The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-12-08
sPEECH OF RoDKnF roonDs.

SPEECH OF ROBERT r0OnDs.
Toombs made . speech in The hall Of
the House OF Representatives q 0eoreA
on the 9th Of November, in which are
many severe structures on the policy Of
the JEFF. Davis Adm; nistration. And
while he bates not . bit of heart or hope
for the rebel cause, and scouts at nything
short OF independence as not to be even
thought of by any Southern man, he re-
veals very desperate condition Of affairs
in rebeldon.
We make only brief extracts. but suf.
fcient to show the spirit of the speech.
He said:
Fellow-citizens, is there any thing in
the conduct of your enemies since this
war began, in the maRner of their con-
Quoting the war, or In their feelings to-
wards you, that should make you repent
that you left their polluted embrace ? Do
you find any hing in the administration
Of their Government or their conduct OF
the war to make you regret that you have
cut loose from that body Of death and cor.
ruption? For myself, i stand to-day
where / stood then, with purpose unfal-
tering, now and forever to resist all the
efforts which they may make to bring US
into any connection with them.
miss around me many of the manly
forms and bright eyes of noble patriots
who then stood around me in these halls,
and pleaded before you the liberty and
independence Of your country, to demand,
sword in hand, that rights should be re-
spected aud that justice should be done.
Many Of them have run their race.
fought the good fight. and sealed with
their blood their devotion to their coun :
try. Life's fitful fever is over, duty is
performed, and they sleep well. Though
many of them sleep without even clod
upon their bosoms, upon bat,le-felds
made immortal by their valor, their names
and heroic deeds shall live in history, 10
story and in song, and shall pass on down
the stream of time, mingling with the
thought and the speech of all chimes and
all centuries. "while glory keeps eternal
watch" over their Sacred dust. While
we pay the tribute OF tear to their re-
mains, and of sigh to the bereaved ones
they left behind them, let their example
arouse us to higher efforts to emulate
their example. whenever the country may
need our services.
When this contest commenced in 1861,
at the beginning of this new Government,
but six States confederated. Very short
ly after others joined W until the number
increased to thirteen. Maryland was
overawed and overpowered. and thus was
prevented from uniting with US. Lying
Immediately under the power of the enc.
my, she has bad no opportunity for carry
ing out her desire to go with US by break.
ing the ties which bound her to the
States from which We have separated -
She was loyal, is loyal to this day, but
she is crushed and is powerless nov to
break off the shackles BY which she is
bound. Kentucky is in the hands Of the
enemy. She was betrayed and lost by the
blunders of some of h,r sons, and the
treachery of others. Missouri, though
divided. full of disloyaliy to her hopes
and her destiny, though surrounded by
the great power of the enemy, withou,
local government, is still eroically strug-
Cling for liberty and independence. Ten
nessee is overrun. aud the Mississippi.
from the Falls of St. Anthony to the
Belize, is in the hands of the enemy, and
thus cutting in twain the great Valley of
the Mississippi. The fall of Vicksburg
inflicted this terrible blow upon US, and
1t tell with scarce a blow in its defense
A portion OF Virginia has also been lost
TO u, our islands are lost, our coasts are
rayaged, and our sea-ports captured or
threatened. The enemy besieges Charles.
ton, and recently have set their yandal
feet upon the soil of our own State.
though Chickamauga warns them of what
reception they may expect upon q repeti.
ton OF the experiment | can not.
therefore, tell you that the skies are
brght-we have a great work to do
great sacrifices to make. Let m meet
them. II We are true to ourselves. true tn
the sacred cause in which We have i'm.
penled All, true to our posterity, and.
above al, true to truth and God. we shall
triumph, and our land be FREQ. Such is
the military situation of our country
The conduct and valor Of our troops must
hnaily overcome their affections. if they
can be kept in the field. Here il our
present danper-we need courage and
con.duet-vigor and ability now in the
civil as much as in the military service If
our country.
We find that our finances have fallen
into disorder. that public credit has sunk
so low that the Government avows itself
practically unable to support it with our
establishment, without resort to
methods OF collecting supplies inconsi.. |
tent with the fundamental law of the
land, the inalienable rights of free peo.
pie, and 10 my. judgment, inconsistent
with the public safety, and dangerous to
our cause This policy is rapidly produ.
clng its legitimate fruits. We ind dis.
content is taking the place of enthusiasm
md dlstrust is supplanting confidence
The cause OF these evils must be rema.
lied. It is not for elimination that /