Smyrna times., 1862-07-03
Gen. Rousseau on Slavery.

On Monday lasI = banquet was given in
Louisville ~ General Lowell Il. Rousseau. AT
ter speech by Hon. James Guthrie, General
Rousseau spoke as follows:
desire TO state that this rebellion is a lie
from the beginning. There was ravrr Guy
cause tor II. To begin and kept itut > lem
OF wholesale lying was adopted and 10 pursued
lndustTIOHsly 10 this dsy. Wherever the army
has gone It has met this fell spirit Of falsehood
We have taken none of their property; We
have excluded their slaves from our lines; when
needed, we have placed guards of our soldiers
around their houses to protect them-und ye'
lhey persist 10 calling ss abOlIIiOnists and neg
thieves. And IN spite of our disc miners a.
our soldiers observations TO The contrary - d!
our words and our scts-lhey have insisted that
our object 10 10 libeEsle and steal IheIr slaves
Aud If we fail 10 restore the Union, " the
everlasting nigger" will be the cause Of the
failure. They know what they say is false,
JET they never ces 8 .epeating it. Behind and
before Ne this has been the cry Of the enemies
OF the gOVernmeRL The army. in it's intercourse
with the secessIOnists. has pleaded, aud is still
pleading for peace under the old government,
offering 10 our Southern brethren all they ever
had, and claiming nothing except in cor.mon
with them. They want to take nothing from
shall enjoy all their rights unimpaired.
But The negro is in the way in spite OF all
that can be done or said. Standing before the
eye of the secesslonisIs, the negro hideG all the
blessings Of our government. throwing black
| shadow on the SUI itself. If il had been any
other species of property that stood in the way,
the army, provoked as it has been, would will
| IIOgly haVe seen lts quick destruction. But
the negro they did not wish to interfere with
IN any way. Yet, with all its conservatism
and patriotism. the army has grown weary OF
this insane cry Of "abolitionism 90 a cause for
breaking up the government.
! have warned our Southern friends Of ihG
| danger Of continuing il much longer; and
tell YOU tonight that if this war continues a
year from this day. there will no, be = slave or
this continent. The great revolution will take
care Of iIself--the dead will bury it's dead
and those who are causing all the bloodsheC
aRd dsssolstion GEeHnd Us. under the false pre-
tence that we desire 10 free their negroes, will
if they peTsist one day find slavery snufied ou
as ysw snuff oct candle. Slavery 10 not worth
our government. Slavery is not worth oul
liberty. IL is not worth all the precious blood
now being poured out for fGeedOm. II is nO
worth the free navigation Of the Mississippi
river.
sm for the government OF our fathers snC
sgsinst all things and everybody. While tht
liberties Of the people are secure under it, al
they ever have been, | would allow AoIhing bu
death TO prevent my uph"ldIng Ii. l am read,
for the responsibility. A Southern msn as
am, boFn and brought up in the South. with al
my sympaIhies with the South, could not hes
itals one mOnenI when the issue is presented
between the niggeF and the government of ou
fathers. l am tor the government OF the UniIs
States sRsinst all iIs enemies.
l hope and pray that our Southern friend
will not force US TO extremes on this sensiiiV
, point. We depFeeste such a TesulI for W
want our rights under the Constitution. and W
aye all ready 10 fight for theirs under the oil
gOverHmeaI ] would today grid on my swor
; and fight toS any right belonging TO them. sls
very Included; but they must not put SLAYER
, betwcsn me and The government and Ia ws
the United States will not consent to be
come a slave that the negro may be kept
slave. | will not sacrifice The appiness of m
wife, children and friends. the welfare of N
beloved State, and the glory Of my country o
an altar dedicated 10 the Ebony Idol"