The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-06-27
The Slavery Question.
SPEECH or GEN. R0SSEAU, OF KENTUCKY,

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We give below the remarks of General
Lovrrr II. RossEAu, Of Kentucky, on the
slavery question, at banquet lately given
him IN Louisville. What be says will
deeply interest the country as the utteran.
ces Of loyal Kentuckian and brave
General serving his country, on the slavery
question, and we especially commend his
words to those who are accustomed to re-
gard fanaticism on the subject of slavery, as
confined exclusively to abolitionists at the
North:
Iwish to say word of the "situation"
as it is called by the reporters of the day.
propose to advise nobody. I pretend to
no extraordinary foresight. But l desire
to state that this rebellion is lie from the
beginning. There was never any cause for
it. To begin and keep up system of
wholesale lying was adopted, and is pursued
industriously to this day. 1t is the only
stock in trade they have. They could teach
the devil himself much he never knew be.
fore about lying. Wherever the army
has gone it has met this fell spirit of
falseho0d. 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-and yet they
persist in calling Us abolitionists and negro
thieves. And in spite of our disclaimers
and our soldiers reservations to the con.
have insisted that our object is to liberate
and steal their slaves.
And If we fail to restore the Union the
everlasting niger will be the cause of the
failure. They know what they say is false,
yet they never cease repeating it. Behind
and before Us this has been the cry of the
enemies of the Government. Now the ar
my of Gen. Halleck is eminently conserva-
tive. believe there is neither an aboli.
ZIONIST nor secessionist in it. If there is
one of either faction, I do not know it. So
orderly, so patriotic, and so conservative
body of men l believe never before assem-
bled together. That army 10 its intercourse
with the secessionists has pleaded and is
still pleading for peace under the old Gov
eminent, Offering to our Southern brethren
all they ever had, and claiming nothing ex-
cept in common with them. They want to
take nothing from any one, but desire that
their Southern brethren 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 secessionist,
the negro hides all the blessings of our Gov,
eminent, throwing black shadow on the
sun itself. If it had been any other species
of property that stood in the way, the army,
provoked as it has been, would willingly
have seen its 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 groom aoeary
of this insane cry of " obozitionasm /" as a
cause for breaking up the Government.
have warned our Southern friends of the
danger of continuing it much longer; and
tell yow tonight that If this qoar continues q
year from this day, there aoiW not be slove
on this continent. The great revolution will
take care of itself-the dead will bury it's
dead-and those who are causing ali the
bloodshed and des0lation around US under
the false pretense that we desire to free
their negroes, a0iD, If they persist, one dag
find sIavery snu4fea out as you snuE out a
candle. Syavery is not a0orth our GoUernme,at.
1t is not a0orth our liberty. 1t is not north
all the precious blood nom being poured out
for freedom. 1t is not aDorth the free aaaUigo.
ton of the Mississippi river. No; we must
still have our Governmental not as it now
is, with slavery in it, still we must have our
Government. We cannot be slaves to jeff
Davis & Company. We must and will be
free. We must have the free navigation
of the Mississippi river; and If slavery gets
IN the aoay ofany of these rights, aohy siaUery
must get out of the aoay. That would be the
last resort, and should be sorry to have
recourse to it; but am for the Governnnent
OF our fathers against all things apd every
body. Whilst the liberties of the people
are secure under it, as they ever have been,
l would allow nothing but death to prevent
my upholding it. And 10th as you may be
to decide, you will soon, as believe, be
called upon to do so In spite of your
entreaties the issue will be cruelty thrust
upon you, and yoa aoiN be forced to decide
beta0sssa slaUery and your uiUes and children.
AS for me, am ready for the responsibility
A Southern man as am, born and brought
up in the South. with all my sympatnies
with the South, l could not hesitate one
moment aohen the issue is presented betaoeeas
the aigger and the Government of our
fathers, l am for the Government of
the United States against all its enemies.
l hope and pray that our Southern
friends will not force US to extremes
on this sensitive point. We deprecate
such result; for We want our rights
under the Constitution, and we are all
ready to fight fer theirs under the good
old Government. would today most vii
lingly girj On my sword and fght for any
right belonging to them, slavery iacluczed
but they must not put slavery between me
and the Government and laws of the United
States will not consent to become a
slave that the negro may be kept slave. 1
will not sacrifice the happiness of ny wife,
children, and friends, the welfare of my
beloved State, and the glory of my country
on an alter dedicated to on " Ebony IDOL"
When see placed on one side Govern.
ment formed by the noblest men the world
has ever produced, the legacy of Washing
ton to the human race, glorious country