Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-01-31
The Speech Of Hen. Joseph segar.
Correspondence Of the star.1

ALEXANDRIA, Jan. 29-Hon Jos. Segar made |
an address last night: to the Union Association OF
Alexandria, Of remarkable force.
The address was vindicstion Of the course Of
those OF the people Of Virginia who bad refused
TO follow their State Into secess!on, and was over
whelmingly conclusive. The doctrine Of seces-
sion as constitutional right was as effectually
torn 70 atoms as a piece of bunting whipped by
the storm to shreds As revolutionary rig ht the
pretext was firpsier still. Revolution vas prin-
cpie; and that prtnci pie that man In society
could not. at will, throw eff iis tfammel-only,
indeed, when heavy and iDtolefable oppression
extsted-otherwise, society would be but a series
OF cOmmotious aud desolations rhe law Of rev.
oluiion did not apply to the present rebellion be-
cause the South was suffering, at the hands Of the
Federal Government, no practical grievance or
wrong. The South had received from the Gov
ernment all 1t could reasonably rightly ask.
On the slavery question, all had been offered that
could be demanded. IL was proposed TO give
slavery perpetual protection by an amendment to
the Constitution aud the South scted the prop
osition; which clearly showed that no compromise
was deSiIed or would be accepted. Had 1t been
opted, the slavery question would have been
settled forever, the Union saved, the war avoided
The remarkable facts were adverted to that Mr..
Toombs and Mr.. Davis had both voted against
Mr.. Stewards proposition for the amendment of
the Constitution prohibiting Congressional inter-
ference with slavery, and that the proposition for
Furnishing John Brown raids failed for want Of
Southern votes to carry it, These facts Were ad-
duced as conclusive proof that the South, or Its
not regard the Union as worthy of an effort to
save It,
There was nothing in the personal liberty laws
or the fugitive slave law to Justify secession. He
knew of not one reason why he should have fol-
lowed his State into secession; nor could he, as
required, take an exclusive oath Of allegiance to
heT She had presented to him the Consultation
OF the United States, not only a rule OF con-
duct, but a supreme rule. She could not, on
the princi pie of Stste sovereignty, order her ci
zens to 90 along with her to secessioni for since
the adoption Of the Federal Constitution there
was no such thing as State sovereignty. He could
not follow her for another reason-her vote for
secession was not free vote. BY misrepresenta-
lon, intimidation, and coercion, the vote was
fraud upon the elective franchise, and, therefore,
ala not bind him, any other citizen, because
fraud vitates all transactions.
He denied that Mr. Lincoln had made war on
anybody. His proclamation was d. fence from
war. CeTttinlY he lad m1de no war on Virginia.
Virginia was the aggressor-commenced war
upon the Cntld States by seiZing the guns at
Beilona Arsenal the attack on Harper's Ferry, and
other hostile acts before Federal soldier trud the
. sacred soiln Mr.. Lincoln might well have
Issued his proclamation the very first act of his
administration, because he found several States
In actual rebel ion and in active defiance of the
Federal authority, with an army If 100 600 men
already provided by the Confederate States, with
ominous threats that by the fist Of MAY the flag
of the Confederate STATES won d stream from tue
dome Of the Capitol at w ashington. Had he de-
clined TO call out the militia under such CT cum
stances, be would have been unfaithful to duty
and to honor
Mr.. $. discussed the whole subject Of our po-
litcal troubles and reIna kid that he frankly
owned be had not the courage 10 90 into sscesS; on
WalpOle. when asked to tax America replifd
- he would leave That to some one OF his success
sors who had more cOu age tn IN he had SO
with LIN He bad not the courage to embrace Sc
cession. w hen he looked the aW Il consequen
in the face. his courage sank ard he resolved to
have bis hands Ct an and bis skirts clear when
The hour OF retfl6ntion should come. He shrunk
from the idea Of being sold ont to South Carolins,
the wicked State, that, for near forty wears had
been di>turber of the Y itional pace; nor could
he contempl4'@ without unutterable disgust the
scene Of old Virginia crOdching at the foot-stool
OF SOnth Carolina lie did not believe toe strug-
gle the cotton States Were engaged In to be
struggle for the great principles Of civil liberty
such pretRncP was bold imposure. ] he Con-
stituti'n Of the United States the best system
Of civil liberty ever devised by human heads or
hearts, and those that would subvert IT, were no
friends Cf civil liherty-bad none OF the spirit of
Hanpden, and Ppm, and Russell, and Algernon
Sidney.
The war was no scheme for emancina,ion ar
subJugatiOn There was not act Of the Admin.
istrdtiOn indicating such purpose, and Congress
had passed resolution, almost una imously,
declaring the object to be TO save the Government
and restore the Onion.
In answer TO a proposition from his State 10
rTturn home and take the oath OF aee lance to his
Slate, be said he could not do Il, because he had
never been disloyal to her. He had but obeyed
her higher law, her own commands As for
taking the oath Of allegiance TO the Confederate
States OF America. he said: II spurn the proposal
with initiate scorn ] would sooner rot In a dun
geon than swear any such fealty q" He regarded
the Government Of the Confederate States as the
most stupandons fraud in the history of man. IL
was no government Of the people. The people
had had no part or lot in the matter 1t was all
the appropriation" Of politicians, who painted for
a higher civilization, or A pure slavery confede-
racy, or some other Utopian scheme. without any
regard to grievances or the remedies for them
He wanted something that deserved the name Of
a government; a government that could protect
the rights OF property and all other rights OF
society. he wanted no rope Of sand
He wanted back the old Union Of Washington
ana Madison, and franklin; not the mlserdo
abortion OF DAVIS, YanceV, and Rhett, which,
"Llke the DOreslis race,
That hits ere you cen fnd the placed
may be here to-day, and forever gone tomorrow
He concluded bis long and powerful argument
by appealing 70 bis fellow citizens of Virp inia 10
throw down the arms OF their rebellion, and re-
turn to their loyalty and the old Union under
which they had so long been prosperous and
happy, and their State was so RAPIDLY advancing
TO power and grandeur
These were but few of the points made in tbe
address; but as II will most probably appear in
print, its publication having been requested by
the association, | content myself with furnishing
you this brief sYnopsls | will only add |, that as
al argument against secession, and as a defence
OF those who have stood by the Union against the
secession OF their States, is not only able but alb
solutely overwhelming, and SO 1t was regarded
by every listener, Yours, &C., w. WI