The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-04-17

Mr.. President, and Gentlemen Of the
Democratic association f: Nothing bnt
the sense Of duty which every man owes
to society, according to the measure oi
his ability toserve it, would haVeinduced
me to address you in time like this
It Is time of strange excitements and
strange acts. No man who does moi
Join in q wild, undiscriminating support
Of the measures and dogmas of domi'
nant party can hopeto escape detraction
and obloquy, The utmost exertions ore
made to suppress ordinary freedom ol
speech; every device is employed to mis-
represent, and every effort is made to
misunderstood the purposesof those who
are in political opposition to the party
in power. The vocabulary of political
slaDg is exhausted to find terms of re
proach and infamy with whichto stigma
tize men whose motives have in their ia
vor oil the ordinary presumtions OF pu
rity, and whose arguments and opinions
are at least entitled to respectful hear
ing. This process which has been go.
ing on for many months, with violence
unexampled even among people whose
political discussions are never marked by
temperance, has eliminated from time tc
time in outrages upon the rights Of per
sons and property, and may dose again.
It Is ne time when one would choose to
utter opinions without being impelled
by strong sense of duty.
WE MUST BE PREPARED TO SUFFER FOR
THE CAUSE.
But II we are not prepared to suffer
for our convictions, they must be very
feeble convictions. II we do not love
our country and its institutions well
enough to encounter all the hazards that
may attend an honest effort to save them,
our love mast be could indeed Such, !
an sure, is not your case, or my own
fApplause. Meaning to utter here
nothing but words of truth and sober
ness-the truth as hold it, in the so.
berness that becomes mel accept all
the responsibility to public opinion
which may justly fall thereon.
propose to speak to you tonight up.
on subject which seems to me to be
strangely misapprehended by many good
men, and strangely perverted by many
who are not good. l mean the subject
of "loyalty." The word itself, at least
10 the sense in which it is used in those
countries from which we have lately bor-
rowed it, can scarcely be said to have an
appropriate place in our political and
social system. But it is word at pres
ent in great use among US, and we must
take It as we find it, and are bound to
inquire wha. are the moral duties which
its Just and true Specification embraces.
,Thisinquiry, and the ecertain consequences
of accepting and following out the doc.
trines which are now forced upon us,will
form the topics of my discourse.
z WHAT Is LOYALTY. 4
The true conditions of American 10y
atty are not to be found in the passion.
ate exactions Of partizan leaders, or in
the frantic declarations Of the pulpit,
the rostrum, or the press. Cheers. +
People who do not like my political
opinions may hurl at me the epithet oi
1'disloyal." but when they have thrown
this missile they have not taken single
step toward defining, to me or others,
what the true conditions Of loyalty are.
II Is important that this aep should be
taken; for whether we are to 90 on OF
TO cease In this course of idle and IN.
meaning abuse, it tconcerns US all to know
what measures Of public duty may right.
fully be exacted Of US. To know the
hight and depth Of those great virtues
which are comprehended in the term pa
triotism"-to feel at once that they are
settled in our affections and enthronec
In our reason--is to "get wisdom and tc
get understanding" in the largest o
earthly concerns. [Applause.
D The true conditions of American 10y
atty are to be found in the.law of tn,
land; in the institutions under which W,
live; IN the duties flowing from the Con
stitution Of our country; [applause;] il
the political system which we have in
herited from our fathers, with all it
manifold relations, through which W,
may trace the clear dividing line tina
separates perfect from imperfect obliga
lions. [Cheers,
1t3sE LOYALEYIs A MORAL DUTY, M
Y Theitext of our fundamental law 4
the guide, and the sole guide, lin al
ethical inquiries into the duties Of TIL
citizen. To that source all must come
rulers and people alike; to that fountain
al must resort. The vague and shifting
standards that are drawn from supposed
|. hangers to what is called "the nationa
llfe,n or which spring from the conflict
ing Judgments Of men respecting public
hecessities, can determine nothing. :
These things can furnish no rule. w
must hayea rule, for loyalty is a mora
Nduty; and it must therefore be capabl,
Of definition. A people whose "nation
al lifep exists only by virtue Of a writer
constitution, Eand who canshavs no ne
+ oessities that lie out Of or beyond tina
written necessity, can find no rule Of 10y
atty in any Of the necessities which thei
constitution Of governments does no
cover They may end grounds Of ex
J pediency, 10 one or another suppose,
Rscespity for destroying their cOnstitu