The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-07-15
Celebration Of the Fourth In Weston
Township.
The Union Picnic near Gilead-Pre-
sentatiou OF a Beautiful Hammer TO
the Union LeaEuc-Add drcsses-Syu uop-
sis of var. Ashlcy,s Specch-AResolu-
tiou of the Right stripe.
Correspondence Of the Pcrrysburg Journal

A very large crowd assembled from all parts OF
the county and il was one of the most enthusiastic
and pleasant occasions we ever attended. Every
thing was tastcfully and conveniently arranged for
the pleasure of ALL
After music b. the Band. and a song from the
Union Choir, prayer was offered by Rev. George
Mather, after which the Declaration of lndepcud-
encc was read by Il. NJ. Brown, Esq, in clear
and able manner.
Next. a lsSge and magnificent banner, upon which
was inscribed the appropriate motto" Our Ma
tional Union, now and forever-May God protect
il the gift of Mr.. Allen Bortle, was presented
to the Union League, on his behalf, by Hon. j. NJ.
Ashley, and received in behalf of the League by
Mahlon Chance, Esq.
The choir then sang the Sar-Spaugled Ban
uer," and Mr.. Chance proceeded to deliver an ad-
dress For two hours he spoke to one of the largest
audiences ever assembled in Wood county. 1t is
impossible. in this brief notice to do Mr. Chance
justice. His speech was able and argumentatve,
and abounded in many illustrations and hits, which
were frequently applauded, showing that the au-
dence appreciated his well-timed remarks.
At the close of Mr.. Chances address, sumptu-
ous dinner, prepared by the ladies, was served.
The receipts of the dinner were $ll2-which goes
to the Sanitary Committee, for the benefit Of our
sick and wounded soldiers.
In the afternoon the Hon. j. NJ. Ashley addressed
the assembly. The following is an imperfect out
line of his speech:
FELLOW CITIZENS l did not come here to deliver
q Fourth of July oraton--that has been done by
the orator of the day, Mr.. Chance | came here,
preferring the freedom and refreshing breezes of
the country TO the dust and heat of the city.
AS came along and saw the crowds coming to
this cclebration-every cross-road pouring its trib-
utares into the main stream OF living torms-l had
hope, | had confidence in people in whose hearts
the Constitution and laws were SO venerated.
When the Declaration of independence read,
thought that, to understand the great mission OF
our fathers and ourselves, we ought to go back TO
the hour when Congress assembled, and gaze upon
that assembage of grave and heroic men, and see
with what purpose they conSecrated themselves to
a great idea-an idOa which had never before been
promulgated. viz: Making all men equals, and
recognizing them as the source of power.
To understand the difficulties which surrounded
them, let remember that there were only three
millions of people i'll this country at the time of the
Revolution, who were opposed to England-then
the wcalthest and mightlest nation ON earth, hav.
ing an element of strength here by the ties of fam
lily interest. We must take up all the points, so
to Justify fathers in the Revolution, because of
the oppression of the mother country,
What grand idea underlay their aoton--and
how far did the masses comprehend it The idea
is simple one-that Representation and Taxation
should 60 together-a right inherent, and which
underay the whole conflict Four-fths of the
people had no conception of the grand results
which were to spring from that Declaration of In
dependence. no more than the present generation
comprehends the momentouS issues which depend
upon the present struggle. Washington, Jefferson
and Hancock were men who knew that one step
backward would lead to degradation, while one
step forward would lead to honor. SO there are
men who recognize, in this rebellion ideas which
are leading to great results.
There was not patriotic heart which did not
Justify the Colonies; even in the mother country,
there were semc of her leading statesmen who JUS
tilted them.
We are all ready to say that the men of the Rev.
nution great men-we all vcnerate them; but
history will write that they failed to accomplish all
they might have accomplished, because of a lack
of justice. No government can stand that has not
its Constitution founded in Justice. The germ
which they permitted to remain has spread over
nearly all this land.
| While we are accustomed 10 look with pride
upon the list Of heroic dead of our fathers and
mothers, | will say that such deeds have been per-
! formed by our present armies as were never seen
! in any country or in any age.
| The twenty millions of the North have not yet
felt the pressure of this war, so abundant our
resources; and We have not yet come up to the
| full measure of our strength.
| The right Of man to labor, to hold property, to
his person -God-given rights ts-underlay the ReyO-
luton, and they underlie the present conflict. II
the light of our Constitution and free laws goes out
| in the present struggle, God help the world of
mankind, which is looking earnestly for the issues
which hang upon the result! If it fails, despotsm
will grow stronger the world over.
The idea of King for Canada is agitated, to
prevent its people from being ndOctrinated by the
I..OrG liberal views of the United States. Cripple
legislation, discontinue schools, suppress the bal
lot and King becomes necessary.
The idea we permitted to grow up with our Con
stitution was hatred to the laboring man. so in the
Southern States, where the germ grew strongest,
none hut !qudholders were permitted to vote, and
none to hold Office but those who owned slaves.
The rebellion was a necessity to oounteraot the
idea of equality for they can no more live together
than vice and virtue, or light and darkness.
The policy of a King for Canada is now being
publicly advocated in their papers. Governor
WiIslGw, of North Carolina said that even in this
country If Il nan had talent enough he cOuid be
crowned Emperor. That might have been in South
Carolina, but not in the free North, where twenty
millions would die before submitting to such deg
radiation
What caused the rebellionP Does not every one
know that if we had voted for John c. Breckin'
ridge we should have had no WARP Just so long
as we obeyed that oligarohy of the South, SO long
we should have peace; but when the people de
cded against them, there came threats and acts
which brought on this rebellion.
On the one hand, Despotsm and a privileged
class; on the other, Democracy and the right Of
the people 10 rule themselves. In addition to this
another right claimed by this oligarchy was the
right to own human souls,
Now want TO show you that we must vote either
to sustain the Government, or vote against it.
deal not in partzan harangue; deal in principles
principles that were ingratted by Washington anC
Jefferson, and which ought to be maintained. Neg
leCt them, and the Government will be crushed ou
forever. We do not comprehend this, tur If die
not one person could be found who would dare utte
one word in justification of the rebellion. Bu
there are some who are trying TO subvert this, the
best form of government the world has ever seen
Hence what is our duty in this crisis
| need not argue the cause of the rebellion
there is not a man or woman who does not know 1t
And if there are those who say they don't, thinl
they will not be held responsible hereafter; for i
they have not brains enough to comprehend this
they cannot comprehend anything. We are receiv
ing stern education, but il has made the natoI
walk more during the past two years than in thu
past sixty. Men who will work to the line, no mat
ter where the chips may fall, are the men we need
and the men in power are working to it, aud viii
continue to do so by the grace of God.
We have determined that this nation shall b.
consecrated 10 Freedom; and this idea is coming 4
the surface. In the Revolution they could not hav
had half the men TO fight their battles, if at frs
they had proclaimed this but as the contest waxet
warmer, the scales fell from their eyes, and the,
ru5hed to the rescue of the nation. We are fight
ing for an idea. Reluctant though we have bee
10 come to this, we have il now and woe be to tina
man, or party, or rebel, who attempts TO tear
from our grasp.
At first, even our rulers did not comprehend il
The President could not be persuaded that tn
rebels had 100000 men, drilled for five years, I
carry out their wicked designsj and consequent
he called for only 10000 men to crush the rebellion
Even our greatest generals failed 10 comprehend il
General Butler said that il any negro attempted