The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-03-25
,lnestness Of parpase. whlcA bal I,ermiltea no d.

eainestness OF purpose, which has permitted al.
vided allegiance, contributed By my eoanses, votes
and all the means could command, 10 defend thai
Gag and preserve IL as representative OF our ma
tonality. and An emblem Of our liberty. That
may have been mistaken in some of my counsels
aud some ofmy votes, is more than probable but,
however that may have been, YOU all know that,
throughout this struggle, have been earnestly on
the side of the Goverument aud the cid flag, and
that the frst snd dearest wish my heart has
been and still is 10 see that banner, which 10 me Is
representative, not only OF our nationality, but Of
Liberty aud JRion," also triumph ON every battle.
heidi and to the Constitution Of our fathers re
established In It's Just sway over every State and
Territory in the republic. Applause.
Hr. President Many say have committed blum.
ders. Admit ii, which I do not. I answer all
such by quoting rule which is applicable to-day
and here, rs It was eighteen hundred years ago.
let hir icho 70 riRom fdtSt cost tAe first stcae
Apply this rule 10 all who have made mistakes in
reference TO this rebellion, and how long would
stand here before the first stone would be cast. Ii
all who have thought or writton about the matter
at all have committed blundcrs, may I, who am no
more infallablo than the rest Of ycn, not be par
doned for e,ring the side of Liberty and Justice
Ill have erred, my worst enemy will admit that SO
far as this great battle ofhberty is concerned,
My faults have leaned to Virtues side"
One thing is certain, have not erred against the
Government and in favorof the robels, or on the
side OF slavery. lhave not remained silent. as po-
litical trickster would have done--not sti1ed my
convictions--not played the demagoguc, nor have
ever told you that everything was right, when
knew that almost everything was wrong, touching
the management of the war. Had thus acted, the
Indifferent, the conservatives, the goldfish and
shams, and even the rcbel sympathirers among us
might have united in singing my praises, compli-
menting that rascally virtue discretion, aud COM
mending my statcsmanship. Indeed, had acted
against the Government, only using the duplcity
aud talsehood necessary To prevent arrest nj u
traitor, many pretended friends of the Government
would have found little fault with my conduct.
Theoppositon 70 me has all arisen because have
been untiriug in pleading for such change in
the management Of the war as believed was nee
esssry to the nations life. For this reason,
have demanded, from the first, that our soldiers
should fight for Liberty and Union, instead of
Slavery and Compromise. Applause. | did
not. however, relax one iota of vigilance aud dcvo-
ton TO the Government, because In all things my
views were not adopted by the Administration ut
once, and should not have relaxed, Il they had
not been adopted up TO this hour. am and have
been for the Government, despite the policy of tho
first eighteen months of this Rebellion, which in my
heart could not approve. shall continue to vote
as have for every man and ovepy dollar asked
for by the Prosdcnt and shall endeayor to strength
en- his hands, with whatever ability possess, un- !
til this causeless and wicked rebellion is crushed
Do not be deceived. There will be no peace there |
can be no peace, until the Government triumphs |
Until then, this struggle will 20 on. No human !
power can stay it, until the grand idea ofhe human
race shall be realized and Liberty aud Justice shall
become the acknowledged corner stones of our po-
litcal cdifcc. lApplause.l
That which seemed so plain and distinct to my |
hopeful vision two years ago, is now being by
all, that which was then to me the full grown tree
Of Liberty, and which in my Joyous faith hailed |
with an overhowing hear. that could not keep si
lent It now needs no faith to sec. To-day it is
plainly visible to all. True, some, who all their |
lives have been blinded because they had no faith .
in God or man, may yet see 1t only rs we behold
the coming spring time, in the melting of the ice
the running brooks, the budding leaf and the open
ing flower; but all begin TO feel and see, and know
that this is war of ideas, a war between Liberty
and Slavery, between government of the people
and an oligarchy, and that the spring-tme Of lib
arty impartial and universal, has not only dawncd,
but Is rapidly approaching the period of fruition.
Applause and cheers. Let us take fresh hope.
Let us renew our courage. This struggle will go
IN until Freedom conquers. tApplause. From
Every blood stained battle field the voices of the
living and the dead come to us, bidding u.s. be firm.
from every loyal man and woman in the North,
he demand is that this battle shall continue, and
athers, mothers, wives, sisters and brothers, who
nave lost their dearest and bravest on the field of
conflict are daily and nightly offering up their earn
,st prayers, that the God of nations will accept the
sacrifice they have made, and save and regenerate
heir country.
That it will be saved and regeuerated have
lever doubted. The battle inay be long and rage
iercely, the night be dark, the enemy win victO-
les and thousands of our Northern homes be made
heerless and desolate, but there shall be no COM
'romise and no surrender. The very air shall be
'urthened with the hopeful speech, and song, and
'rayer ofthc patriot, and it shall 60 ON until the
light shall triumph And, as | now listen to the
'ariotic appeal at our soldiers, seem to hear their
ItHed voices, clear, strong and melodous ringing
my ears, the welcome, cheering words Of the
oet
1t still goes on, The driving rain
May ohili hut light may CLEAN again.
1t still goes on. Truths enemy
Wins defeat, with victory.
1t still goes Oh. Cold winters snow
Comes that the grass may groener grow;
And Freedoms sun, what'ere befall,
Shines warm and bright behind it all,
- Long continued applause,l