arraipn the