The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-05-22
Extract from the speech of
HON. JOHN ]. CRITTENDEN,
At Lexington, Ky May II, 1858.

Ny countrymen, the great issue, and
the grestest issue that the events OF this
world ever brought about, is the preser-
walton Of the country entire. You have
the greatest country, and the greatest
government the world ever saw in a
country, springing up in manner that
astonishes and awes the civilized world;
and to put down this rebellion is neces.
sary to its preservation. Shall we do itT
Shall we, the sons Of revolutionary sires,
shrink from q war, even with our own
brethren, when it is necessary ing order
to maintain our rights, our liberties, and
our country / wsltto make no op.
position to- these measures, obnoxious
as they are, inconsistent with my hostil.
ity and determination to overthrow the
rebellion. That comes first, and must
receive immediate attention, am not
q man that has ever INDUCED !in clamors
and seditious policy; ! am not nan to
give way to virulent, personal feelings {;
I,haye never forgotten proper decorum
toward those in authority. The Pfesi-
dent / believe to be a, most well mean.
ing and excellent man; and tits not BY
denouucing his views, it is pot by The
Language Of passion and reproach that
errors in public affairs can be righted,
!, and the Government conducted success.
fully. Neither on this nor any other oc-
casion has it been my habit to make an
outcry and clamor; but, when usurpa-
tions Of power are made dangerous, and
when eucroachment upon my liberty and
the liberty of my constituents, and upon
the Constitution intended to guard the
liberties Of us all, are made, would have
a eyery man have spirit enough to declare
his Opinions and offer his protests. e
Without this freedom Of speech there
can be no lasting liberty; the Republic
can not exist. Ifevery man should close
his lips, and not venture even word
against violated rights, who could main
tain q free Government Nobody. A
people who can not discuss the public
measures of the nation, and apply the
necessary rebuke to secure correction Of
wrongs, can not be free people, and
do not deserve to be- But it is not nec-
y esSary that it be done with passion. -
You are portion Of the people of the
United States act in q manner becom'
ing your high character 'Sedition does
not become it; clamor does not become
it. Action, at the proper time, and in
the proper manner, according to Legal
and constitutional provision, is what we
want, and what the world has a right to
expect. ..a.,. , :,
The question now before US is simply
this: Are you for the country and the
Government? am. As for the little
party scheming about emancipation and
negro equality, / am opposed to It, But
still / am for the war, since the war is
clearly necessary to save the country
and the Constitution, in which and IN,
der which alone these errors can be cor
rected. This war was unexpected; 1t
was new subject for the iho9gn's OF
our people. Who could see MS way
clear through this night ofstorm The
wisest man could only feel, and can
tiously plan. and advance stepby step.
He had q Union to save, and u became
him to move cautiously; and be who,
under such circumstances, woula give
way to his own personal presumption
and folly, and endeayor to make use ol
the great catastrophe to accomplish lit
tie party or sectional purposes comes
far short of bis duty. ! have endeavor, y !,
ed to avoid this weakness how laf
have succeeded you, my frlends' must o'
thejadges. w :. :,
93a have no anxiety about returning e
Congress. would not sacrince nairs
breadth OF any OF the opinions nase
given you'for o dozen seats 10 congress,
lam too. much OF Q Keptucsian' ano
have seen too much OF Congress lot tna1,
In pursuance OF these principles voteo
a against the bill for enrolling lle @ll.'a; :;
When. it'waa called up on, Us passage !
require that the slaves Of q my seos'ito: 60,
ents shall be enrolled an the ml'ltla' ane
that free negroes shall tnas oe enrolieo
y alsol That seemed med 70 oe tne lassnsloi guy =
Of the bill; and aa amenaamenI 9ne was ., .,
fered that under the provisions u "a q ,n,' y
lev, free negroes ana slaYss aaol,u s;IaS ~
ldbe enrolled aIne aIne amenNul%sls s NlI.S1 'Si,yu r
and I voted against tne ori e az 7
s1plApse,1 "A wanted the lwnols Powet .,e, :
the country employed to pGt poSh wy y
rebellion what is the WnoIe power .
this eonntryfo Whose, country Y sri.!.,- y ~