Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1862-07-02
THE SLAVERY QUESTION
SPEECH OF GENERAL RoSSEAU.

Ii IS gratifying evidence OF the pro-
gress towards just, and, as we deem it,
necessary views of the relations of slavery
to the war, that q General of our army,
mailing from q slave state, has given ex.
preston 10 the views contained in the
speech of Gen. Rosseau, of Kentucky,
made at banquet given in his honor, al
louisville, on the 10th inst. AS original.
y published in the Louisville papers, il
escaped our notice, and we are somewhat
late presenting the following extrscts.
A gentleman whose opportunities tc
Judge correctly are good, writing to us
from Cincinnati, and referring to the SEN
timents of Gen. Rosseau, says: You
will be rejoiced when tell you that they
will receive an enthusiastic response from
almost every pro-sIavery General in the
Western Army"
We have taken none of their property
we have excluded their slaves from oul
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 ne,
gro thieves. And in spite of our dis
claimers and our soldiers asseverations to
the contrary-of our words and our acts.
they 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 re-
peating il. Behind and before us this
has been the cry of the enemies of the
Government. Now, the army of General
Halleck is emminently conservative.
believe there is neither an abolitienist nor
4 secessionist in it. If there is one OF
either faction, [ do not know it. So or.
derby, SO patriotic, and so conservative
a body of men | believe never before as
sembed together. That army, in its
intercourse with the secessionists, has
pleaded and is still pleading for peace
under the old Government, offering to
our southern brethren all they ever had,
and claiming nothing except in common
with them. They want to take nothing
from any one, but desire that their south
ern brethren shall enjoy all their rights
uuimpaired. But the negro is in the
way, in spite of all that can be done or
said. Standing before the eve of the
secessionist, the negro hides all the bless
ings of our Government, throwing a
black shadow on the sun itself. II 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 10 interfere with it in
any way Yet with all its conservatism
and patriotism, the army has grown
weary of this insane cry of abolitionism"
as a cause for breaking up the Govern
ment.
| have warned our southern friends OF
the danger of continuing it much longer
and l tell you, that if this war con-
tinues year from this day, there viii not
be slave on the continent The great
revolution will take care of itself-the
dead will bury their dead-and those
who are causing all the bloodshed and
desolation around us under the false pre-
tense that we desire to free their negroes,
will, if they persist, one day find slavery
snuffed out as you snuff ont candle
Slavery is not worth our Government. II
is not worth our liberty. 1t is not worth
al the precious blood now being poured
out for freedom. 1t is not worth the free
navigation Of the Mississippi River. No
we must still havo our Governments
not as it now is, with slavery in it, still
we must have our Government. We can
not be slaves to jeff. Davis & Company
We must and will be free. We mus
have the free navigation of the Missis
Sippi River; and if slavery gets in tho
way of any of these rights, why slavery
must get out of the way. That would
be the last resort. and | should be sorry
to have recourse to it; but | am for the
Government of our fathers against al
things and everybody. Whilst the liber
ties of the people are secnre under it, as
they ever have been, l would allow
nothing but death to prevent my uphold
ing it. And, 10th as you may be to dc
eide, you will soon as | believe, be called
upon to do so. In spite Of your entreat
les, the issue will be cruelty thrust upor
you, and you will be forced to decide
between slavery and your wives and
children. As for me, | am ready fol
the responsibility. A Southerner as
am, born and brought up in the South
with all my sympathies with the South
l could not hesitate one moment wher
the issue is presented between the niggeI
and the Government of our fathers.
am for the Government of the United
State against all its enemies.-Press.
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