The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-09-13
CLOng continued applause )


When languishiug in prison as a COW
victed felOn, the consciousness of the
sanctity and rectitude of the cause in
which was engaged cheered in my lone
ly hours Of solitude. Let me assure you
that at no time, during the dreariest pc
riod of my Imprisonment, did l feel like
changing places with that arch iiend and
traitor, JEFF Davis. Renewed applauso)
| should be less than an American cit-
Zen--less than any man who loves the
flag, did / not feel a thrill of 10y and
pride within my heart at the magnif-
oence of this demonstration to-day. As
have said, this ovation is not intended
for me, but a mark Of your devotion, as
well as mino, to the flag Of our country.
(Applaus long cOntinued)
/ presume upon your anxiety TO hear
my opinions CA voice" That's sol")
upon the progress of events. As a sol
dier should do, ! will state them very
briefly. The whole problem is this :
| The rebels Have made up their minds TO
take not only what they have, but the
whole country, if you do not prevent
them. They will not be very much
disappointed, however, if you determine
! they shall never possess one foot of the
north, nor even one foot Of southern soil,
except under The protection Of our glori-
/ ous flag.
have entered into the fight for the
maintenance and support Of the United
| States, and 10 uphold the Administra-
tion, and am going to fight again for
the same object Q.ong applause) l
am again going 10 draw the sword for
the constituted authorities, in their firm
resolve and duty 10 prosecute this war
with renewed energy and vigor 10 re-
store again the laws and the Consiiiu-
tion, with no infringements upon that
sacred instrument except such as are es-
sentially necessary for us as a people
! (Cheers.)
am in favor for the time being Of the
present President Of the United States
and the fullest exercise Of the authority
vested in him; and IL even that authority
is slightly exceeded by the exigencies oil
the case, ] would not raise a word until
the war is over aud then will "put th,
patch back again. daughter and ap.
plauso)
Fellow W-citizcns-l'or me To dictate Z
course for you in the present cmcrgeu.
cies would be presumption. There car
not be a man here, la the city or th,
State who has not made Up his mind tha
he will fall in the battlefield before III,
noble institutions under which we liyl
and have prospered 80 long shall be de-
stroycd by the hands Of mcendiarics ant
fanatics.
Possibly some may think that ia ml
efforts TO raise a brigado-an Irish bri
gade il you will--(great cheering) ma,
be induced 10 eXaggerate the perils o
the country. What | desire 10 impress
upon your minds is that, determined Il
raise a brigade, all men anxious to lgh
with me may come with me and fight.
can have a command assigned me at an,
moment, but ] told the President desir
ed 10 have one composed Of my own coun
trymen They will have the name Of al
Irish brigade, and want them 10 be- Irish
Whyf Because ID they earn laurols wisl
that they should wear them. I want d
raise a brigade that shall equal the on
which fought at FOntenOy, (Long cheer
ing) j do not press my Irish fellow
citizens 10 enlist because ; think thel
! have not already done 1n0ugn The
} have done their share, fut the country 4
! In peril, and al such time, a bchooye
us not 10 be comparipg 3 differences Wlu
each other. / want my cOuntrymen I
come lorw ard. and II my voice coul