Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-09-01

Speech Of Hon. ], R. DoOlittle before the IN
ion State Convention.

that we meet at a time ofgreat responsible
ties. We have come together to discharge
the highest civil duty. What is the zeal
/ situation
For two years and more, that great con
| spiracy which for thirty years has been
plotting TO destroy this government, has
been engaged iu actual war gainst it. So
deeply layed so well natured were all its
plans, so Widespread, so thoroughly armed
were the conspirators, and so unsupported
and unprepared were the loyal people Of
the United States that the rebellion once
sprahg into gigantic proportions. 1t was
at once recognized by England and France
as belligerent power unequal footing with
ourselves. There has been times when it
would seem as if they might even succeed
in destroying the Union and Constitution,
and in the utter overthrow of ouF whole
system Of government.
During all that period, for more than two
years, our country has been engaged 10
fearful struggle for its very life. She
has to exert every power she has bled at
every pore. At her call her sons have gone
to premature graves. But thanks to God
and to onr brave men in arms, our beloved
country still lives! Our flag still floats
over the Capitol at Washington, "not a
star obscured, not stripe erased = We
are still American citizens Our recent
victories, it is true, bring great encourage
ment, and give greater promise Of browning
victories to come. But cur danger is by
no means passed. That fearful struggle Of
life and death still goes on, until the end
of the rebellion rebellion comes. | know
we have done much, our work is not fin
ished.
Tn spite of disasters; in spite of some
mistakes; in spite of the great disadyanta
oes under which we commenced this strug-
Ole against armed rebellion; in spite OF
European sympathy and material aid; in
spite of treason sympathizers North and
South; in spite of dangers by sea and dan
gers by land; and dangers among false
brethren; we have steadily aud falteringly
pushed on the great work,--the God given
duty-of maintaining and defending the
supremacy and integrity ofthe Constitution
and Government of the United States
! We have opened the Mississippi from IFS
source to its mouth. We are now batter
inc down the walls Of that fortress whe'e
the flag of the Union was first Inundated
at the feet Of traitors in the harbor Of Char
lesion, and trust, before many weeks, we
can raise il once more, never TO come down
again, over that wicked city, where treason
has continued to hatch its vile broods for
quarter of a century.
III answer to the sneers anil jibes Of the
English aristocracy, The London Times, the
| New York World, and all their sympathi-
zers, in Europe as well as in America, we
can point 10 our two years OF hard labor,
trial and sacrifce-of blood, aud agony,
and tears, and say, "Behold the results
MARYLAND, Missouri, Kentucky, most of
Tennessee, much Of Arkansan, Mississippi,
/ Louisiana, Virginia, and North Carolina,
and some even Of South Carolina, Georgia,
Florida, and Alabama, are once more I'M
der the flag Of the Union, and the suprem-
acy of the Constitution. Under the prov
idenee of God, by the heroic exerhons Of
our army and navy, we have redeemed
from the rebellion country greater and
richer by far than all of France and Great
Britain put together.
And yet let us not deceive ourselves.
This curse rebellion still lives; beaten, il
is true but not discomfited; driven back,
! demoralized somewhat, but by no means
4 suppressed. 1t still rears a gigantic front.
1t still aims at the nations life. Shall we
survive or perish-4-liye or die? That's the
question of every patriots heart; morning,
noon, and night; the first when he wakes,
the last ere he sleeps; constant, ever pres
sing; it demands and will have an answer.
1t tries the very soul. L postpones or
subordinates every other question, for all
Others worth having is involved in its solu-
ton.
Holt, Dix, Johnson, Grant, Rosecrans,
Butler, and hosts of loyal and patriotic
men, of the Democratic as well as of the
Republican party, have nobly responded to
this question and have been ready to offer
up their lives, and have by thousands upon
thousands offered up their lives.
/ So Mr.. Douglas, with his clear and gift
ed mind, saw at a glance, what be declar-
ed almost with bis dying words--so iong
as this war lasts, SO long as rebels are in
in arms against the government, all polit
ical issues are swallowed up in the greater
issue Of national life; national unity the
supremacy Of the constitution. He said
in substance ewhie the war lasts there can
be no issue but loyalty aud treason, and
no parties but patriots and traitors"
have sometimes put to myself this
question: "If Johnson Dix, or any other
Democrat occupied Lincoln's place, having
been elected before the war began. by
political party TO which did moi belong.
could /, 50 long as the war lasts, organize
OF aid in organizing a political party OPP
posed to him, and still act the part of a
patriot?9
\ know not how others may feel, but for
4 myself before High Heaven | declare that
until this fearful issue of war is past, ]
could not, and would not dare do so, lest