Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-09-05
speech, of Judge Lewis.

ted the nomination in the following ear
nest, eloquent and patriotic remarks
Gentlemen of the Convention Per
nit me to tender YOU nv sincere thanks
for the honor You have conferred upon
me in selecting me as one of the stand
ard bearers in the approaching contest;
q contest. as | believe 1t TO be, between
RIGHT and wrong, Government, law, or
der. and anarchy and confusion, Union
ard disunion. (Cheers.) 1t were an
honor to be thought worthy to bear the
standard of the Union loving men of
Wisconsin in time Of peace, but to be
counted worthy in time of war, when our
all is at stake, when danger threatens us
on every hand, | conceive to be still
greater honor. l feel, gentlemen, my in
ability 10 do justice to the position to
which YOU would assign me, Set all |
have, all | am, is at the dispose! of my
country. | say now, rs | said at the
breaking out Of this rebellion, whatever
may bctide US, whatever sacrifice it may
cost, the Union must be preserv cd
(Iremendous applause-
The Union first, party and private in
terest and individual preferences after
ward. (Cheers) Ii the Union falls,
We have little left worth fighting for. Ii
tue Union falls, party and private inter
ests must fall with it, and public freedom,
the true end of all ciVa government, wall
be obscured beneath the clouds that ages
may not roll away.
Would we save our Government, we
must Iare our hands to the task of crush
inc the wicked rebellion that is now ra-
girg in our midst. We must unite cur
strength for long and determined effort
to accomplish this Office, letting 10 mi
nor questions divide US. (CheerS.) ]
care not what our past differences may
have been, | can freei Y CO operate with
all i" hose hearts are truly aad sincerely
ia the work. Not with those who cry
"peace, peace, when there is no peace. =
Not with those who say they are in favor
Of putting down the rebellion, but oppose
every means calculated to accomplish thg
Object: but with those who not only say
they favor its suppression, but are will
inc to use the means necessary for is
suppression, and devote every power that
God has given them to the accomplish
ment Of this work. Great applause.
And here, let me remark, Is broad
line of demarkaiion between the true
Union men of The country and those who
falsely STYLE themselves rs such-thosc
who falsely style themselves Democrats
The one Claims 10 be IN favor Of putting
down the rebellion and is willing to use
the means necessary for its suppression
. The other, while claiming 10 favor it,
suppression. is throwing fuel upon the
flame to light il to q still brighter blaze.
Can men expect 10 crush the rebellion 10y
characterizing our noble army in the
field as an armed mob, 10y refusing to fur
nish the means to carry Oh the war, OPP
psiiion to the draft, opposition to TIC
means of the Administrators necessary to
for its suppression, opposition to law and
order, by promoting riots, declaring eve
ry measure calculated to sustain the Gov
eminent illegal and unconstitutional, IN
effect declaring that there is no power III
The Government for its own preservation,
no power Of scl;.defence? Let me say
to those men that the God of the uni
verse has conferred upon men and nations
the rights of freedom and self defense.-
The Constitution and laws Of our glori
Gus Union reiterate the rights, and mil
lions Of American freemen yet live to as
scrt them. Renewed applause.
1t is to be regretted that we lave men
among US who prefer party to country;
who in the hour Of our cOuntry's peril
will spurn the hand that feeds them
who, when our forts are battered down
by rebel cannon. oar ships destroyed ut
sea, and our glorious obi flag torn from
its standard, have houied words for trait
ors, aud not one word 70? freedom or its
noble defenders, who peIil their lives in
their country's cause. Sensation. Won
derful acUteness in discovering technical
ties to secure the rights of rebels, bat
they have no appreciation of the value
Of pubic virtue and public freedom. |
SAY it is to be regretted that we have such
men among Us, but such seems t. be the
fact, aud we must meet them with the
weapons Of truth aud justice, AMI NAV
God protect the right. [Cheers.
And, Oh what shall We say of those
men who would add the sin Of hypocricv
TO that Of dis!oya!ty; who but few short
months ago, could stand up before this
people, and with loud harangues ami
promises OF support, induce their neigh
bors to 90 forth to battle, and now, when
the cry comes up from these sans neigh
bors for help, can turn coldly away
with the answer,-"The Presidents poll
CIV does not exactly suit M, hence you
suffer for it," no more men, no more
money; fight your battles. | know Won
not; who, when TIE wall comes up from
the soldiers family, can turn deaf ear to
the cry; not willing to accord to the poor
soldier the civil rights he possessed when
at home of expressing his wish at the bal
lot box; refusing help in tho hour of
theirs and their country's peril. Nav
God have mercy on them! May they get
view of the stains on their garments,
''seo themselves as others see them;" turf