Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-08-06

Wisconsin Cavalry, made speech at Fort
Scott on the Fourth which has rarely |
been equalled in pith, point and e.oquence.
The main portions of it are given below.
The sophistries of rebels and "peace men"
have seldom been more Witty and merci-
lessly torn to tatters.
The following is the speech of Maj.
CALKINs, as reported:
llr. President, and Ladies and Gentle
men Il supposed that our fellow citizens,
the subjects of jeff. Davis and the way
ward Sisters,' are celebrating, as we are
celebrating, with such facilities as they
have for being jolly, this same glorious
anniversary. They probably waste no
enough to charge their shot guns with tor
service. They are probably short of
whisky, another main element of south
ern enthusiasm, Qaughter). That article
is $50 gallon among the thirsty confed.
crates. Other means OF enjoyment is
doubtless wanting south Of that "belt of
desolation," which is the boundary of reb-
eldom. But they are doubtless doing
the best they can under the circumstances
and what a commentary is It on the
fratricidal crime which they are enacting.
The great declaration enunciated 81 years
ago to-day, declared all men free and
equal. They are fighting to perpetrate
slavery over one half of mankind in their
borders. 1t declared the right of the
people to self government. They are
lighting to establish military despotism
and to rivet the chains which were i'm.
posed en- their people by force and fraud.
1t denounced usurpatiop and tyranny
They are fighting to sustain usurpation,
the most fragrant in history, and a tyran.
ny such as never before oppressed man
kind. It declared that the governed should
choose their rulers-they are making war
on the rulers whom the governed chose.
These are some of the monstrous anoma-
lies for which this rebellion is waged.-
And every word which they speak in its
defense is an uttered outrage, and every
gun which they have fired was wicked
and murderous assault upon the princi-
Piles that day announced-and gross
oh how gross and objectionable insult to
every sacred and glorious memory linked
in the undying thought of free people,
with the day we celebrate. Why do not
the immortal dead burst their cerements,
why do not their ashes speak, or their
sanctifed spirits move with preternatural
power for the defeat and overthrow of
organized and armed revolt against the
government which they formed, and in.
situations bequeated to US as our priceless
inheritance2 [Applause.l
4 WORD ABOUT THE GRUMBLERs.
There is class scarcely less criminal,
at the bar of their country and of history,
and not less mischievous in the effect of
their acts upon the great struggle for the
preservation Of the Government, than
rebels in arms. It consists of those citi-
zens of the North who, with, perhaps,
some sickly and morbid remnants of love
for the Union, which ali once cherished,
complain of the efforts made to preserve
the Union, as not in proper form, or at
the proper time, or too violent, or too
mild. | care not whence that man comes,
be he who he may, or belong to what par
ty he may, if he seeks to embarrass the
Government by his complaints, or his in
action, Or his malevolent criticisms, or his
opposition to the means used, he might as
well, so far as the welfare of the country
is concerned, shoulder his shot gun and
join the rebel army. Yes, better, far bet
ter. For then, on the spot where he
stood, among all his co>conspirators,
patriot bullet might find him out, and end
bis life and his power for evil to- ether.-
[Applause.l
ALARM ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION.
They talk about danger to their Gber-
ties--that their constitutional rights are
in jeopardy. What patriot will whimper
in our ears his complaints. that his liber-
ties are endangered, when traitors have
armed to overthrow the very government
under which his liberties are defined and
secured What patriot will raise the cry
that his constitutional rights are assailed,
when gigantic rebellion is rampant against
the constitution by virtue of which he has
any rights at all, and under which his
rights are protected? Away with this
solemn farrell Was firing on Fort Sum-
ter, violation of the constitution Was
the establishment OF separate and hostile
government within our boundaries is the
assassination of your neighbors, friends
and relations a violation of the constitu.
ton O, no! they are only slightly ir
regular proceedings-a little g wayward.n
that's all !! [Laughter.] But if treasona
bic publication is suppressed, or pestilent
babbIer of reasonable sentiments is ar
rested, then the country is ruined at once
And the complaints OF these men come
with such persistent and damnable itera. |
tion," that one would suppose our consti-
tuition had been all broken to pieces by the |
efforts to preserve it, and that there was
not a fragment worth saving. This as |
President Lincoln would say, "reminds
me OF a story" A veteran church sister
was asked By the presiding elder, Chow
many commandments are there ?" 6 Nine" |
was the reply. "Sister Peabody" SAYS
the elder, reprovingly, shave you sat I'm.
der the preaching OF the gospel eight and
thirty years, and don't know how many
commandments there are?" 81 know,
Elder" was the answer, "there used to be
ten, but broke one of 'em last week, and
there amt but nine zettP' TGreat laugh.
ter. And these fellows seem to imagine
that showing rebel sympathizer into the
guard house, has some such effect on the
constitution, as Mrs. Peabody thought her
had on the decalogue. Ire
newed laughter and applause.
Why if the Constitution is so fimsy
that the very efforts to preserve it, will
destroy tiff it is the smoking fax, which
you spoil in trying to quench or a bub-
bic which bursts when you touch it, or
sossamer thread. or a butterfy's wing,
'sOr like the rainbow's lovely form
EVanishing amid the storms
cts away with it; let US have a Consti-
ution of oak and hickory, {" that's it; -
bully for you,") with a foundation of
old granite, and spire Of polished steel,