Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1862-09-19
Thadeus stevens ON the War
Policy of the Government.

lnhUeus SteNeus on tuc war
Policy Of the Government.
Thaddeus Stevens, of Pennsylvania, hav-
ing received unanimous denomination fol
Congress from the Union men Of his district
accepted it in the following speech, delivered
before the convention, in which he discus {
the policy Of the government with great
boldness
"Fcllow-eitizens II have come for the
purpose Of thanking you and accepting your
nomination. Ii is always gratifying to q
public man to be assured Of the continued
confidence of those whose servant he is, bu,
especially SO in times like these. when the
wisest men differ on question of policy.
had prepared to speak on those questions
and to criticise, not in fulsome manner,
but as thought it deserved, the conduct OF
the war and the present policy of the Adj
ministraton a; but in the last hour | have
hesitated whether to speak as had Intended
whether it were proper to crticise now
in this hour of deepest gloom, when we know
not where our armies are, but only that they
are nowhere successful But whether we
advise the government, or find fault with it,
we must all do everything TO strengthen the
hands of our nation. Let us not despair
life is not all suDshine-it has gloom with
joy-adversity with prosperity-nor is the
victory always to the just-human energy
and carnestncss will Often wrest from fate
what would seem to belong to justice alone.
Possibly we have not yet suffered enough ;
but let no man faltcr IN his loyalty To the
government, no matter how he may criticise
it's policy; for he who ialters now is a trait
or not only 10 his country but 10 humanity
and 70 his God.
Il have not determined whether to speak
as had intended, perhaps, when we know
the result of these few days may meet you
and speak to you. | have protested against
the present policy, not only to the people,
but to the face Of the President and his
cabinet. and on the floor OF Congress, as
those know who have done me the honor to
read my speeches told them that they were
exercising too much lenity at the request Of
border statesmen-not one OF whom, in nv
judgement, has loyalty in his heart. have
accused the prime minister TO his face for
having gone back from the faith he taught
us, and instead of armiDg every man black
or white. who would fight for this Union
Withholding well.meaning President from
dong so until, rs we advance into their
country aud OFT armies dwinile away from
us and retake what we had gained. They
stIll hold the Mississippi, and threaten US
even on the banks Of the Ohio; all because
the slaves at home are giving them no
trouble-becnuse we are, at the point of the
bayonet keeping them loyal TO their masters
instead Of to the Union
81 have told these things to the President
and Cabinet, and they replied-'It may come
to this. Come 10 fti, - when 100 900
men have melted away and $1,000 ,0,D 900
been spent Come 10 tAis - when another
half million lives shall have been lost, aud n
billion of dollars more laid upon you in tax
alton. ! cannot and ir,H not stand nus-aud
il you elect me shall vote that every man
he armed, black and white. who eau aid IN
crushing the rebellion that every inch oil
rebel SOIL be taken and sold to pay the debt
Of this war. will not 60 with the Prcs
dent in psyin. for ali the slaycs-l did not
vote for his rcsolution--I uiH mol vote ~ pay
for any slave OF rt{ti.
But will uphold the administration a.
far a. possible-sAylng a. the same tine that
IL j. all in vain unless they change their
l'AA' ' " thtA - nv pc fftkFT tiAdt HikFtu
thousand armed slaves should lie unhurci
around the battle-fel1s near Manassas than
that your friends aud mine should tho, hs
there? The rebels nigh, have slain them
they would have saved US, and our own men
would have gone fresh into action and To
victory. Yet at tins sympathizcrs with
treason ut the North cry Abolition : Abo.
lition-yes abolish everything on the face
Of the earth but this Union tree every slave
STAY every traitor-burn every ret'cl man.
sion. i, these things be necessary to preserve
tins temple of freeiom 10 the world and tn
our posterlty. Unless we DO TINS we cannot
conquer them. have spoken thus In Con.
gress-and in the last week, after few re-
marks Of mine, the vote was eighty -four to
forty two-eighty-four agreeing with ne,
where year ago not fifty could have been
found and IT | 90 back there again, il We
have any one left TO fight by that tint, the
whole nation will be with me Either We
mus, pursue that policy, or the war will b.
dissraceiully abandoned at last, and our
country diyided-and he is q traitor who
talks Of separation on any terms. Again,
| thank you-l have said more than | IN
tended when began. less than expected
last night but have told YOU these things.
that even if my principles be wrong they
shall never he hidden