The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-05-31

Ci VIZ ANN't Wv I'N' 50
row, the plane upon the work bench, the
hammer on the anvil. the form upon the
printing prcss,-thcrc is not mechanical
art nor useful handicrait that has not ITS
experts in these patriotic ranks-some at a
moments notice ,allwith unhesitating promp-
titude, and they have left their families be-
hind them. These last words, fellow.citi-
zens, tell the whole story; these words are the
warrant under which this meeting is held
They have left behind them their wives, thoir
children, their aged parents, their dependent
relatives Of every degree in many cases, no
doubt, those whose only reliable resources
for their daily bread was in the stout arms
which have been called away to the defence
Of the menaced Union.
Well, my friends, these families must not
suffer in the absence of their heads and sup
portes. The government will no doubt
compensate its defenders as literally as the
nature Of the case admits. But every one
knows that the soldiers pay is an inadequate
substitute for the earnings Of the prosperous
livelihood, even in the humber branches Of
industry. The deficiency must be made up
by the towns Of which these brave volunteers
are citizens, acting IN their corporate capac-
ity, and by efforts like that which you initi-
ate this evening. In word, it is absolute
ly necessary that, in one way or other, by
public and private liberality, the means of
liberal assistance for the families that need
it, should be provided by those who remain
at home. This is duty in which all Of ey-
cry age and condition, and Of either sex,
must cooperate, and rejoice to sec, that the
gentler sex is, as usual, setting us the exam
pie Of industry and zeal, in this patriotic
work. The rich must contribute from their
abundance, and those of moderate means
from their competency, till our brethren,
who take their lives in their hands in this
righteous cause, are strengthened and cheer
cd by the assurance, that those dearer to
them than their lives will be cared for at
home.
II any arguments were necessary to urge
us to the performance of this duty, they
will be found, and that Of the most power
ful and persuasive character. in the nature
and character of the war which the South is
waging upon us. And here state OF things
presents itself which posterity will DO slow
to credit. On the last anniversary of our
national independence, at the invitation OF
my fellow citizens of Boston, | had occasion
to undertake defence Of the United States
Government, in its practical operation,
against an attack made upon it, with consid-
erable ability, in the British House OF Lords.
In this effort, claimed-honestly and con-
scientiously claimed - and, as | have rea-
son to think, with the concurrence OF my
fellow-eitizens Of all parties, throughout the
country, that under our Constitution and
laws, we had enjoyed q prosperity and made
progress, not only in the utilitarian, but
in the intellectual and refined arts Of life,
without an example in the world. | said
nothing of the unhappy sectional controvcr-
sy that was raging in the country, not be-
cause was insensible to its dangerous char
actcr. but because nothing was said about it
in the speech to which undertook to reply.
The general truth of my description OF
the prosperity of the country. and tho genial
and fostering influence of our Constitution
and Laws, was Us generally admitted at the
South as at the North. No longer ago than
the 9th of last November, Mr.. Stephens of
Georgia, now Vice President Of the Southern
Confedcncy, and a gentleman OF frstrate
intelligence, in public speech at Milledge-
Vile, declared it Us his settled conviction
that the present Government OF the United
States, though not without its defects, "comes
nearer the objects Of all good Government
than any other on the face of the earth."-
lie pronounced it ga model Republic, the
best that the history of the world gives us
any account of" and he asked in triumph
"wherc will you so, following the sun in
his circuit round the globe, to find govern
ment that better protects the liberties Of the
people, and secures to them the blessings we
onjoy?"
This, you will observe again, was the lam
guage of a very leading Southern statesman,
the second officer Of the new Confederacy,
no longer ago than last November; and in
truth the South had and has greater cause
than any other part of the Union, to be sat-
isiied with the Government under which she
lives and on which she is making war. Re-
spccted abroad as an integral portion Of one
Of the great powers Of the earth, mainly in
virtue OF the Navy Of the Union, OF which
the strength resides at the North, the South,
almost exclusively agricultural in her pur-
suits, derives from her climate the monopoly
Of four great staple products-one OF them
the most important single article in the CON-
mcrce Of the world; while, in consequence,
chiefly, of the political sympathy with each
other which pervades the Slayeholding States,
she has ever enjoyed monopoly scarcely
less completely of the government Of the
country.
At this moment, and though numbering
but third part Of the free population of the
Union, If she had not most unjustifably
withdrawn her members of Congress, she
would have had in her interest majority in
the Senate, in the House Of Representatives
and in the Judiciary. For fifty-six out of
the sevcnty-two years, the Presidents of the