The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-02-07
PATRIOTIC SPEECH
OF THE
Hon. Mr.. ETHRIDGE, of Tennessee.

u' L1dEhlDGE, II y. Am., lem. SAID
that IN contest ike this which now agi
tates the country. be q. ust not be fount
taking sides against bis country. But
unfortunately for all, it mattered not DOW
upon what side men arraysd himself
the crime OF treason was sure to be char
ged against him. Ii would declare, nev.
ertbeless, in advance. thatin whatever BIZ
might say, be would avoid 90 respon.i
bility OF that sort. He would speak o.
penly aud frankly. seeking neither to a.
void eensure or to elicit commendation
In whatever be said be would be suided
be hoped, BY strict regard TO truth. and
only utter such sentiments as were sane.
toned By his ow judgment, and approved
by his own heart; aud as far as be allu
ded to facts, would advance nothing bn,
what vas strengthened b tratb II a
jury Of twelve honest mep, sworn 10 well
aud truly, try the issues joiued between
the two 'ectioOs-a jury sbicb belonged
to 90 political party, having no motives
to eubserve but the interest, OF the coun
tr5-lt such jury va found to try the
pending issues, be would -ubn the " hole
Gaze to them without one word of argu-
meut, and be would have, be felt couvin
ced. prompt sud unspioous verdict on
all the questions. But uofortuostely,
they would not get a disintere,ted jury
In that House; and, more unfortunately.
the people themselves were silly eoough
to trust their Cause and to appeal to the
justice OF this tribunal for the settle % 1t
of this question of the sra,est ia portance
to thesse es aud TO po'teritS. hoping To at
they would give repose to dI-traoteG
people For the last six weeks. the eses
OF every man, woman and child 10 the
country bad been resting upon this bod
IN hopes that something would be done.
But if the people could only see them as
they Nere-it they could mark their de-
ioers;ioUs as they bad been, and what
little hope there vas of redress or settle
mebt at their baod--,he knowledge thus
arqqlred would hare at once been used to
arrest the tide OF reVo utioD, and would
have teen successfully directed to the
salFatiou CT the country. The interests
Of thirty oillions OF people we're iuvolsed
10 this quarrel; aud here they bad 236
mea, hers. sone OF wtow had reached
their places on this floor oy accident. but
among whom there vas not a man who
did not represent aD equal If not a supe
rior body OF state, among bis conrti,
oent>, aud yet they ~e,e told, 10 TIN. pre-
prrcipiiate aye. tbattheS could bot or would
net interfere to stay this tide OF revo' utioD
aud that, therefore there was no hope
'or thu free people Hai cone to ttis,
t: al these gentlemen vi hoa be Jaw around
b. N could DOT u eet he question 10 a spIr
it of patriotism If their constitute Mt :
could see them. before they bad thrown
of their gosB, of uorninx, fresh irom
the Inspirations drawn from peru-al of
TIE n Y HerGhd ant TIE TRIBUNE.
aud see them aiterward come into that
ball. With a stifieniDg of the back b one,
ready to comproDt>e nothing or coociii-
ate nothiDg Dg-could they be seen With all
their hopes aud fears--eould their con
<titueDt- see them theo. they would scorD
the hazard OF intru-tiDs IN such hands
their glorious and priceless tres-ures OF
liberty and peace They were told that
they, forsooib. held the destinies Of the
country in their hands. A we'll might
800 backme of New York city. in Con-
ventiou assembled. say that they held the
destinies of the county 10 their hands.
They we're sworn to support the Con-ti
tuition, and yet they were upheld with an
unusual confidence. or torn With jealous
les. The fathers of the Repubic knew
that men were wicked and corrupt. aud
that va. the res,on they we're sworn to
observe and uphold the principles OF the
Constitution. Even the Father Of bis
Country was compelled to swear to sup
port tie Cou.tltgtlon which be bad help
ed to raise, and the reason that bad To-
duced the authors OF the Constitution to
make short the term Of Office was that
people sho elected men to rule over the "a
might haze an opportunity of removing
them sDd electioe tetter uen 10 their pla
ces, And il was said uow that if they
did not decide the issues which distracted
the country, the country NUT go to ruin
and public liberty would he overthrown
/ He protested against -ucb sn idea. de
demsnded delay for the men. women and
children of the country. 10 their Dame
be demanded an adjournment of thi'
quarrel from jealou- and NJ addened poll
ticiaus. |; they did not adjourn the quar-
rel to the people, o0 that 6oor it could
never be settled, and they would be re
sponsible for whatever evils might follow
What ris BIT bad they to assume that theJ
alone could .ettle the question of peace
Not that alone. but thr question insolsin,
the existence of the Government The,
bad not the right to assume it; and, thre
fore. be there announced 10 his place
that il the two houses OF Congress sboul'
fail to come to proper rettle~ent OF tn
question, before he should zee them over
turn the temple of liberty. and crush GU
the Is.t hopes of the people. aud buryin'
them bepe ath the ruins. he would nov
en- adjournment of the quarrel FROM tbe'
, to the people of the country. But b
t would address them on the assuDptio