Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-12-20


spirators, ] said that
"Their professed devotion to law and
order-the decisions ofcourts and their
fidelity TO the Constitution and the
Union simply meant that they would
obey such laws as they desired enacted,
submit to such decisions of courts as
they could dictate,an be faithful TO the
Constitution and the Union SO long only
as they were entrusted by the people
with the administration of the Govern
ment and the Interpretation of the Con
sdtution." And added: ..
"When this ceases, as / trust and be-
lieve it viii on the 4th of March, 1861,
their fidelity to law viii cease, their love
of the Union will cease, and their new
born veneration for that "awguSt tri6lt-
adL' of which we have heard so much
of late--the Supreme Court-will also
cease; and they will be, if their threats
are put into execution, in open rebellion
against the Government, and enemies Of
the Constitution and the Union"
No careful observer of events could
have failed to foresee for the past few
years that both in the North aud in the
South public opinion has been gradually
but surely undergoing such a change on
the subject of slavery, that sooner OIL
later the question would have to be met
and fairly settled. All compromises in
the shape of the most humiliating con.
cessions made by the North to the
South have failed to satisfy the imperi
GUS demands of the slave power, and
need hardly add that the present rebel
lion and attempted revolution was inc
evitable without absolute submission or
the part of the North. The change o
public opinion throughout the two sec
tions is in itself a revolution. On thC
part of the loyal citizens it has been
revolution of peace and good will 10y
the mode pointed out and prescribed
by the Constitution, a revolution BY
means of the ballot-box. On the par
of the conspirators and rebels it ha
been from the first a revolution of fore,
and fraud, and now ends in an appeal t,
arms.
1t is, then, as | shall show you,
contest that has for its motive power OF
one side liberty, and on the other slave
ry. 1t presents question to whicl
there can be but two sides, and he VIII,
is not for liberty and the Union i
against them. Politicians and eve
Cabinet Ministers may declare, as the
have done and are doing, that there
no connection between slavery and thi
rebellion, but tell you and hope befor
take my seat to prove to those of yo
who do not now acknowledge it, tina
slavery is the germ from which this rC
bellion sprang-the motive power an
main spring of its action-and that, bu
for slavery, there had been no such re
bellion in the United States today
Most of you understand this, trust, a
ready-the leading men of Europe III
derstand it, and / believe the time
close at hand when compromising ed
tors and politicians will be unable long
er to deceive any respectable number {
the people.
For more than thirty years the slav
masters Cf the south have been plottin
treason and preparing for this rebellion
In the convention which passed the o
dinance of secession in South Carolini
this. was openly proclaimed and til
boast repeatedly made that for thirt
years they had been looking to the col
summation of the treason they wei
then enacting. | will read you two {
three extracts from the speeches mad
by their leading men in that CONVEX
tion. . -s.
Mr.. Rhett said: at is nothing produce
by Mr.. Lineolns election, or the non-execi
ton of the fugitive slave law. 1t is matte
which has been gathering head for thirt
years"
Mr.. Parker said: at is no spasmodic e
fort that has come suddenly upon us but
has been gradually eliminating for q Ion
series of years"
Mr.. Inglis said: ''Most of us have had til
subject under consideration for the past thirt
years"
Mr.. Keitt said: 81 have been engaged
this movement ever since | entered polite
life"
This testimony ought at least to !
good as against the conspirators an
their northern allies
If their own statements are to b
credited, from the day Gen. Jackso
crushed the South Carolina nulifcatio
rebellion of 1912 to the outbreak {
the rebellion of 1861, the slaveholdel
of the rebel states have been conspirin
to destroy this Government. To tn
truth Of history I appeal to make goo
their own declarations and to sustai
this charge.
During the second administration
Gen. Jackson, the hostility of Calhou
to that great and good man becam
open and undisguised, and when M
Van Buren was nominated for the Pre-
dency in 1886, by the friends of Generi
Jackson, Mr.. Calhoun and his friends
although claiming to be democrats, OF
posed his election, and South Carolin3
under his lead, voted for Mr.. Mangur
of North Carolina, then, and, for man
years thereafter, U. 5. Senator frol
that State. This detection of Calhou
and his friends. alarmed all the Nortl
ern Presidential aspirants and the Who'll
race of small politicians who alway
hang upon their skirts for the sake {
place and power. This alarm must hay
become almost a panic, for even Nj
Van Buren, who was triumphant
elected in 1886 and desired are-electior
became quite as anxious as Buchana
and that class of Northern President;
candidates to consolidate Mr. Calhou