Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-08-18
Democracy OF WllIlamsoD

L
Judge David Norman was appointed pres
ident, James Barbour and Geo. W. Akin
vice president, and William E. Hearu and
Allen Scurlock, secretaries.
On motion of Capt. Cunningham, the
chair appointed the following named gen.
tlemen committee on reso lutions, Wig:
Hon. James M. Wsshburne, Col. Jas.
Pulley, j. B. Walker. j. j. Allen, LII.
Spencer, F. DOty. Themes Scurlock,
After the retirement Of the committee
Hon. WIN. J. Allen was loudly called for.
lie came forward and addressed the meet
ing 10 one of the best speeches of his life.
Judge Allen remarked that he knew
quite as well as any one present the cir.
cumstances surrounding the democracy of
Williamson that battalion of soldiers
were 10 town, and many in his presence;
tn at those who had mauliness enough 10
claim their constitutional rights had been
threatened; but oil this should not deter
BIN from expressing his honestly enter
tanned sentiments.
These are not times for men to fear and
tremble, although the rad of despotism and
anarchy might be held over their heads.
Judge Allen said the Williamson county
democracy had been malinged and aspers>
ed more by the pimps and miLions Of those
in power, than their brethren in any other
portion Of the state. The reason for this
he could not understand. Have we not,
saie be. always obeyed the law, fulfilled
all Of our obligations to cur country. and
discharged our duties faithfully as god
citizens? True, said he, we believe in the
doctrine announced Sy Secretary Seward
to Minister Adams, that the people are
justified in separating the admins tration
from the government. We car criticise
and denounce the one with perfect consist-
ency, so long as we cling with unfaltering
devotion to the other. This belief Of ours
may have had the effect of bringing down
upon Us the persecution We are now under.
going, for it has been recently announced.
at least semi-authOritatively, that "the ad-
ministration is the government.
Such vile heresy as this he could nev
or sanction. Better be abused, misrepre-
scented, better suffer and die if pecessary,
than abandon or falter in the support Of
the legacy left us by oar fathers, the con-
stitution of the United States. He was de
votedly attached to the Union with the
constitution as its law, and would make
every sacrifice to maintain it.
The judge then went into an elaborate
argument with reference to the rights of
the states and the powers Of the general
government, and showed to the entire salts
faction OF the large crowd present the en-
croachments of the latter upon the former.
lie denounced arbitrary arrests, the sup.
preston Of the freedom Of speech and of
the press, and all the lawless and uncon.
stitutional acts of those in power. He in
dlgnantly denied that the democratic par.
ty had any other object in view than the
preservation of the government intact but
IN order to do this, he maintained it was
necessary for the people, at the ballot.box.
to hurl from power the cormorants, cor
ruF tionists and despots who now, under
the semblance of federal authority. are en-
deavOring, as be honestly believed, to des.
troy tie liberties of the people.
He exhOrted the people to peace, to the
obedience of law, to abstain from every
thing calculated to produce irritation or
excitement; to sacrifice much, in fact every.
thing except their government and their
right under it, but to maintain these at ell
hazards. But it is impossible to give any.
thing like faithful account of Judge AL.
lens speech. 1t was able, ELOQUENT and
patriotic, and found heartfelt response in
the bosoms Of the hundreds of democrats in
attendance.
At the conclusion Of Judge Aliens
speech the committee on resolutions made
the following report, which was unaui,
uOusly adopted:
-, The democracy of Williamson county,
Illinois, 10 mass meeting, resolve
L. That the action and resolutions of the
democratic mass meeting, held at Spring
held on the 18th ultimo, meet with our
cordial approval.
2. We stand by our oft repeated doc
trine, since our international troubles set
in, that the Union formed by our fathers.
with the constitution as it's law, must be
pres srVed; but We have dispaired of this
contamination while the present corruut.
wicked and imhecile administration re.
main IN power, and it 10 therefore our dutv.
IN view OF the love we have of our country.
to use our every effort to displace. BY the
use OF the balloi-box, those now exercising
national authority.
s. We believe, that should the true
democracy Of the country legally OBJ.
tain control Of the government, some
other a:bltrament than that of the sword
would prove effectual in settling our .roub.
4. ln our opinion, every means should
Dc put forth, consistent with genuine pat
rlotism, to cure the nation Of ''the mad
oeiriums of war fever" with which il
is now 90 seriously afflicted. and we invoke
:ne ana OF all oOuntry-lovers to assist us
5: That the democratic party still elirps
with unyielding faith to the ereat princi-
pie that the people are caple of self-zoy-
eminent; that our constitution. was Termed
not to confer life, liberty or the right to
pursue his own happiness. upon the citi-
zeo' but to secure these rights to tie citi.
zen: and TO protect him in the endowment
OF the same; that the liberties of the pee
pie are of far greater value than anS oar
flcuiar government, since the people, If
, O Tree. can make or change their gov
ernment as their interests NAV 1eouire:
but it they lose their liberties. sslf.eovern.
ment is at an end, aud either monarchv or
military disposition as a necessary con-
sequence.
SUPERLATlvE MEANNEss.-We have on
our books the Dames of many who have re.
eeIVed our paper for number of wears