Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-08-08
A RINGING SPEECH.
A Soldier Gets after the Cop
perEeads.

Major E. A. CALKrEs, of the Third
Wisconsin Cavalry. made speech at TT.
Scott on the Fourth, which has rarely
been equaled in pith, point and e!o-
quence. The main portions OF 1t are
given below. The sophistries of rebels
and "peace men" have seldom been
more wittily and mercilessly torn to tat
tiers.
Mr.. Caikins is well known as the able
editor of the Argus, when that paper
was the Democratic organ of this State.
We give main the portion of his speech
and ask for it candid perusal.
The great declaration enunciated 81
wears ago to-day, declared all men free
and equal. The rebels are fighting to
peGpetua.e slavery over one half of man
| kind in their borders. 1t declared the
RIGHT of the people to selfgovernment
They are fighting to establish military
despotrsm and to rivet the chains which
were imposed on their people by force
and fraud. 1t denounced usurpation
and tyranny. They ara fighting to sus
tain a usurpation, the most fragrant in
history, and tyranny such as never OPP
pressed mankind. 1t declared that the
governed should chose their rulers-they
are making war on the rulers which the
governed chose. These are some of the
monstrous anomalies for which this rebel
ion is waeed. And every word which
they speak in its defense is an utter out
rage. and every gun which they have
fred was a wicked and murderous as
sault upon the principles that day an
nounced-and gross-oh how gross
and objectionable insult to every sacred
and glorious memory linked in the un-
diving thought of free people with the
day we celebrate. Why DO not the i'm
mortal dead burst their cerements, why
do not their ashes speak, or their sancti-
lied spirits move with preternatural pow
er for the defeat and overthrow of or
oanzed and armed revolt against the
government which they formed, and in
stitutions bequeated to us as our priceless
inheritance! Applause.
AwoRD ABOUT THE GRUMBLERs.
There is a class scarcely less criminal,
| ut the bar of their country and history,
! and not less mischievous IN the effect of
their acts upon the great struggle for the
| preservation of the Government, than
| rebels In arms. 1t consists of those ci;i-
zens of the North who, with. perhaps:
some sickly and morbid remnants of love
for the Union, which all once cherished,
complain of the efforts made to preserve
the Union, as not in proper form, or at
| the proper time, or too violent. or too
mild. | care not whence that man comes,
be be who he may, or belong to what
party he may, if be seeks to embarrasS
the Government by his complaints, or his
/ inactlon. or his malevolent criticisms, or
his opposition TO the means used, he
/ might as well, so far rs the welfare of
| the country is concerned. shoulder his
+ shot gun and join the rebel army. Yes,
/ better, far better. For then, on the spot
where he stood. among all his cocoon
/ srirators, patriot bullet might find him
out, and end his life ard his power for
evil together. Applause.
ALARM ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION.
They talk about danger to their liber-
ties-that their constitutional rights are
in jeopardy. What patriot will whisper
in cur ears his complaints, that his liber-
ties are endangered, when traitors have
/ armed to overthrow the very govern
ment under which bis liberties are delin-
ed and secured? What patriot will raise
the cry that his constitutional rights are
assailed, when gigantic rebellion is ramp
ant against tho constitution by virtue of
which he has any rights at all, and I'M
der which his rights are protected p
Away with this solemn farce! Was fir
irr on Fort Sumpter violation of the
constitution? Was the establishment of
a seperatc and hostile government within
our boundaries; is the assassination OF
your neighbors, friends and relations a
collation. of the constitution: o. no !
they are only slightly irregular proceed
ings-a little 'wayward," that's ali!
Laughter. But if reasonable publ
cation is suppressed, or a pestilcnt bah
bier Of reasonable sentiments is arrested
then the country is ruined at oncei And
the complaints of these men come with
such persistent and "damnable iteration"
that one would suppse our constitution
had been all broken to pieces by the eff
forts TO preserve it, and that there was
not fragment worth saving. This, as
President Lincoln would say, ''reminds
me of story" A veteran church sister
was asked by the presiding elder, "How
many commandments are there 2"
"Nine," was the reply. "Sister Peabody"
saws the elder, reprovingly, shave you
sat under the preachings of the gospel
eight and thirty years, and don't know
many commandments there are?" -
know, Elder" was the answer. s'there
used to be ten, but broke one of 'em
last week, and there ant but nine left"
[Great laughter.l And these fellows
seem to imagine that showing a rebel
! Al l..