Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-08-29
Speech of Judge Lewis.


ed the nomination for Governor was in
troduced to the Convention, and accep
ted the nomination in the following ear
nest, eloquent aud patriotic remarks
Gentlemen of the Convention Per
NIT me TO tender you my sincere thanks
for the honor You have conferred upon
me in selecting me as Que of the stand.
ard bearers in the approaching contest
q contest. as / believe it 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 to do justice to the position TO
which YOU would assign me, yet all |
have, all | am, is at the disposal of my
country. | say now, as | said at the
breaking ont of this rebellion, whatever
NAV betide us, whatever sacrifice it may
cost, the Union must be preserv ed
tremendous applause.
The Union first, party and private in-
terest and individual preferences after
ward. (Cheers.) If the Union fails,
we have little LETT worth fighting for. If
the Union falls, party and private inter-
ests must fall with it, and public freedom,
the true end of all civa government, will
be obscured beneath the clouds that ages
may not roll away.
Would we save our Government we
must bare our hands to the task of crush
ing the wicked rebellion that is now ra-
ging in our midst. We must unite our
strength for long and determined effort
to accomplish this objec,, letting no mi
nor questions divide US. (Cheers.) l
care not what our past differences may
have been, | can freely cooperate with
all " hose hearts are truly aud sincerely
in the work. Not with those who cry
"peace, peace, when there is no peace" y
Not with those who say they are in favor
of putting down the rebellion, but oppose
e cry means calculated TO accomplish the
object; but with those who not only say
they favor its suppression, but are will
ing to use the means necessity for Its
suppression, and devote every power that
God has given them to the accomplish
ment of this work. Great applause.
And here, LET mo remark, is q broad
line of demarkation between the true
Union men of the country and those who
falsely style themselves rs such-those
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 its
suppression. is throwing fuel upon the
flame 20 light it to a still brighter blaze.
Can men expect 10 crush the rebellion Ivy
characterizing our noble army in the
field as an armed mob, 10y refusing 10 fur
nish the means to carry on the war, OPP
psition to the draft, opposition to the
means Of the Administration necessary to
for its suppression, opposition Ia law and
order, 10y promoting riots, declaring eve
nv measure calculated TO sustain the Gov
eminent Illegal and unconstitutional, in
effect declaring that there is no power in
the Government for its own preservation.
no power of scI:-defence! Let me say
TO those men that the God of the uni
verse has conferred upon men AMI nations
the rights of freedom AMI 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 have 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, our ships destroyed al
sea, and our glorious old flag torn from
its standard, have honied words for trait.
ors, and not one word for freedom or its
noble defenders, who peril their lives in
their country's cause. Sensation. Won
derful acutcness in discovering TECHNICAL
ties to secure the rights of rebels, but
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 to be the
fact, and we must meet them with the
weapons of truth aud justice, and may
God protect the right. [Cheers.
And, oh what shall We say of those
men who would add the sin Of hypocricy
to that of disloyalty who but few short
months ago, could stand up before this
people, and with loud harangues and
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 me, hence you
suffer for it." no more men, no more
money; fight your battles, know you
not; who, when the wall comes up from
the soldiers family, can turn deaf''ear t.
the cry; not willing to accord to the poor
soldier the civil rights he possessed when