, 1863-01-06

tfnVal OF IN exhanstinE war, we are, better |
prepared to encounter It now than ever be-
together MI parties ID, The 1oynl States, and /
give" steadhstness to their purpose to; be-
united and free, than the uncalled tor inter
meddllng Of anJ foreign power in our. .dolncs-
tie troubles. In that eyent, iustcad Of 1,003,-
Geo, 3,oo0,0 600 Of armed men would rally to |
the. standard, and oyerwhelm with speedy |!
ruin all traitoEs at home, and all: enemies
from abroat- Then hencefDrth, in the man
ngement Of this war, let our watchword be
emancipation; emb1azon it On every banner;
and victorious legions; let it he: Sour pillar
Of cloud By day, and our pillar Of fire by |
night ~ then our arms shall be successful, |
and we shall solye the problem Of the ages
that there is Inherent energy euoug h in a gov |
eminent ofthe people to yindicats itself and
survive al the tlroes Of political and |
civil revolution; Slavery removed, and we
shall have. pcaee--eolid and and enduring !
peace and our nation, entering upon 4 new
career, will leap with o mighty bound to be !
the,H the greatest and heest upon TIE dace the
have hope for my country, because think
the right policy has been adopted. There re- I
mains but one thing to make my assurance |
doubly sure; pnd that Is, / want to see no di-
Visions among the frlendsof the Union IN the |
:ioJal states. Gould know that the people Of !!
The free states were willing to ignore party, |
and resolved to net with one purpose and one
Will for the vigorous prosecution Of the wnr
and the restoration of the Union, then ghouId
,,e haxe no doubt of happy end to all our difi-
The secessionists have hoped for succeaa
upon three. grounds, First, upon our sup
posed inferior valor; second, upon foreign
MD; and, third, upon a divided North. The
two first have failed them. They now des-
pair Of any foreign Intervention, and on many
battle fields the cool, determined bravery Of
our Northern: troops has proved an over
match for the fiery impetuous valor Of the,
South. But can. trnthfnlly say that their !,
strongest hope and nlnin reliance, a divided
North, has filled them ~~ - ! -,-:-,.. S.:.s;. S.s
+, To prove that this point is worthy Of your!
consideration, and that the tate Of the Repub-
lie is connected with it, let me refer little to
At the Charleston Convention, in May,
1s00, the Democratic party, which bad so long
'swayed the destinies of America, became di-
vided upon the slavery question. The radical,
ro.slavery secession party adopted the views
Of Breckinridge; while the friends of the
Union, in: that party, followed the lead Of
Douglas. It is now worthy Of notice that tho
1eadersof both these parties looked upon this
question Of division among the people Of the
North Us the decisive one. Mr.. Brecldnridge
looked upon the probability Of such q division
as albright omen for disunion; and Mr: Dong
las contemplated such division with fear and
trembling for the Republic.
Mr.. BrecklnridSe, In speech In the United
States Senate, on the first day Of August,
1861, said:
Fight twelve months longer, and the already
Northwest win develop tlemeeses T You I have ave- two @
confcderecies now. Fight twelve months, and you
viii haye three; twelve months longer, and you
will have four.
On the first day of May, in the city of Chi
cngo, Mr. Douglas said: :
know that they lthe sccessionists) have
expected to present a united South against
divided North. The conspirators have been
led to the hope that in the Northern States It
would be party question, producing civil
war between Democrats and Republicans, and
the South, being united, would step in with
then conquer the victor. The scheme was
State"
Mr.. Douglas; further said, at am good
partisan hater and fighter, In time of peace;
tho country is In danger. + It is your
duty to lay aside party creeds and party plat
| forms. Then appeal to yon, my. Democratic
! friends, do not let modification, growing ont
Ola defeat In partisan struggle, convert you
| from patriots to traitors to your nntive land.
Whenever our government Is assailed, wher
hostile: armies are marching under rude and
odious banners, the shortest way to peace is
1 the most stupendous and unanimous prcpara-
| tfon for war"
quote tl,ase words, because now the clc-
ments In this dark and dangerous hour most
| to be dreaded, springs from divisions in the
Northern States, growing out Of ambitions
and strifes for individual and party ascend
cncy. .Mr. Douglas plainly foresaw the dan
ger, and lcaped the wide -chasm Of party to
save his country.
