Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-03-24
The Patriotism of the war.

L. = VA. gA4C. W Oh
Speech OF Gen. John Cochrane, late
Il Democratic Member OF Congress, in
UnconditionRl Union Man. THE
i hlnd OF Democracy that General
i jackson taught. i}- ,i..5sl 81
GENTLEMEN OF TIE LOYAL NATIoNAI
LEAGUE: / have but few words to address
to you to night. did not come here for
the purpose of making q speech, nor OF
4 texpatiating at length uhon the great
4 subjects which fill your hearts aud occupy
your minds, for within the Whispering Of
the dramatic muse I say, p
Crude am I in my speech,
ana 't.e blessed with Wit she s set phrase Of peace
And little of this great world can 1 speak,
More than pertains to feats Of broil and battle."
But wherever, throughout the whole land.
look upon my assem6t fellow-citizensL
the great civic army of peAoe-my thoughts
revert with coustancy to that faithful band
THAT, in front of yonder enemy, submits to
/ every inclemency,yi yields to no vicissitude
but in every event, under every circum-
| stan &C, with bosom armed in, the panobIy
of patriotism, have offered themselves a
sacrifice to the safety and unity Of the
country. (Applause.l l speak to yOn Of
the soldiers in arms. (Renewed applause,l J
| speak to you of his stern .endurance-of
his anxious soltcitude-of his efforts-of
bis peris-of his death, for the comforts
which you enjoy. (APplause.) I speak
to you of men who, here, have banded
themselves frequently in arrayAgainst each
other -partizans- different political
principles and creeds, and YET who unite
shoulder to shoulder, under one flag, and
with flashing bayonets, knowing no divi-
sions-no party rallying cry, but the great
tcry of the country, 'Save or we are lost. !"
| (Applause.) Nay, nay. when, after the
battle has been waged, aud their rank
set in array, no question has been
asked by the soldier of his comrade,
"of what party were you in yonder
civil State 2'-but with, the sternness of
war and determination for viclory-Dem-
ocrat, Republican, Abolitionist, Emancipa-
tionist-Rll Americans have advanced to
the Que motto, "Victory shall be ours, and
the rebellion shall be crushed" Zap
plause.1 And if more were necessary to
teach us the folly of political divisions
when our country is in extremity-if any.
thing i'll addition were needed Tonight to
explain why all should be sacrificed but
personal and political devotion to the con
test upon the common altar of our suffer-
lug country, would invoke the spirit of
lthat man now departed from among sus,
Ewhose words havesreached US to. nfght-I
speak of the great Webster-settiug where
party prevails no longer, telling Americans
that as Americans only can they maintain
the American Government. Applause.
The voices of the dead proclaim the great
truth to the living; they who have prece-
ded US, the fathers as well as the commen /.
tators upon their works, announce that
there cAnibe no success save in action; that
there can be no successful action save in
unity, and that in the accord of sentiment,
and in the unanimity' of mind must it be
now ns ever it has been, that a great peo-
pie, striking for the great truths which
4 control a government and influence the
destinies of race, must advance in the
cause which they have adopted with a
united and undivided front Applause
Then, members of this Loyal League, l
speak to you tonight, not as members oil
( lpoiiIicRl partieS,- not as those in whose
minds even the reminiscence of political
division is present, but TO those in whose
minds even those who forget all, ignoring
the long and dreaEy paths, that we may
at length reach brilliant future; l speak
to you that We, united, and influenced by
J the combined action. nerved to vigorous
strength, may lay down at your feet and
trample in thedust those political divisions
now kept alive by demagogues and traitors
Applause that with one common effort
we may declare that this people is and
should be a united; vigorous, independent
land integral people. Renewed applause
!, Now, it occurs to me that much has been
said, even by our friends, as 6oding the
conduet of fthe people inthIs great contest
aud infereutially as of great encourage
ment to ourselves, that there is great re
action throughout this lanIiss A reaction
Toward what and from what z From tht
causes and principles of rebellion, and to
ward theQrtnrtpl tplesaud. virtues OF common
: loyalty--A reaction from demolition and re
volt to .loyalism and integrity. Far from
z it. Ny friends there has been no reaction
The reaction is in the MUD of the luke
! warm-Of the 'dou blful-ofe the obIique.-
The great heart of the people, from tn
Iearlfest initisttou-the first original mo
Il lment OF this rebellion-has been right
/ fApplause.) It never, neyeT1was wanting
The people have uuderstopd this bette
than the politicians and the statesmen !; 70
q the people have Thought with theirbsarts
Il while politicians have speeuiated and com
I. lbtned with .theire minds. (Applause.l- y
Il Aud from the first moment of this con
nj troyersy, my word for it, bad The tru
q measure been AdoPted-thAtO of suppressiu
81 the rebellion and securing to MS the victo
: ry-the people would have risen in masse
: his country oyer,s (Applanse-) What
We educate the people to resistaace-re
- beIlion 6 SaSs lit haslb bees thepeupIe VII
n have educated the Administration 4 Ap
-lplause.ls There is no reaction. "A singu
-.Iiar combination Of circumstances induce
4 certain set of lnkgwarm and doubtfI
" gentlemen 10 suppose that the quietude {
the people meant doubt in regasd to I'd
issnes and The character of this eoutrc