Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-09-21
Qatriotit Speet9.
SPEECH OF HON. d. 8. DICKIN-
SON.
InsCortland. County. N. Y, on Tues.
day Last

we come Dere, not es Democrats not 8s
Republicans, not as Abolitionists, not as
A mericsps, but we come here as the people,
seeing that the enemy is at the gates of the
Citadel, seeing that armed rebellion is
threatening us, we come together to stay up
the hands Of the Constitution and to cling to
its pillars swearing 10 our faith if these insti.
tutions fall, as the people we fall with them
(Cbeers) The question is not "Wbo is at
the head Of this Administration p and | shall
not inquire whether his name be Abraham
Lincoln or Andrew Jackson. He is the
peoples representative of the Government,
aud for.those who like him and coufde in him,
it is their duty to do oil they con to sustain
him and those who do not, IL is their duty
10 do much more. (Cbeers.) Those who
believe that he and bis administration are
adequate, can rejoice in the price Of their
strength and those who believe be is not
adequate should come forward and whip their
horses and call upon their Herculee an6 put
their shoulder to the wheel. ] shall not
adopt your political principles, If you nre an
opponent of miue-as mauy Of you are-snd
don't ask you to adopt mine bot ask you
to go with me in o great and common duty,
which concerns US all alike; to shield the
Government first from rebellion and destruc.
tion and then, if there is a question who
shall govern it afterwards, we will discuss
that on another day. (Cheers) I go for the
preservation OF this Government, ] 90 to
ceave HIM down, as Saul did Agag, who
undertakes to destroy it. and it is of little
consequence to me whether the enemy of the
Government is in arms, or whether he is
aiding the armed whether be is Rebel or
40 aid to rebellion: whether he points the
fatal weapon at the bosom Of his fellow man,
or whether be aids and encourages another
to do it; whether he applies the torch to the
Capital of our country and attempts to burn
it to ushes aud destroy its archives, or wheth.
er he is an npUlogist and connives and
encourages it uuder the tongue of peace. /
have learned what little reputation ] enjoy
before the public by standing by the Consti.
tuition, and iDteud to stand by it as long as
there is one single shred of the Constitution
left, and whether it is assailed by opinion or
arms, by North or by South, by one class or
by another, | care not. He is the foe to the
Government who assails it, and mn foe.
and dare him to trial Of the strength of
the Constitution and the Union before the
people.
The very existence Of the institutions
under which we live are threatened, and
there are but two sides 10 this question. One
is in favor and the other against it. There
can be no doubt Of the result Of this matter
, if property prosecuted aud we are embar
rassed more to day by attempts to connive at
| the rebellion within, than wa are at the
rebellion itself. For there is strength enough
and power enough of men. and money, and
material and determination, to crush this
rebellion TO the very earth, where it deserves
to be crushed. There is no other way to
deal with it, The Administration has un.
ques,ionably put forth its best efforts. am
not the chosen defender of the Administra.
tion. AN its POLITICAL opponent when act
politically: but in emergencies of this kind
lDteud to rise above political considerations
entirely.
change no political opinions. say
political opinions have nothing to DO with
the question, one way or the other. 1t is not
who shall tenant and govern the capital II
is rot who shall govern this great State or
Nation. 1t is, Shall it be preserved for
any party to govern" (Cheers.) New none
shall escape from that issue. There are uC
slippery and filthy strpstoues by which
political office seekers crawl away from that
either up or down IL is question of exist.
euce---our existence--and be who is not ioi
main taiulng that existence is for destroying
It. The ADMINISTRATION has come in with
thousand embarrassments around them
corruption aud treason in every department
to the very iips military officers betrayng
their command, navy officers stealing thei
ships, -otiicers in the mint and 10 the custom
houses, and every department, stealing it:
property or turning it to the enemy; a0d d
new administration with new Cabinet
coming iu as a party Administration, having
only the confidence Of part of the people
had all kinds of embarrassment on its hands
! far hur hay I
meGd, | commend them for it. If they hev,
not done all | would myself have done unde
like circustances If they have been remiss
1t is the province of the people to call then
to account, and ask them to administer hi
government so as to put down the rebellion
at the earliest moment. Now the sin tha
most easily bese.s the American people i
politics.. Everything is politics in this conn
try. Like the frogs,and lice, and locusts q
Egypt, it comes up in the bed and th
, kneadng trough. Politics is what ale wa
TO BoniIace We eat, and drink, aud sleeep o
politics, and if Wish to find a traitor 4
: heaven and earth. and find name to ours
, the knave, | would call him a mean, mana
| ging grog house politician. Even in III
! matter OF this great c5isis, which threaten
our very country and existence, there is q
attempt going forward to raise poliict
party upon it. "Why don't you rally up
: sustain this Government Z" why thos
S Aboiitionists kindled this fire." Nv ell, whu
difference does that make dnes it burn an
0 more than if Democrats had kiudled it
The question is, how can We arrest the fam
not who kiuded it. Your church is on III
} and you are summoned to save il. The hous
10 is on fire aud burning, and threatening tt
destruction Of the dwelling beside it, {
that
The blackness OF ashes shull mark where il stood,
And wild mother sce o'er her furnishing brood"
Our fathers planted this Governmeu
!, They had but faint and feeble idea OF VIII
they were doing. They looked forward
the day star of their hope for a Governme
' of freedom, but bad no conception that th
y great and mighty Government would arise |
w. from their beginning, Now We have {
II. greater duty to discharge than our fathe
. had. They fought for an experiment-th
fought for hope. Bot here this rich inhe
tauce lie spread out before US, and all we hs
to do lie to preserve it. No marching bal
cy foot over frozen ground, amidst pover
sickness aud starvation. No toll and lab
such ss our father endured, All we have
lot do is to employ the mighty elements th
y t,ka IA. and