Immeasurably important to our country is
! it now that there should be but one party, and
I nj f..
myself to being partisan, strong, relentless,
unforgiyfng; but when the country is in such
imminent peril, try to know no party, save
| my country. In the appointments I, have
made to office, have endeavored to confer
them as nearly equally as possible, upon Re-
publicans and Democrats. Whenever see
a man, be he Republican or Democrat, who
is ready to bring good, honest heart, and
a strong vigorous arm to the support Of the
| Government, and lay aside all to save his
| country, then, Irrespective of old party asso-
Citations and affiliations, will take him by
| tomb Of human forgetfnlness all memory Of
# the members Of this General Assembly,
and the press md people Of Illinois, in tho
spirit Of lofty patriotism, could inside every
thing Of party character, and erincc to the
secession States, that we are one in
heart and sentiment for every measure for the
vigorous prosecution Of the war, it would
have more marked effect upon the suppress
edoyer the enemy upon the battle field For
when the North shall present an undivided
| front-a stern and unfaltering purpose to ex-
haust every available means to suppress the
rebellion. then the last strong prop Of the
latter will have fallen from under 1t, and it
will succumb and sue for peace. Should d.
visions mark our councils, or any considerable
portion Of our people give signs of hesitation,
then a shout Of exultation will 60 up, through
ont all tue hosts Of rebeldom, and bon ares
end lluminations be kindlcd in every South
EN- city, hailing our divisions as the sure har-
bingers Of their success. We must stand by
the President, and eend up to him, and to our
brave armies in the field, the support of an
undivided sentiment and one universal cheer
from the masses Of al1 the loyal States. The
stern realities Of actual war have produced
-unanimity among our soldiers III tile army.
With them the paltry contests Of men Of po-
litical power dwindle into tnsfgnificance be-
fore the mightier question Of the preservation
Of the national life. Coming into closer con.
tact with Southern men and society,
the. sentiments. of those, who looked
fayorably upon Southern Institutions have
shifted round They have now formed their
own opinions Of the proper relations Of the
| Federcl Government to them, which nc
sophistry Of the mere politician can ever
changc: Seeing for themselves slavery and
| lts cutCls1 upon JUL ullSltl uu4 bElfe,' tue3
learn to hate it and swear eternal hostility to
it in their hearts, Fighting for their country,
they learn doubly to love 1t. Fighting for the
Union, they resolve to preserve, at all hazards
tile glorious palladium Of our liberties.
Can we consent to send a keen and fata
pang to the heart of every Illinois soldier
now fighting for his country, by ul-timel
party strife at homes Will we dampen hi.
hope, cool his ardor,.: paralvze his arm
While our brave boys are in the field, exposed
to SHOWS and storms, often without tents
+ sleeping these cold nights upon the frozer
earth, undergoing long md wearisom'
marches, suffering, bleeding, dying upon th'
battle field, or upon the roadside, and in hos
home, wife, children and friends, can we con
sent to fritter away precious time, In thes
: dark and cyentful hours, in petty contention
T for place and party ascendancy?
= That may relieve myself Of the charge, b,
any one, Of attempting to cast censurc on an,
particular party, here let me say, that, rs Com
; ! mander- Chief Of the army Of this State,
. know that the troops Of Illinois are compoes
, Of both Republicans and Democrats; car
i | not say definitely in what proportions, but
fst can say that both are largely represented, an
=. that have found no reason whatcTer to CON
: plain of either:s
II also affords nc great pleasure to say tha
!, believe there Is no considerable portion {
:. dissolution Of the Union. I hare been in
) position where could judge, and must COZ
? demn rs uneharitable, the Judgement Of som
i | friends, and say to them, that traitors, me
who would pull down the pillars Of this fal
= fnbrfc Of American independence Of our3,ar
few and far betw een.n Indeed, assert fha
7 any party in Illinois would soon meet wit