Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-12-11

hess u At, Notwithstanding our mis- axes 10 the
I field reverses drawbacks, through the moon
potency o, our generals othe's or course was
still onward in the great putpOsv VI saving the
| life OF the nation.
We we're better prepared now to do what re-
manned to be dono by our military and naval
forces than we were at first to do what was be-
fore us, or than We had been OF any previous
period in the history Of the war.
vi. That in the midst Of so much peril, re.
sponslbility and temptation before our rulers, in
the exercise Of the vast powers as were essential
for them to WELD ia putting down the rebellion,
they had been preserved by an everything PrOvi-
deuce from committing more mistakes than they
had done.
This was, perhaps, the point of the greatest
moment of any in the series He spoke of
slavery and the Constitution, and met the COM
plants made by these who allege that the Gov
ernment has nterfered with them.
As TO slavery, he said, substantially: nFrom
my earliest recollection have been unfriendly
10 slavery, and have sought, OF what | have
thought proper times and in proper ways. to rid
Kentucky aud the country of IT, In 1880 (this
was when he was a lawyer) risked all | had at
stake in endeavorng to induce the State to rid
herself of it, and sacrificed for this eud what
political prospects | may have then had in the
unsuccessful attempt. In 1919 again vainly
endeay0red to bring the people to measures for
removing it. Aud what | then did | would DO
again Tomorrow. have never been in favor Of
one portion of the human rsce holding any other
in bondage, but have ever been in favor Of free
dom to all; and hope the day may come when it
shall be enjoyed everywhere.
'ln regard to the bearings Of the war upon
slavery, while have said did not approve OF
all the Government has done, have always held
that whatever was necessary for the Government
TO do in order to crush the rebellion, should be
done, and would uphold the Government in it.
And this is the solemn, religious duty Of every
citizen"
About the cry thas the Administration has set
aside the Constitution in this measure, he said
that not a single Administration had been in
power since the origin of the Government against
which the charge had not been made that il had
trampled on the Constitution in something it had
done, and therefore this charge was no new
thing and that there was always on hand, in
litigation in the courts, some regarding laws
which were alleged 10 be unconstitutional.
lie then, with great earnestness urged that
we we're people and a nation before we had this
Constitutions that tue people of the nation made
the Constitution, and rot the Constitution the
nation aud although the Constitution aud all
the acts OF Congress and all the treaties with
other nations made under II were burned up,
utterly hlOttei out, we should be nation still
that the life Of the nation for which we were
oontending was Of more value ;han all the Con-
situations ever written; that although he valued
the Constitution as highly as any one, he was for
putting down the rebellion ut all haaards and BY
all needful means and when he had done ihat,
and had saved the nation, without which the
Constitution would be worthless, we could then
set all matters right about any violations of the
Constitution which had taken place.
VII. Ii was cause for thankfulness that 10 the
midst of perils, sacrifices, and burdens unparal-
leled, the heart Of the people was sound notwith.
standing all the arts Of demagogues, in their de-
termination to sustain the Government in putting
down the rebellion that he, for one, let what
would come, Was determined to stand by the
Government in this purpose, and that it was the
duty, the religious duty, of every citizen to do the
same.
lie wound up nearly every one of the above
seven p-iuts with the emphatic words: az
thank God this day, from the bottom of my
heart that this is 20.