Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-05-28
Speech Of John ]. Crittenden.

OpCCOu VI oOuA W OAhoooANVhs
His Rebuke to Northern Peaeemon-
gers. The Support of the Govern
fnent Every Mans First Duty.
The recent speech Of Hon. John J. Crit.
tenden at Lexington, Kentucky, on the war
and tho duty Of the people, Was in marked
contrast With the addresses Of many Of those
with whom Mr.. Crittendeh has heretofore
10 operated. Mr.. Crittenden is by no means
an Abolitibhist or radical he has all his
life been distinguished as conservative Of
the straitest sect, and yet, while disappro.
wing Of mahy things, he declares unreserv.
edly for the prosecution Of the war and the
suppression of the rebellion at whatever
cost, holding tha. to do anything less than
this would be ian ignominy the like Of
which has never been known in history. -
In his speech he said, after abiding to the
rejection Of the resolutions offered BY him
in the House Of Representatives:
"Still / was for the war. Notwithstand.
ing the Con6scation act, notwithstan
the Emancipation Proclamation aud tho
emancipation laws, Notwithstanding the
policy Of raising negro armies and the talk
about negro equality with white men as
soldiers-and l voted against them all-.not.
withstandiug their adoption, l have still ad.
vocated the prosecution Of the war While
the rebellion was before me, while the great
enemy Of my country was before me, l was
still Tor the war, without an arnistice, re-
gardless Of foreign Observation-Disclosures
all the world, if neoessary--till the rebellion
is put down. l was dissatisfied with the
policy oi the Administration. Thought II
my duty to tell Congress aud the Govern
uIent that We thought these measures were
impoltic and unconstitutional. But still II
was our duty to fight the rebellion; i was
the greatest danger, and it was right in oul
faces Our Constitution aud laws might al
be violated or suspendedi it would be OF nt
use to stop to talk. After the war is ovel
the people may, 10 their wisdom, correct
the errors and repair the mischief, and pre-
vcut further eucroachments on the Consti
tuition aud their rights. HI
IL am, therefore, for the prosecution o
the war until il shall have accomplished u
end. To the dissolution of this Union
never win subscribe. lam an old man, AM
could scuffie out the few remaining days
my life without being compelled to sanctio
a proposition for the disnemberment OF tn
Union; but, Notwithstanding, from princ
Pile, for the perpetuatiOn OF free govern
ment, l would prosecute this war as long, q
there is rebel in arms threatening thu
government, and threatening Kentucky ei
pccially. The rebel government claim
Kentucky us its own, because some OF NJ
d recreaut sons have gone off into its service
Yes, the rebels say, We will have kentuck
anyhow; II ism { worth while for her to strul
sle. YOU bave, therefore, something mol
than general Interest In this war; yoa ha'
a particular one. The South wants yo'
you have rich country, and are prospeerou1 y
you can pay tdScsi you are U soidleri.
!, lighting people, nhd ifthey can conqu'
, you, you lfiay be made To serve tt1em wei
What kentuckian will not say the war sha
be prosecuted to the last extremity by tho
who were born in the land OF tar w'ma
and b ave men?' [Great thes's!] lteli yo
the rebels never shall, never can sn,3uga'
you, ify you are determined they sIah mt!
In the following remarks Mr. Crittend'
shows tho utter fallacy Of hoping to CORE
terrors in the policy Of the Government,
su,h there be, by violence and harsh dcl
ing:
1T is proposed by some, in their ang
against the Government, to refuse to hg
e. the rebellion-to refuse to give money
ut men for the prosecution OF the war. w
=, y that better tho matter2 Will that cour
" We YOU, and save our glorious country a
Government? II you offer no resistant
YOU surrender to it, and lose your manhoe
- IL is not by denOuncing the rietos 9f
President, 1t is not by language of passl
and reproach that errors 10 public affairs Q
be riphted, and the Government conduct
successfully, You are d portion OF
sr people, of the United States; act in q nj
- ner becoming your high character. Sedit
"s does not become III clamor does not beco
n." t9stw 7cr ceaf lsttd 500 ~
In consluding, Mr.. Crittendcn said:
"The nation will get through its dime
/. o ties. We have the power and will to do
ind We shull accomplish Il. That gr
Proyjdencc that has made us the stnnda
bearer ot freedom will not permit Our
, erumebt 10 10 down and leave the worlt
to sloom. I hive firth; there is DiviI
!, above thst ,shspes sh our ends, and
J will shape tho destiny Of otfr nation.
career has only just begun, and Provide
does not permit . half finished work Of 9
/ momeutous proportions 70 isil and bs al
1 doned; aud / trust in God. that We,
/, people, do not intend it. Our hearts n
! be filed with the noble determination
.nS nd maintain the integrity Of our governm1
while we grow greater and greater, Nigh
and nightier, richer III eiviiisation, graz
in prosperity, until our glory shalfcovef
whole land. -,
but you must prepare to fight the
bellion through to the last, no ma
whether England or France, or any O
power make common cause with them
nd not. We must fight them all, II need
and we can whip them all, in the defeu
a' right. l don't want to extend the bou
ries Of this war; God knows 1 do notl
have tried TO make peace, % long %
g. was consistent with national safety; \
~ ! believe war alone can save usi sud "
must be. :"
Those rebel sympathizers who nake
s:sss, :sss support Of the war, secondary totheir
port of party, and who, with armed =
aS lion neaaeiag the life ofthe hationr Oh
&c for peace and compromise, would dow
smulate rhe example which Mr., Critic