Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-09-02
spsseh Of John Brensh at Athens.

On the 27th of August Mr.. BrOugh ad-
dressed large and enthusiastic meeting
at Athens, the seat of Ohio UniOnists,
where, far away in lang syne, he was col
lege student. A correspondent of the
Cincinnati Gazette gives the following
brief sketch Of his speech;
"Mr. Brough having been introduced,
said that to-day he was not on strange
ground, although he saw here many
strange faces and yet many others whom
he recognized and was once privileged to
call friends in boyhood. He had been on
this ground before, and under different
supices, and for many an hour had he
chased the football over it, and whether
he can accomplish as good race now, re-
mains to be tested in October. He then
presented the true issue Of the campaign,
and its peculiar Importance as ques-
ton between loyalty and disleyalty, and
gave the reasons that induced him to ac-
cept the nomination as Governor.
"After portraying the civil results con-
sequent upon the presence Of q man OF
Vallsndigham's sentiments in the Guber-
Material chair, he took up Mr.. Pugh's
speech at st. Marys, which was one-halt
an apology for the rebellion and one-halt
a denunciation Of the Government. He
discussed and showed the folly of Pugh's
charge that the North goaded the Sjuth
into secession, and showed that the alleged
sectional election by the North was desir-
ed and brought about by Southern politi-
clans to serve as a pretext for their
osuseless secession, and gave history of
the concessions Of the North to slavery and
the slave power; and also Of the Charles
ton Convention and the refusal made by
Pugh then to submit to the exhoIbitant de-
mands of slavery.
"Mr. Brough then showed-eyen grant
ing the fact of a sectional election-the
impossibility Of Mr.. Lincoln's injuring 3
the South from the msjOrilies against him
both in the Senate, House of Representa-
tives and the Supreme Court.
He then rescued the Democratic name
from the disgrace of belonging to the Val
landigham party, and pointed out political
death as the sure fate Of the party that op-
poses war He then met and vanquished
some Of the standard objections to the sup
port Of the Government L-
"The speaker said he had been asked
what he would wish done in case the seoe-
ded States should wish to return with
Slavery. He would not prosecute war one
hour against Slavery after the States sub
nit but would leave Slavery till afterwsrd.
If we cannot restore our country otherwise
If Slavery will stand in the way-it
must be Destroyed. But he would best
answer this question by repeating con-
Versation be had held with a gentleman
from Mississippi on the same subject. BE
said that if Mississippi should come back
with Slavery, they themselves would wipe
it out
Firs Because, if every negro in Mis-
sissippi had been turned into money, the
revenue therefrom would not pay One-halt
the destruction Of property by the rebel
army in that State. Slavery brought on
this waT and desoIated oar Iqnd-hs knsE
this and aOouId remove the cause Second,
The whole negro population of Mississippi
is utterly demoralized-they know of Lin
coins proclamation, and their masters
can't keep them in the State. We shall
have to free them and hire them to culti-
Vate our farms and plantstions.'
Mr.. Brough then reviewed Judge
Thomas recent speech, and showed the ad-
vantages Of this war to the farmers, as fur
nishing market for their wheat and corn
showing that the high rate Of London
exchange, naturally opened the market
there for American wheat"