Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-04-04
Speeches Of Hon. W. 5. GrOesbeck of Gin
einnati, and others.

/ s.
a grand Union Meeting was held at Brain
ards Hall The Hall was packed full in ev-
cry part and the greatest enthusiasm prevail
ed throughout the meeting. A band of mu-
sic was in attendance.
The Chairman, II. NJ. Chaplin, Esq, called
the meeting to order. Judge TiIden was the
first speaker. His remarks were designed to
be Introductory to the exercises of the eve
ming.
He stated the object of the Union League
to be supporting and sustaining the Admin
istratiOn, and nothing else. He spoke of the
ticket put in the field by the City Union Con-
vention, and commended it as a ticket worthy
of the united support of all lovers of the
Union. He spoke in the highest terms of
John Frazee, the candidate for City Mar
shsl, alluding to the courage which he had
displayed as a soldier, and the seIf-saerifc-
ing patriotism which he had displayed, and
asked that he be sustained. Judge Hessen-
mueller, about whom there had been some
complaint because he had been Democrat,
he spoke of a. an honest and worthy man
and stauneh Unionist he expressed
hope that he would receive united support.
After music by the band the Chairman in
trodueed to the audience Hon. Mr. Gross-
beck. In behalf of the Southern border of
the State Of Ohio he greeted the assembly,
saying that among staunch Union men as he
knew the citizens of Cleveland to be, he felt
that he was at home. He spoke Of the com
meneement Of the rebellion, which was in
the very bosom of the Democracy, develop
ing itself in the Democratic Convention at
Charleston. The State rights Democrats of
the South nominated John c. Breekinridge,
now General in the rebel army and striving
to subjugate his own State. The real
Democracy nominated Stephen A. Douglas,
who died breathing a prayer fer his coun-
try's welfare and the preservation Of
the Union. [Cheers The Speaker
followed the course of the rebellious States, !
the efforts made by the Republican Congress
to conciliate them, the failure Of all peace
measures, the contempt with which the rebels |
treated all such measures. The rebels elect |
ed President and organized their Confed- |
eracy. The speaker alluded to the tone of |
Mr.. Lincoln's inaugural. Nothing was done |
during the first six weeks Of that Admins |
tration that could be construed as inimicaI to |
the South. Yet the rebellion went on, gath |
ering strength day by day. This continued |
until the 18th Of April, when Sumter was |
fred upon, and then action began. Then be- |
gan the war, and the speaker asked in what |
terms be could characterize the Wickedness |
and perfdy Of the men who commenced this /
wicked and unhOly war. After two years of /
war how stands the rebellion now? Seofing 4
at everything like a compromise that looks to-
wards the restoration Of the Union. Some
consider it strange that JEFF. Davis
and the Southern press insult the North
continually by scofing at compromise.
No one knows better than Davis
that any compromise that the North
would accept would degrade him, and that
any arrangement that would crafty him the
North would never aequiesce in. [Cheers.l
The only question before US is, shall we
crush the rebellion or shall it crush US? Is
there a man in this audience, knowing the
way in which overtures have been met by
the South, knowing the sentiments Of the
South, that can talk of compromise. The
rebellion much be crushed before there can
be any peace. Let it be an honorable, a
stable, and lasting peace, but no other.
Let it not come by the humiliation Of the
North to make our checks tringle with
shame. I want peace whose terms shall
be made, not at Richmond but at Wash
Ington. [Cheers.l I want no peace that
will humiliate the South. demand a peace
that shall not humiliate the North. Cheers
The speaker declared himself to be for the
Constitution, and for its preservation, and de-
~ 7
by which the Constitution could be preserved
except by preserving the Union. The Con-
5titution canopies the entire States Letth
rebellion succeed in destroying the Union
and the Constitution ceases to exist. One
tenth of the population of this Union live in
Ohio. During the two years Of war only ten or
Twelve arrests have been made in this State.
Go back to the days of our fathers and see
how they arrested disaffeoted persons. Wash
ngt9p and jackson sustained such a course.
The speaker read a portion of Douglas
ipeeeh in Congress in defense Of General
Jackson's course at New leans, which
proved that Douglas did not consider it un-
for the nation to exercise all
he means necessary for her preservation. If
The arrest Of traitors and spies was necessary
t was legal This was the doctrine Of Jeffer-
ION and Of the fathers Of the republic. The
peaker said he had no sympathy with that
nan who would seize upon an arrest, even if
t be illegal, as an excuse for deserting his
country and his c0untry's cause. It was his
opinion that arrests had been made that
,aght not to have been made, and others that
,ught to have been made.
The speaker supposed a failure on our part
o crush the rebellion, and drew a picture of
he fearful results that would follow. Ifthe
ebellion succeeds you will have scorching,
laming war in your midst here in Ohio.
The way out is to preserve the
Vest in the Union. I am for the West, but for
he West in the Union. [Cheers.1 I am for
he West as the center Of great Union,
those walls shall be the shield of the CONT
lent itself. I want it not separated from the
East er from the sQUth, but will keep it in