The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1863-05-28

speech--a free press-and who shall take
them away from Us.
Yet, my fellow citizens, in the face Of
this fact, we have been told, here IN Indi.
ana. pot merely thai public discussion was,
IN general terms, prohibited; but we have
even been told what particular measures
of public policy we shall not discuss. l
am not going to descend into particulars
upon this point, but | will tell you this,
that the democratic party will discuss the
tax bill aud tho internal revenue policy
for you have the money to pay;) 1t will
discuss the conGscation act and the Pres-
dents emancipation policy. These meas
ures effect the best interests Of the white
man, and the peace and security of the
government for generations to come. To
discuss them is our undeniable right. |
plant my foot upon the constitution, and
soemnly declare in behalf of myself and
the great democratic party, that we will
never surrender to any power ON earth the
right to discuss all these measures, which
bear 50 fearfully upon our dearest inter
ests. We will discuss the President s
compensated emancipation policy. We
will discuss the right Of this government
to put its band into the pocket of the Ia
boring white man for the purpose of free
ing the negro. We will discuss the con
script act. We Will discuss the policy of
every law that is now or may hereafter be
placed upon the statute book Those OF
them that are, in our judgment. wrong we
will asked to be repealed We will test
their constltutionality in the courts. In
short, We will do all that our fathers have
done to assert our manhood and freedom;
to demonst ate to the world that we are
not he degenerate sons OF glorious sires.
If We are to give up these privileges at
the bidding Of a tespot, let us hide the
face of the Goddess of Liberty in funer-
al veil. deceive the world no longer with
the semblanco of freedom, but accept at
once the name Of despotism and wear the
collar OF slaves.
Do we propose, as democrats, to do any
thing wrong? Do we love our country the
less that we intend to assert the heaven from
right of free discLssion9 No, as for NE.
SO help me God, 1t Is because love my
country more. What Is your country and
mine? lave no country outside tie
provisions OF the written law Mr. Lincoln
and his cabinet constitute not my govern
ment They are merely pubic servants.
to be held responsible for their acts by an
Intelligent An honest and patriotic peo-
pie. An |, in making these declarations,
preaching to You octrnes subversive OF
the principles and precepts of the Faith
ers? Let me ask you in all candor. does
it n OF seem wonderful that | may at this
very moment be talking myself into a
prison by uttering these ancien. sentiment
OF liberty. 1t sometimes seems to me as i
a fevered dream had come upon this coun
wake up aud dnd that We had amply beer
plagued with a hideous and oppressive
nightmare. But we look around Us to ia,
and the sun is shining, the air is Blowing,
all is real, and yet in the midst ofalI this re
atty, and IN the noon Of the nineteenth
century, we are assaulted with tits mos
terrible, pernicious aud destructive hercsy
this denial of the right of the people o
a free government to control and manage
that government for themselves.
What does the democratic party propose
to do? 1t purposes. by the help of God
to preserve this constitution. The consti
tuition made our Union; without it the I'm
ion would never have haG an existence
1t brought your States together. 1t. anC
it alone, held them together for more thar
! oISHty years. anu IL diOuo can DrillS tneII
together again. 1t is The only power tha
can restore the Union. We are constant,
told that it is incumbent upon us to G(
everything in our power to restore the
Union. We are ready and willing--yea
We are anxious to do anything and every
thing but what is wrong, and wrong Cal
never restore the Union The right, how
ever, can, and that We propose to do
The democratic party will take its stanc
upon the eternal, immutsble, ever living
principles of right. by truth and justice
and leave to righteous God to shape tho
consequences in the future. If this Unor
is ever to be restored, it will be done BY
doing rightly preserving the constitu
ton. and the bond that made it, THE i,
my only hope for my country. l follow