The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-07-01
A R nl a r. X IL BILE spec e In
By Senator FumbuU, Of Illinois.

At the Republican meeting in Chicago
on the 4th inst, after speeches by Hon
VIM. Kellogg, and Senator Doolittle Of
Wisconsin, Hon. Lyman Trumbull, a Re-
publican United States Senatorfor Illinois
was introduced, and made speech, which
seems to attract considerable attention
Mr. Trumbull said 1t is rather en-
barrassing to attempt to speak to an audi
ence which insisted on hearing some one
else, but solemn convictions Of duty com
pelled him to speak, when under ordinary
circumstances he would have remained
silent He did not come to infame their
passions, already too much aroused. Their
country was in danger, and they must
look the peril in the face. No adjectives
he could pile up, no vile names he could
apply to those who do not agree with him,
calling them copperheads and traitors,
would assist in arresting this rebellion or
in asserting the supremacy of the consti-
tuition and the laws. He did not desire
to inspire them with hurrahs, but he
wished to talk to their judgments and
inspire them through appeals to their
reasons.
The times, he said, are grave! A ma
jority of the people of our State are tax
ing ground against the administration
and why2 In the name of Heaven, why
is this? l will tell you why; [ will point
out to you some of our mistakes, that they
may be corrected in the future. The rea-
son is, we have not adhered to David
Crockett's metto, "Be sure you are RIGHT
and then go ahead!' A voice" We
are always right I have lived long
enough to know that L am not infallible,
perhaps you are; [ have some respect for
the opinion of others.
One of our mistakes is that we have al
lowed our opponents to make false issues.
But this is not the worst. The great
charge that has damaged the adnsinistra-
ton above all others, is that we are in fa-
vor Of the exercise of arbitrary power,
that we are opposed to the freedom of
speech and opinion, to the freedom Of the
press, in favor of curtailing personal lib
erty, and in favor of despotism. Now
we should not allow these things. We
have been the advocate of free speech for
the last forty years, and should not allow
the party during which the whole time has
advocated the gag to usurp our place.
We are fighting for the restoration of
the Union and the preservation Of the con-
stitution and all the liberties it guaran-
tees to every citizen. And it makes me-
feel bad when | hear some honest friend,
brimming full Of patriotism, say he does
not care for the constitution and does not
want to have it forced into his way, or
A. Il o. ho ,o
The rebels cannot thrust it in his face, for
they have no rights under it--no rights
under it save the right to be tried and
hung for treason. (Applause.
In certain districts the military law is
supreme Gen. Grant is in command of
an army in the State of Mississippi, which
is in revelt. Will any one deny his right
to make arrests, his right to suppress
newspapers, and to level fire, like those
around you tonight, in order to get a
range for his guns? No. And yet these
are all arbitrary powers. But these ex-
ercises of it are not the troublesome cases.
The great difficulty is in those districts
where rightful civil government is in oper-
alton; where the judicial tribunals are
open, and the laws respected-the laws
which afford remedy for every wrong.
AS rule, we must remember that the civil
law is superior to the military law, and
the cases are rare, very rare, where the
rule can be reversed. 1t here resolves
itself into the plain, naked question of
whether the President and his Generals,
by the simple clicking Of telegraph in
strument can cause the Imprisonment oi
A, B or C? IF one General can do it an
other 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 box? Cries of 'sNol Mo-" ''Neter
Never!' from all parts of the meeting.
l am glad to hear you say that, and glad
you are so unanimous. Did it ever occur
to you that the next election may put an
entirely different face upon affairs? The
next election may bring great and deplo
rable changes, when Vallandigham ano
men of his class may determine who are
to be arrested. Cries of ''Nol that car
never be, "Never, never" from all parts
of the crowd Well, gentlemen, there is
no use in closing your eyes to the facts
| WHICH cAlou al OuuA you Oh ONOi oiuO
[ told you l came here to address mysel
to your reason and not to your passions
and in view of that light | ask you whC
are being elected Governors ofloyal States
who compose majority of the Legisla
ture of the loyal State of Illinois, ant
who was recently elected Mayor of hel
principal and most loyal city, and in view
Of these facts, what may the future no
have in store [Cries of "Jennison,
I''Music." "We don't want to hear you.
"You sent telegram to the President. y,
| know am distasteful, but am l no
truthful? would claim your reason di
vestedsof passion The same chalice 20,
hold 70 the lips of your adversaries to-day
Tomorrow may be returned to your lips
! Would you like to drink Of it? Close ou
eyes as we may, there is no safety for us
no safety for you and l and every Ameri
can citizen, now and in the future, but i
an unvarying adherence to the eorstitu
tional landmarks of our Fathers. Fur
ther cries of t'Jennison," s'Musie,' an
much dissatisfaction.
i You are wreng-it is your greatest an