The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-10-02
Joseph Holt at Irving Hall, New York.

commerce oi presenting myself before you
to-ni9ht, il was with distinct unde rsiand-
ing that would not reflect upon studied
political hafangue An elaborate Discus
sion of those topics which now SO painfully
occupy the public minds not at all aeces-
sary before the loyal men OF New York
The fearful import OF current events, and
the stern duty which those events impose
Upon us all, are TOO well understood by
yourselves to make il necessary that should
attempt either to describe them, or to inn
press them upon your minds. A few words
however, In connection with Journey
which have recently made through The
loyal States. 1 have every where found the
most encouraging sentiment in reference 20
the prosecution of this war have nowhere
found any feeling of exasperaton against
the people OF the South. no blGsier, no
threatening, but al every point solemn de-
termination 10 uphold this Government,
connected with sadness whose depth oil
tenderness should in vain endeavor 10 des-
cribe. [Cheers.] Strong and 5rave men.
while speaking TO me of our unhappy dis
sensions, have wept, and honor them for
it l. Strong man cannot weep over the
ruin of such country and of such Gov
eminent as this, where is the catastrophe
thai can touch his heart? All men every.
war upon the people of the South. bnl a;
war in their defence, and for the deliver
ance. [Cheers.. That's lrue.'l If it were
indeed 4 war against them, we might lay
our faces in the dust, and confess that our
glorious institutions are failure. But it is
a war against band OF conspirators who
have arrayed themselves against our coun-
Try, and have established military despot-
ism, aud who, in the selfishness and re-
morseless of their undertaking, are kindred
to those traitors who, in other ages, have
disturbed the repose Of nations [Applause.
The public mind no longer occupies itself
with any discussion as TO the cause of
this war. II no longer wastes lis logic in
exposing the monstrosily OF the doctrine OF
Secession. In the light of curren: and re-
cent events we now know well what Sc
cession was intended 10 accomplish. Too
bitterly what it has accomplished and we
would no more think now of graveIy ex
amining it, with view of showing its trea.
son, than We would think of analyzlng The
klss of Judas to prove that it was full of The
poison treachery. GApplause.J Equally
ma,ured is The public mind as to the con-
sequences which would follow the success
of this rebellion.
The providence of GoD, and the most
sacred compacts of men have made Us one
people, and the experience of three quar-
iers of century has demonstrated that in
This unity of country, of government, and
OF eo2Ie, consists at once our greatness
and our happiness. To distnember these
States now, to cast their miserable fragments
upon the bloody and wild torrents OF revo-
luton, to become The prey of every auda-
cions aspirer, would utterly destroy the last
public mind fixed, in my judgement, in re-
gard 10 the character oi this war. 1t is not
war OF conquest, or Of aggression, or spo-
liation, OF passion or revenge; but in every
ligh, in which i, can be regarded it is a
war of duty. CAppiause This Struggle
is Intensely struggle for national existence
and SO allowed in all is purposes, aud in
in It's spirit, that the flock ane the pasiot,
those who worship around and those who
minister al the altar, may contribute their
blood and treasure in It's support, and feel
sure that in doing so they only come mp TO
the requirements o! Christian patriotic love.
II is war of duty, because, under the
light of oor Christian civilization, no nation
can commi: suicide without the perpeira-
ton OF a cowardly and aurocious crime, and
tha: nation does commit suicide which snf.
renders its hfe up TO an enemy from which
manhood and courage could save il. APP
planse,1 1t is war of duty, because we
have no right 10 bear our laihef's names,
and insult and degrade their memories, by
giving mp The institutions won by their
blood to be irodden under the feet OF itai-
tors. II is war of duty, because we have
no right TO besioW our names upon our chill
dren stripped oi that grand inheriiance
which righifully belongs 10 them, and for
the transmission of which we are but
the appointed agents of those ilIusirious
men who won i, by the sword aud With
their lives EApplause. 1t is war of
duty, because devoted ,as we profess to be,
TO law and order, and all the highest inter
ests of civilization, there presses upon US an
urgent obligation 10 rebuke and chastise
.E;s Snarnnns crime whirh IL hsinC conn
miiied-because it is rebellion not only
against as but against the very race to
which we belong. II is finally a war of
doiy, because we have assumed to our
selves as people the special champion
ship of ihs race for self government aud