The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-06-20
GREAT SPEECH
HON. JOHN BROUGH,
On the UIvII war, at Marietta,
Ohio.

The following extracts from the speech
of veteran Ohio Democrat of distin-
guished ability, will be read with inter-
est by all classes. They are the words
of wisdom and patriotism
IL is scarcely necessary for me 10 tell
this vast audience here assembled, that
from the days of my boyhood up TO this
hour, | have been ranked with that po-
litical party knowa a. "The Democracy"
and that from my entrance into it until
now, have never wavered in its sup
port or been false to it. [Oheers. am
in party distinctions, and in all things
pertaining to the general policy of the
country, a Democrat TO- day as have
ever been and as hope TO remain. APP
plause. But in crisis of this kind, it
is principle of my Democracy, that the
first great duty every man owes is to his
country. And although there is Pres
ident in the chair, to whom | have ever
been politically opposed, and for whom
! did not vote, yet recognize him not as
the head of political party, but as the
head of q Government cheers land,
as good soldier who is fighting in the
ranks, il is my duty TO obey him as
Commando in Chief without halting TO
ask questions in regard to this great
contest. Renewed cheering.l By and
by may have something to say of what
ia being done, but at present have MOTH
ing to utter against it. have differed
from MIR. Lincoln on many questions, but
this is no time TO cavil. 1t is not whether
this mans rights or that mans rights
have been infringed upon, but the ques-
tion is, what is the duty of every man
10 his country in this crisis 1t is first
to put an end TO this rebellion, and then,
when that is accomplished, if we have
any thing TO settle with these men at home
and in power, we will take hold of it.
[Applause.I
After defining his position by saying
that be "spoke of Slavery as political,
and not a domestic institution" Mr.
Brough continued:
And now we come to the inquiry, What
is the great cause and controlling spirit
of this rebellion with which the country
is now concerned? For if we look to the
end, we must first find the beginning.
Two causes have produced this state
Of things, and if any gentleman imag-
ines these causes have suddenly sprung
upon this country, be has not been a po-
litical student of the times in which he
lived.
The first of these causes was the inor-
dinate thirst for political power and dom
ination on the part of the Southern
leaders.
The second Of these causes was the
Effort to make he political character Of Slave
| ~ he balancing pOi0er IN the UietoR.
These two things have precipitated
this. rebellion. They have been the
causes working for long period of time.
If q man of ordinary capacity had stood
on the pavements Of Cincinnati during
the sittings of the Convention that nomi-
mated Mr.. Buchanan for the Presidency,
and failed TO see these elements working
to their full fruition, he would have been
as. blind rs a mole.
At that time and years before il was
determined upon; IL was no sudden
movement of the Southerners. Their
first leading motive was an ascendeney
in the control Of the Government of the
country. With their subordinstes they
made the institution of Slavery the
means by which 20 secure it. We are
told that sectional elections have pro-
duced these results. My friends, we have
not had an election in this country that
has not been sectional in its character
with one exception, perhaps, that OF
| 1Aln Enr / L 10. Aoar, al.
that in every instance where the Demo-
Gratis have taken a successful part in the
elections OF this country, they have gone
ioa Southern State for their man, OF
taken a man the SoutherDers had bO md
ia bonds before he was put in nomination
Now, when you come down 20 the cleo
tion Of 1860, 1 will show you that the
success OF Mr. Lincoln had nothing more
to do with the inception Of this move
ment than would have had an act OF thC
Chinese Emperor. Laughter That il
was used AS pretext for precipi tating
il l will admit, but that ID was the NOV
ing cause l deny. The Southern msr
saw what others had seen must be an In.
eyitable result, that the political power
Of the Government was passing oat o
their hands. They found out long ago
what the world could have told then
ages ago, that civilization would no, 2,
hand in hand with the domestic institu
tion Of Slavery. Applause. The,
found that while by the laws Of popul a
ton they were losing political ohAracte
aud strength, the soil Of this virgil
Northwest was falling into the possession
of hardy men who We're extending tn
area of freedom, and--WhAt they dis
liked more than all else--extending th
area Of votes. Their time was passin,
away, and the time was not far disian
when the States north of Mason an,
Dixons line would control the destiuis
Of the country. LApplaus
Then came up this dogma, that SLAYER
must be the balance wheel They sal
10 us, "you must adopt the rule that 1
the terrilory Of the country--the terri
tory oouseeraled 10 freedom-Slaver
shall 20 hand in hand with free labOI
70 preserve the equilibrium Of power.
The Democratic party had shouldersd
] or,ot r,.nv thiupa IA ia time until 4