The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-08-29
Voice from tho Administration
Speech of Hon. Caleb II. Smith.

speech OF Hon. Caleb II. smith.
At the mass meeting held in Providence
R. l., on Friday evening the Hon. Caleb
B. Smith Secretary Of the Interior, ad'
dressed several thousand people. The
substance Of his speech Was as follows:
1t is idle, my friends, 10 indulge in the
hope that, if we can not sustain this I'M
ion we can sustain Republican instiiu'
tions.--For; lei me assure you tonight,
that il we cannot preserve our present
Government in its present form, we can.
not sustaiua free government in any
form. There is great truth--there is
great force in the sentiment 50 eloquent
Ily pronounced by the immortal statesman
Of Massachusetts, Liberty and Union,
now and forever, one and inseparable.P
x
The minds Of the people Of The South
have been deceived, BY the artiful repre-.
sentations Of demagues, who have assured
them that the people Of the North were
determined to bring the power of the
Government to bear upon them for, the
purpose ofcrushing out this institution
of slavery, / ask you, is there any truth
in this charge? Hus the Government Of
The United States, in any single instance,
Jy any one solitary act, intertered aOiM the
Institutions ofLh South? No not one,
The theory Of this Government is that
the States ara sovaIaign within their prop
er sphere. The Government of tie UNI
ted States has no right TO interfere with M'
institution of slavery IN tile SoatA Caro-
lima than it has TO interfere ocith The peca'
liar institution of RAode Island, whOse ben
efts Ihave enjoyed to day.
have known the President long and
we'll. 1t has been my fortune TO be Sc
lected as one of his constitutional ad
visers. / have had the honor Of being
connected with this administration since
Its CONNIE ncement, and | tell you to- night
that you cannot find in South Carolina
man more anxious religiously and scru'
pulously to observe all the features of the
Constitution relating to slavery, than
Abraham Lincoln. Had the people OF the
South been willing to wait and sec wheth'
er he would regard that oath which In
the presence Of the assembled nation he
!, had taken, they would have found tha: NJ
administration ever organized in this coun
try would have more conscientously re
garded aud protected the rights OF lh'
South, than this administration wouI(
have done. know that l speak th'
sentiments of the President and his ad
sisers of those who have controlled nj
E administration. X
Nh friends are make no sUar upon south
ern Institutions. We recognize the r'gh
of South Carolina and Georgia to hot
slaves If they desire them. But, my friend
we appeal to you 10 uphold tie great ban
ner of our glorious country, and to leav
= The people of that country 10 settle thes
domestic matter according to their ow
choice and the exigencies, which tn
a times may present. i =
:. But, my friends, with all these sacri
), fees YOU have not yet dohe enougl
Your country demands from you mor
sacrifices. With overwhelming fore
), : the enemy is upon us, Perhaps while
a an, speaking he is laundering at I'll
y gates Of your Capital, If they gain po
"a session Of that, they think they will ha,
i destroyed your nationality. / trust Il
- - patriotic men Of Rhode Island are M
- - satisfied with the efforts they have mad
- - acquisitions have been received from u
~ ~ War Department for more troops. L
!, them be ready. If they could start N
4. very hour they would not be too soon. +
an an l tell you your country requires them
A. this very moment. COWS
~ X 4 - - =
- No spectacle would afford us 80 mp'
= satisfaction as to see dangling from
Al gallows the bodies Of Jefferson Davis al
.. John B Floyd, Henry A.. Wise and
bo men who have involved this country
~ ~ the greatest affliction which can overta
>" ~ any people, Why is it that we have be
4. com PEELED 10 send 10 Europe for arm
ID while the rebels meet Us with arms I
,s. m best the country can supply? The tr
- ~ tor John B. Floyd, during all the time
w. w. as in the cabinet while you were rel
i Il sing in confidence that the Governmt
~ would be fairly administered. was lrC
N. bing you of your portion OF the pub
nd arms, and sending them to the traito
~ JEFF. Davis, while member Of the SEN
9ns % OF the United States, making the laws
" the people Of Rhode Island, and canva
ers ing the rolls of the earmy, designated
'on @ men who were 10 bead the armies OF
70. rebellion yE'i W
-. - Men Of Rhode Island put on your
;no NOR, and rush to the Capital to defend
thss hs II is this hour in danger, menaced by