Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-08-21


to the field to strike at the very heart OF
the nation, and If unanimity and harmony
shall not exist among the loyal portion OF
the people have no hope upon earth of
the salvation of the government at ALL
Whist is the uppermost desire in every
mans heart tonight? He wants peace.
He desires quiet and contentment and safe
repose under his own vine and fig tree
He wants to live as it was our happiness
to live thirty years ago while we discussed
banks and tariffs and internal improve
ments by the government, every man free
to think for himself rpon these questions
of political economy and far removed from
any thought of rebellion or civil war
Then we might differ peaceably and safely
upon these questions. but now the inaugu-
rating of party strife in this time of pub
lie calamity has caused and is still causing
serious trouble throughout the country.
Whenever those who are in power cease
to execute the laws how very soon the
same spirit gets down into the lowest di'
visions of society: and on the other hand.
how ready all classes of people are to sub
nit. and how easy il is to overcome all op-
position and secure cheerful obedience
whenever the laws are promptly executed.
You all recollect the "Olay county war. !"
which threatened the peace of our State
few years ago. believe a single compa-
ny of men was sent promptly to the spot
to enforce the observance of law and or
der. and the insurrection was at once ar
rested. The Erie difficulties are yet fresh
in the minds of the people. The Govern
or in that State was a man who had not
the nerve to do his duty. His duty was
to have sent thousand men il necessary.
and fifty cannon to put stop to the pro-
ceedings of the mob. and If he had done
SO it would not have been said to the dis
grace of the State that for weeks together
passengers going east and west were con-
veyed in hacks for distance of several
miles in consequence OF the destruction Of
the railroad track by lawless mob. This
spirit Of mob law is undermining all soci-
ETY.. and we shall never have peace until
we execute che laws and bring oil rebels to
punishment.
Now, while all that is true, what say
these men who addressed the Convention
that assembled here on last Wednesday? :?
They say 1--WE want to restore the Gov
ernment and the Constitution" Who
does not? i would like to ask these gen.
tlemen one question-Who declares war
according to the Constitution? Congress.
Very we'll; has Congress declared war? Il
has. New. men who are So anxious to re-
store the Constitution should not attempt
to defeat the success of q war which has
been constitutionslly inaugurated by Con-
gress for the defense and maintehsce OF the
Constitution itself. by hsrping upon the
expenses of the war. and discouraging the
prompt payment Of the taxes which arc in
variably levied for the support Of the war.
Aud yet they say the Constitution must
be restored. They appeal to your iguor-
ance when they would make you believe
that. for one will judge them by their
acts and not by their words They talk
about obeying the laws. No man has
obedience to the laws in his heart unless
he heartily supports this war;. the sole OBJ
ject Of which is to maintain the supremacy
of the laws and Constitution.
Another fact--I was forcibly struck with
the statement contained in the speech OF
one Of the men published in one of your
morning papers. that if the Government
had adopted coneiliatory policy towards
the rebels there would have been no rebel
army in the field at the present time
What does he mean by that? Does he
mean that the past policy of the Admins
tration has not been conciliatory? Does
he mean that it:has been too severe? Why
the truth is that if the army Of the Union,
instead of being made to stand guard over
the property of men who have sons in the
rebel army. had been subsisted upon the
property Of rebels, then it is possible there
would have been no such thing as q rebel
lion abroad in the land tonight. And
yet these men will talk about q concilia-
tory policy. No conciliatory policy
should be shown to men in arms
for the destruction OF their Government.
Let us crush the rebellion first. aud when
that is done. and we'll done. then it will
be time enough to call conventions to talk
about Cancellation" [Cheers.
These men talk about the legislation Of
Congress looking towards the Liberation of
the slaves. If they mean the ccnfiscation
bill. will remind them that the bill does
not even touch the slave property or any
other property. real or personal, Of single
individual in the South. with the exception
of FIVE classes of persons. commencing
with jeff Davis and ending with the Lieu.
tenats in the rebel army. There is first tho
President of the rebel Government, then
members of the Confederate Congress and
of the Legislatures of the Confederate
States, and so on down to the field and
company officers in the rebel army. But
the bill does not propose to touch single
dollars worth Of property belonging to q
private in the army or . private citizen of
any ofthe seeded States. The property of
these five classes of persons may be seized
By the President and used in aid of the
war. Now, it did not need an act of Con-
gress 10 give the President that right. If
the President had exercised the rights al
ready belonging to him by virtue of his
Office. he could have confiscated the prop
erty Of armed rebels without any legisla-
tion of Congress upon the subject-he had
. right. If il was necessary for the put
ting down Of the rebellion. to liberate the
slaves Of rebels without particle Of legis-
lation. ...s -.
Lot me give you an idea OF the extent to
which come Of these men carry their views
unon tha naOro nuaaf:on.