Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-08-05
A RINGING SPEECH.
A Soldier Gets after the Cope rneads
Decentralization Of the Butternut Rag5ag.

Scotl Oh TIE EOQrtl WulCu las rarely
been equalled in pith, point and eloquence.
The main portions of it are given below.
The sophistries of rebels and 'peace men"
have seldom been more wittily and merci-
lessly torn to tatters.
The following is the speech of Maj
CALKINs, as reported:
Mr.. President. and Ladies and Gentle
men Il supposed that our fellow citizens,
the subjects of JEFF. Davis and the "Way-
ward Sisters" are celebrating, as we are
celebrating, with such facilities as they
have for being jolly, this same glorious
anniversary. They probably waste no
powder on salutes to.day-they can't get
enough to charge their shot guns with Tor
service. They are probably short of
whisky, another main element of south
err enthusiasm, Qaughter). That article
is $50 gallon among the thirsty confed.
crates. Other means of enjoyment is
doubtless wanting south of that "belt of
desolation," which is the boundary of reb-
eldom. But they are doubtless doing
the best they can under the circumstances
and what a commentary is 1t on the
tratricidal crime which they are enacting.
The great declaration enunciated 81 years
ago to-day, declared all men free aud
equal. They are fighting to perpetrate
slavery over one half OF mankind in their
borders. 1t declared the right of the
people to self-government. They are
fighting to establish military despotism
aud to rivet the chains which were i'm.
posed on their people by force and fraud.
1t denounced usurpation and tyranny
They are fighting to sustain a usurpation,
the most fragrant in history, and tyran-
ny such as never before oppressed man
kind. 1t declared that the governed should
choose their rulers-theY are making war
on the rulers whom the governed chose.
These are some of the monstrOus anoma-
lies for which this rebellion is waged.-
And every word which they speak in its
defense is an uttered outrage, and every
gun which they have fired was wicked
and mCrderous assault upon the princi-
piles that day announced-and a gross
oh how gross and objectionable insult to
every sacred and glorious memory linked
in the undying thought of tree people,
with the day we celebrate. Why do not
the immortal dead burst their cerements,
why do not their ashes speak, or their
sanctifed spirits move with preternatural
power for the defeat and overthrow of
organized and armed revolt against the
government which they formed, and in
situations bequeated to Us as our priceless
Inheritance [Applause.l
WORD ABOUT THE GRUMBLERs.
There is class scarcely less criminal,
at the bar of their country and os history,
and not less mischievous in the effect of
their acts upon the great struggle tor the
preservation of the GnvernInent than
rebels in arms. 1t consists of those citi-
zens of the North who, with, perhaps.
some sickly and morbid remnants of love
for the Union, which ali once cherished,
complain of the efforts made TO preserve
the Union, as not in proper form, or at
the proper time, or too violent, or too
mild. ! care not whence that man comes,
be he who he may, or belong to what par
ty he may, if he seeks to embarrass the
Government by his complaints, or his in
action, or his malevolent criticisms, or his
to the means used, he might as
well, so far as the welfare of the country
is conc med, shoulder his shot gun and
join the rebel army. Yes, better, far bet
ter. For then, on the spot where he
stood, among all his co>conspirators. a
patriot bullet might find him out, and end
his lite and his power FOR evil together
Applause.l
ALARM ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION.
They talk about danger to their iiber-
ties-that their constitutional rights are
in jeopardy. What patriot viii whimper
in our ears his complaints, that his liber-
ties are endangered, when traitors have
armed to overthrow the very government
fiAr, WI oh lrEr
secured What patriot viii raise the cry
that his constitutional rights are assailed,
when gigantic rebellion is rampant against
the constitution by virtue of which he has
any rights at all, and under which bis
solemn farce Was firing on Fort Sum-
ter, violation of the constitution Was
the establishment of separate and hostile
government within our boundaries is the
assassination of your neighbors, friends
and relations a violation of the constitu-
lions O, mol they are only slightly ir-
regular proceedings little " hayward"
hats all ! Laughter But if treasona
Die publication is suppressed, or pestilent
Oabbler of treasOnab'e sentiments is ar
rested, then the country is ruined at once F.!
And the complaints of these men come
with such persistent and damnable itera-
ion," that one would suppose our consti-
ution had been all broken to pieces by the
s1forts to preserve it, and that there was
Tot fragment worth saving. This as
President Lincoln would say, "reminds
ne of story" A veteran church sister
vas asked By the presiding elder, "How
many commandments are there ~ Nine" |
VAS the reply. Sister Peabody" says
he elder, reprovingly, " have you sat un-
Ter the preaching OF the gospel eight and |
hirty years, and don't know how many |
there are" 81 know, |
Elder" was the answer, "there used to be |
en-, but broke one of 'em last week, and |
here amt bat nine lett !' Great laugh
er. And these fellows seem TO imagine /
hat showing rebel sympsthizer into the
,uard house, has some such effect on the |
as Mrs. Peabody thought her |
ndiscretiOn had on the decalogue. IRE
ewed laughter and applause.
Why if the Constitution Is so fImsy |
hat the very efforts to preserve 1t, will
estroy tiff it is the smoking flax, which
GU spoil in trying to quench; or bub-
lie which bursts when you touch 1t, or
ossamer thread. or a butterty's wing,
cor like the rsinbow's lovely form
Eyanishing amid the storm,
cts away with it; let Us have a Consti-
alton OF oak and hickory, G. that's it; F"
hDllv for xD1 - With foundation of |