Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-09-24
SPEECHES BY GEN. MCCLERNAND,
MAT. H. CARPENTER, EX-SEN.
WALKER, JUDGE HUBBELL,
AND OTHERS.
The COpperheads Toasted
PERFECT HARMONY g. UNBOUND
ED ENTHUSIASM.
From the Wisconsin State Journal.

From the Wisconsin State Journal.
The Mass State Convention of the LOYAL
Democracy of Wisconsin met at the Hyatt
House Hall, GAINESVILLE, at IL o'clock, NJ, Sep
TENDER 9th. Delegates were present rep
resenting all sections of the State, and, though
the local attendance was much less than if the
weather had been less unpropitious, the large
Hall was well filed.
THE ORGANIZATION.
The Convention was called to order by
Hon. a.. Hyatt Smith, who nominated Hon.
j. E. Arnold, of Milwaukee, for President,
which prevailed.
On taking the Chair, Mr.. Arnold briefly
thanked the Convention for the honor con-
ferred upon him, and said that he hoped the
Democracy Of Wisconsin would be restored
to loyalty to the Union and Constitution.
On motion of Hon. Arthur Macarthur VIM
C. Allen of Walworth, E. II. Brodhead of
Milwaukee, A. Hyatt Smith of GAINESVILLE, l.
P. Walker of Waukesha, S. D. Littlefeld of
Sheboygan, and Eugene Turner of Ozaukee,
were appointed Vice Presidents, and A. P
Blakeslee of La Crosse, e. G. Wheeler of
and w. L. Mitchell of GAINESVILLE, were chosen
Secretaries
On motion of Judge Hubbell, committee
of three was appointed on resolutions, con-
sisting of Messrs. Levi Hubbell of Milwau-
kee, G. D. Robinson of Brown, and H. S.
Winsor of Walworth.
On motion of A. Hyatt Smith, committee
of five to present business for the meeting
was appointed, consisting of Messrs. A. Hyatt
Smith of GAINESVILLE, - Caswell of Jefferson,
J. w. Taylor Of Dodge, A. P. Blakeslee of
La Crosse, and G. D. Robinson of Green
Boy.
On motion of Judge Macarthur committee
of three was appointed to prepare an address
to the people, consisting Of Judge Macarthur,
Geo. C. Northrup and l.. F. Patten.
On motion of A. Hyatt Smith the Con-
vention adjourned until o'clock, P. NJ.
SPEECH OF HON. j. E. ARNOLD.
O'CLOCK
The meeting was called to order, when the
chairman said that it W as appropriate before
proceeding to business that the chair should
make some statement of the object and du-
ties of the convention. Meeting as we do in
the name Of the democracy, but differing
from some of our brethren, we should make
bold, manly statement of our sentiments as
an imperishable record for history. We have
assembled to renew our VOWS of patriotism,
to make an avowal of our unconditional at
tachment to the Union, to pledge to its head
and every part, and especially to the noble
army in the field our unconditional support
We do not care to discuss the causes of the
rebellion, but how best to sustain the gov
eminent now, for the question is one concern
ing the nations life.
The speaker then alluded to past history,
and to the old differences of opinion in regard
government to be a mere compact of states,
but sovereign government created by the
people. (Cheers.) This leads us to consider
the nature of the rebellion. The leaders at
the South are rebels, and so far as the states
have attempted to secede they occupy the
position of reyolted states. The duty of the
Government is to crush this rebellion. In
the South for a long period the ultra doctrine
of State rights has prevailed. They acted on
it 80 years ago in South Carolina when they
preached the doctrine of Notification. The
South had its peculiar interest, slavery to
protect and defend. About the same time
the abolition party sprung up at the North.
These were the extremes. After the Pres-
Dental election of 80 by union of old
wings and abolitionists strong party was
formed in the North whose leading element
was abolitionism. In this state that party
South. When the South rebelled, it only re-
duced to practice the doctrines adopted by
the abolition party in this state.
If | had to search for the causes of rebel
lion, should look to the North as well as to
the South to the guilty fanatics of Wiscon-
sin, az well as to the rebels of the South
But the rebellion is ON us. We must dispose
of it or it will of us. To one thing all will
agree, that this rebellion is utterly unustifa-
BILE, and that the South is making war of
aggression, while the war on the part of the
North is just, holy and defensive. Great
cheering. This is concession of the Ryan
address that | fully approve. But, admitting
this, do not two consequences fellow? LIST.
If the is wrong and aggressive on the
part OF the South ust and defensive on the
part of the North-is it not the bounden duty
of every human being at the North to unite
and crush this unholy rebellion Cheers
and cries of yes Another proposition fol-
lows: That the whole constitutional power
of the Executive should be exercised to
crush the rebellion. This is not war de
clared by Congress, in which case the means
by which it should be carried on might be
limited by Congress But this war is in self
defense; and the natural law of selfpreser-
walton allows US to use every means in our
power to preserve our existence, and is not
the Executive vested with the amplest power,
and should he not use it to crush the rebel
lion? [Cheers.]
The speaker then referred to the unanimity
of feeling that prevailed at the North after
the attack on Sumter up to sometime last
fall. Then different feeling began to mani
fest itself. At a Democratic meeting in In
diana something more than year ago, Mr..
Wicklife, of Kentucky, uttered the senti-
ment that if slavery was to be interfered with
then the war ought to be stopped. Richard
son, of Illinois, and others were present and
adopted these views, and resolutions of the
same nature were adopted. The resolutions
of that Convention were received by tele-
graph on the morning of the great War Mass
Meeting at Milwaukee last year, and in some
remarks l made at that meeting alluded to
them. l then said if the rebels proposed to
interpose their slaves between themselves
and the military power of the Union, l, for
one, was for going through them regardless
of the consequences to slavery. fGreat cheer
ing Then came the Democratic Convention
in Milwaukee, and the Ryan address, substan-
TALLY in harmony with the utterance of Wick
life. There were throughout the North a
class of men of whom Franklin Pierce, the
Woods, Vallandigham, and others nearer home
that ! might name
A voice-Name them.
Mr.. ARNOLD havn't time now. Great
laughter
MIR. A. continuing-These men are prac-
tncally In sympathy with the rebels. Vallan-
u,Sham mas been consistent from the first
ihese were the men who had taken control of
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