Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-06-12
|gbe Obio 5tatesnrarr
A. REMARKABLE SPEECH BY
SENATOR TRUMBULL.
He Declares that the People Have tn
Right to Criticise the Acts of their
Public Servants. .....
DENUNC1ATIoN OF UNCONSTITUTIONAL
MEASURES.
HE ARRAIdNs THE ADMINISTRATION FOR HAv
ING COMMITTED FATAL BLUNDERs.

4, after speeches by Hon. WIN. KELLOGG anC
Senator DooLITTLE, of Wisconsin, Hon. LYMAt
TRUMBULL, United States Senator from Illinois
was introduced. He was announced amid per
feet storm OF cries for JENNIioH, the murderer
which had saluted the ears of previous speak
era Of the meeting whenever the crowd nearet
their barricade. The crowd evidently wished
to get rid Of him, expecting, from the events o.
the two previous days, the sentiments which
they heard. The speech was a significant one
and, in view of the remarkable change of poll
cy in the Republican party which it foreshad-
ows, will attract universal attention.
Mr.. Trumbull said: It was rather embarrass.
ing to attempt to speak to an audience which
insisted on hearing some one else, but solemn
convictions of duty compelled him to speak
when under ordinary circumstances he would
have remained silent.
He did not come to iDfame their passion, al
ready too much aroused. Their cOuptry was
In danger, and he must look the peril in the
face. No adjectives he could pile up, no names
he could apply to those who do not agree
with him, "calling them copperheads and trai
tors" would assist in arrestiDg this rebellion OF
in asserting the supremacy Of the Constitution
and the laws.
He did not desire tn inspire them with a
hurrdh, but he wished to talk to their judgments
and inspire them through appeals to their rea.
sons.
The times, he said, are grave A majority
Of the people OF our State are taking ground
against the Administration-and why7 In tho
name Of heaven, why is thisH | will tell you
why; | will point out to you come Of our mis-
takes that they may be corrected in the future
The reason is we have not adhered to David
Crockets's motto, "Be sure you are right and
then 60 ahead" A voice-"We are always
right."l Ihave lived long enough to know that
am not infallible, perhaps you are; have
some respect for the opinion of others.
One of our mistakes is that we have allowed
our opponents to make false issuas. Bu. this il
not the worst. The great change, the change
that has damaged the Administration above all
others, is that we are in favor of the exercise
of arbitrary power, that we are opposed to the
freedom of speech and opinion, in favor of cur
failing personal liberty, and in favor of des.
potism. Now We should not allow these things.
We have been the advocates of free speech
for the last forty years, and should not allow
the party which during that whole time has
advocated the gag to usurp our place.
We are fighting for the restoration of the
Union and the preservation of the Constitution,
and all the liberties it guarantees to every citi-
zen. And IL makes me feel bad when | hear
some honest friend, brimmiug full of patriotism,
say he does not care for the Constitution and
does not want to have il forced into his way, or
thrust into his face until the war is over The
rebels cannot thrust II into his face, for they
have no rights under it save the right to be
tried and hung for treason. Applause
In certain districts tho military law is su.
preme. Gen. Grant is In commend of the army
10 the State Of Mississippi, which is in revolt
Will any one deny his right to make arrests
bis right to suppress newspapers, and to level
fire, like those around you tonight, to get q
range for his guns2 No. And yet these are
all arbitrary power. But these exercises Of il
are not the troublesome cases. The great diff.
Guilty is In these districts, where rightful civil
government ia In operation, the judicial tribu-
nails are open, and the laws respected-ihe lawe
which afford a remedy for every wrong. As a
rule, we must remember that the civil law ia
superior to the military law, and the case very
rare, where the rule can be reversed. IL here
resolves itself into the plain, naked Question
of whether the President and his Generals, by
the simple clicking of telegraph ins.rum ent.
Ca cause the imprisonment of A, B, or c.. If
one General can do It another can do It, and
where is the end? Who will fix the limit?
[Great sensation and murmurs
Do you propose to interfere with the ballot-
box7 [Cries of "Nom "No !" "Neyer .,
"Never!" from all parts of the meetine.l I
am glad to hear you cay that and glad to see
you so unanimous. Did it ever occur to Won
that the next election may put an entirely dif-
ferent face upon affairs The next election
may bring great and deplorable changes, when
Vsllandigham and men OF his class may deter.
mine who are to be arrested. Cries of "No
that can never be-" from all parts of the crowd |
Well, gentlemen, there Is no use in closing your
eyes to the facts which exist around YOU on
every side, and told you came here to ad-
dress your reason and not your passions, and in
view OF that light / ask you who are being
elected Governors OF loyal States, who compose
q majority OF the Legislature of the loyal State
Of Illinois, and who was recently elected Mayor
of her principal and most loyal city, end in
view of these facts what may the future have in
store2 ["Jennison, "music," "ge don't want
to hear YOU" "You sent telegram to the
Presidential l know am distnstefuI, but am
not truthful? would claim your reason di.
vested Of passion. The same chslics Won hold
TO the lips Of your adversaries to-day, to-mor-
row may be returned to your lpe. Would you
like to drink of it2 Close our eyes as we NAV.
there ia no safety for US, no safety for YOU and
and every American citizen, now and in the
future, but in an unvsrying adherence to the
constitutional landmarks of our fathers. TFurth.
or and louder cries of "Jennison," ana much
dissatisfaction.
You are wrong-it ia your greatest and Rrsy.
est miatake--in allowing your adyersaries 10
place you in the position of being opposed TO
the Constitution. [Cries of "Jennison," and
"Give us somebody else."] see that 1 am
diatasteful, but cannot help it and will not de-
tain youlong.
Who 10 there among you who does not believe
in strictly adhering to the Constitution in these
times and extending to every citizen Of the loy.
al States It's guarantees2 Or, in other words
who among you is ready to substitute the will
and opinion OF one man, who may be another
Vallandigham, in place of the Constitution Of
the supreme law Of the land2 [Cries OF awe
don't want any more Of thst."] Well, hear me
through, for will not be long, and the cues
tiona before you are Of much importance ant
you should listen patiently, and not only that
decide dispassionately
The Constitution Ia broad. Il grants al
powers necessary, even for the suppression O
treason in the North. [Applause.] Yes, gen
tlemen, IL is just as legal and binding upon tn,
General in the field, and the civil officers of th,
nation, as 1t Is upon the humblest citizen In th
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