The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-05-06
SPEECH or GEN. BUrLER
At the Acadamy OF Music. In New York OF
the evening OF Thursday. April I'd, 1863.

I udl euDsiIeo, nc drOee ana said.
Ma MAYOR With the prosoundest graft
tude for the too fattering conneudation OF N,
administration Of tie various trusts committee
10 me b the Government, which, in behalf O
your associates, you have been pleased TO ten
der NE, ! ask you to receive ny most heart
felt thanks To the citizens Of New York here
assembled 10 kind appreciation OF my services
supposed u have been rendered TO my country
l tender the deepest acknowledgment. ! ae-
cept II all, IOt iOr myself. but for my brave CON
rades in tie army OF the gui. receive it as ar
earnest Of your devotion 70 the country, an ey
idence Of yOur loyalty 70 the constitution under
which you i've aud under which you hspe e
die. IN order that the acts OF The army of the
Cult may be understood, perhaps it would be al
vel, a, little leagth, with your pcrmisson
that some detail shoulG be given % the thesis
upon which We administered our duties
few men were riOting at Baltimore, and as
/ marched through al the head OF the United
States troops, the question arose 10 nv mind
what have before me? You will remember
thea, that | offered 70 put down al kinds of in
surrections as long as the State of Maryland re-
NAMED LOYAL 10 the United States.
Transferred from thence to a wider sphere at
Fortress Monroe, found that the State OF Vir-
giHis, through its Organization had taken itself
Out OF the Union, and WIS endeavoring to erect
for itself an independent Government; and
dealt with that State being in rebellion and
thought the property Of The rebels, of whatever
name and nature, should be dealt With a. re
beious property, and contraband have been
thus caiefg IN stating he various steps, because
although through your kindness replyiag to eu
Ogy, | an here answering every charge Of in
consistency or wrong of intention for my acts
done before the country Wrong ia judgment
may have been, but Insist, wrong in inten-
tions or inconsistent, never Upon the same
theory upon Which | f-lt mysslf bound to put
down insurrection ia Maryland, while it re.
mained loyal, whether that nsurrectiouary ele
meut consisted Of blacks or whites, by the same
Loyalty TO the constitution and the laws, | felt
bound TO corhscate slave property in the rebel
liOus State Of Virginia Pardon me sir, i 1 say
right here that am n little sensitive upon this
subject | an an old fashioned Andrew jackson
Democrat Of twenty years standing. Applause
vOice-'The second hero Of New Orleans.'-
ReneNed applause, eliminating in three cheers. }
And as far as know, have never swerved, 80
help me God, from one OF its teachings Up 70
the time that disunon took place, went as far
as the furthest in sustaining the constitution
Al rights of the States, however bitter or dis
tasteful - me were the obligations say father
bad made fer me IN toe compromises Of the con
stituti0n. But among thcuI it was not for NE 70
pick out the sweet from the bitter, and, fellow
Democrats took them all because thev we're
constitutional obligations; and taking tbem all
stood BY The South and by Southcru rights
under the constitution uuti | advanced, and
looked into tue very pit of dissniOr aud, not
liking the prospect, quietly with rev. aud sc
were from that hour apart. How Tar apart, YOU
NAV Judge, when | tell you that Oh the 2sth day
of December, 1860, shook hands or terms Of
pei sOnal friendship with Jefferson Davis, and on
the 2Sth day OF December, 1862, | had the
pleasure Of reading his proclamation, that | was
TO be hanged at sight. And now, my frieAds
II you will allow me TO pass on for a mnrnA-t -
this line OF thought. As we come up TO the time
when their men laid down their Constitutional
obligations. What we're their rights and what
we're nine! At that hour they repudisted the
Constitution, 0y solemn vote, in solemn coa-
ventOn; and net Only that, bat they took arms
IN their hands, and undertook by force TO rend
from tie Cover nlent what seemed 10 them the
farest portion OF the heritage which my fathers
had given to NE az rich legacy to my children.
hen they did that, they abrogated, abRegated
ard forfeited every constitutional right, and re
leased Tie from every constitutional obligation.
AlO NAen | was thus called upOa 10 say what
should bo my action Ia regard 10 slavery, | vas
left 20 the natural instincts Of nv heart, es
prompted by Christian education in New En-
glazd and I dealt with it accordingly, as | Was
10 loagor boznd. The same sense OF da-
g. 10 nv constitutional obligations aad 70
State tights, as long - they remained under the
Constitution, that required me to support the
system Of slavery that same sense OF duty
and ngat. after they mad gone oat from under
! the Constitution, caused me 10 follow tae dc
tatss Of 10Y OWE conscience, untraUmelei. So,
nv i.iends, you see, however misjadging have
been, AID speak to my old Democratic iriehds,
1 claim went along step by step up 20 that
point, aud should still 60 along step by step.
We accept that the right 70 hold slaves Sss a
part OF tie compromises made by our fathers IL
the Constitution, aud if their State rights were
% DC respected because of our alleg .ance to the
Constitution ald our .e-pect to State rights,
yet whea that sacred obligation Was taken away
aad ae as vel as the negroes wers diseuLhralled,
ThS shOUld Sc not follow the dictates Of Gods
'aw and humanity
Bv the exigsnces Of the public service re-
moved cnce more 10 another sphere OF action,
/ 40 Nes Oi!eaus, | found this problem 10 come
a; il al other form, and that led TIE te examine
and see nov far had progressed the civil com
motion, now carried on by force Of arms.
! found our complex system of States with
an independent government of tie United State:
/ covering = all that there can be treason 70 ths
State and DO; TO the United States, and revola
tiOn IN the State and rot as regards the United
States, and loyalty to the State aud dslOysty tC
the Union, and loyalty 10 the Union and dislOy
atty 10 the organized government Of The State
/ And as al illustration, take the trouble which
lately sln0st arose IN the State Of Rhode Island
where there Was al attempt to rebel against th'
State government and 10 change the form o
State government All of YOU are familiar viii
the movements OF Mr. DOrr; there was 10 in
tent Of aissyalty against the United States, bs
great deal against the State Government
therefore in Louisiana found State governmen
that had entirely changed its form, AID had rev
Olutouzed itself 40 far ss possible, created court
and imposed taxes: | found, 90 far sS the Stat
Governments va concerned i, VAS no lOuger il
and o. itself cne Of the United States Is had
so far as il could changed its State Governments
and 5y solemn act had forever seeded from In
United States OF America, and attempted TO jOi
.he Confederate States, and | found, | rssPectfs
" submit a revouEiOnized State There la
been revolution beyond an iusurrectieu sn
infrseticn Of the Law; beyond the sbnegatiOn an
setting aside of tie law, and a new State govern
mant formed that WAS being supported by fore
o; arms. Uupon what thesis shall deal wit
tbs people?
Organized into Community by forms of lsv
they had sezed portion Of the territory OF "a
United States; sRa | respectfully submit I mu:
deal with them ss alien enemies. They had fo
ever passed the boundary Of hayward sister
unless indeed thew erred "a Cain did against h