Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-08-13
Judge Ranney's Speech before a
Military Meeting in Lancaster. on
the evening of the 23d ult.

the evening of the 23d ult.
Judge Ranney said lac had come at the
urgent invitation of the Governor, 10 pre-
sent a few considerations why the people
should respond 10 the requisitlon of the
President Concurring with the Govern
OF freely in the propriety of the call, he
had Yielded TO his desires. There was no
doubt but the army must be increased.
Legitimate authority tells Us so. The
Governors of nearly all the loyal Ststes
had recommended it. II seems to be a
necessity. The question Is, are you viii
ling 10 endorse it, 1t Is peculiarly of
this Government that to the people Is
reserved the right TO decide upon
questions OF voting and bearing arms
in support Of the Government. One
Is IS obligatory rs the other. 1t Is our
duty 10 see that they are enforced, and
that when they are violated II is Obliga-
tory upon Us to use armed force, if neces-
sary, 70 protect them. This Is our situa-
ton. We are not called upon to uphold
this dynasty or that privaleged class, but
we are calling upon the American citizen
10 defend the laws he himself has made.
There IS every reason why you should
respond cheerfuliy to this requisition.
If YOU are constrained, if the Government
Is obliged 10 resort TO drafting, the moral
force Of such an army and of public opin-
ion Is entirely lost This Is a principle
we cannot afford 10 lose. Ii is of high
inheritance that we maintain Il before
the world. Let US, therefore, step for
ward cheerfully, and provide the necessa-
w 70: &c t. crush the insurrectiOn. The
speaker had no information about the
war, which is not in the possession OF ev-
cry one. 1t is palpable that we are act
ing with inferior forces. and if we would
avoid foreign Interference, we must make
this short war What ,cc lcaHt IS Suck a
prosecution Of tie 'car as ,eW PIT dorm the
traitors.
He did not want to allude TO political
d'fers5css. If he undertook that he might
a fsr lcih ereryG0dy, but there is one point
where all can meet. The laws are in dan
ger Of subversion, and we must have force
to defend them. That Is enough to see.
The Constitution requires the President
TO suppress insurrection. 1t is his sworn
duty before God TO maintain helaws and
If the law Is assailed by force, we must
defend it with arms. We want the res
toration Of peace. the execution of the
has no authority to do more That must
| be done, or we must confess to the world
that we are incapable of self-government.
Ny opinion, is ,,olc, as Il altcayS has been, that
as Iong as there is man IN arms dgai5lst The
lalsS, that man must Be PIT dorm By arms.
, Judge Ranney expatiated at some length
upon the obligations of stay at home citi-
zens to the families of soldiers, concurring
with Mr.. Ewing, that those who do not
fight must provide for the families OF
those who do. But in considering who
should 60 he admonished men not to look
round to find some poor man who is OBJ
liged to 60, but let each man inquire il
he ought not to go, and so determine. II
was indisputable that those who 90 sacri
fee most, and therefore those who do moi
90 should be liberal TO the families of alb
sent patriots. We are under high obi
cations TO the soldiers already in the field
We virtually said to them, 1--WE viii sus
tain-if disease and battle thin your rank
we will fill them up again. That tim,
has come. Let us make good our word
Don't hold out false hope to our brav,
: soldiers. 1t is due to them that we shoult
not leave them to cope with superio
) numbers. The speaker proceeded t,
show further why American citizens shoult
voluntarily take arms TO defend this Gov
ernment, expatiating upon the fact tha
its peculiar organization and characte
= needed that development which has al
ready shone 80 conspicuously, in the re
sponse of a half million volunteers, at tn
blast of trumpet. For his part he coul,
not comprehend how any human bein
on the face of the earth, who is familia
with this Government, could raise hi
hand against il. We do not deny tn
right Of revolution, for our Government
Is founded on that principle; but revolU
tions must show some great and Justify
ing cause. 1t must be palpable But i
all that he had ever seen, he neCer yet la
seen one single cauSe cited against this Gouer7
nlent, a0hjch .j,tStifes this rebellion The Gov
ernment had done nothing 10 justify j
Here Judge Ranney paid an eloquen
tribute to the character Of our form
Government and TO the patriotism of tn
Fathers.
If the people, he added, have not a
fection enough for the Government 1
4 fight for it, it must fail. 1t was the onl
3, free Government in the world. Its pro
peritv had been marvellous. 1t was D.
culiarly the country of the poor man, an
of the foreigner, who was oppressed
his native land. 1t stretches its protec
ing sgis over them-ditfuses its blessin;
over all alike, offers its rewards to ric
and poor who seek them faithfully. \
other Government on earth has done
much for the people, and if it fails I'll
principle of free government dies with
1t has more than realized all the hopes
its most sanguine founders. Therefor
every man, native or foreign born, shouI
hazard everything for it. If it fails, tt
hope and glory of the world is gone. Bl
let us remember if we sustain it now, n
they who survive the battle will enjoy /
blessings, bft their children and their i
> test posterity will enjoy them and BILE
their patriot fathers as we bless ours fl
the priceless gift.
What sacrifices then shall we make 2
We must make many. No country
world everwent through such scourt
as this without great sacrifices of persc
and property. We must make them Fl
the sake of peace. After the most car
ful reflection he had been able 10 NAL
upon the subject, Judge Rsnney said tn
he believed we can reach the haven
peace only through war. And the 500
er and sharper you make the effort Il
sooner you will have peace.
He had not much hope in this conte:
if it became necessary to resort to drat
ing. The moral force of free governmel
will be lost. 1t will show that the peop
have lost interest in it. 1t is based upC
the patriotism of the people. He hi
as, thanked God that Europe had alreat