Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-03-20
Ex-Gov. Dennison's Speech

! -
| Governor Dennison, at the Great Union Nee,
ing in Cincinnati, on Monday night, Februar.
23d. We publish it entire, because II is al
eloquent exposition of the influence of polili
clans, not patriots, whom our soldiers in tht
field denounce:
NR. President The hour is late, | maj
say but word Indeed, sir, came here TO
night merely to express the qualification
have, with all the loyal people of our State
al the noble address of the army of the West
and to join in returning the thanks of tht
country to the author and the army for this
manly declaration of their fidelity to The
Government and the cause they are heroically
defending.
I came not, sir, to argue the Justice Of thai
cause, nor to defend the acts of the Admins
tration in lis endeavors to suppress the rebel
lion. The time Of sHch discussion is past.
On the subject of the war, heartily adopt
the creed of Gen. Burnside: "I'he Admins
tration must be sustained, and the rebellion
must be crushed" This satisfies every de.
mand of patriotism, and meets practically ev-
cry objection urged by the Northern sympa-
thizers with the revolt against the Govern
ment.
But, Mr. President, why these criticisms up
on the acts of the Administration we are dali
ly hearing, and the constant denials OF the au-
thority of the Government for all its impor-
tant measures the suppression Of the habeas
corpus-the confscation of rebel property
the arrests of suspected disloyalists, and the
proclamation of emancipation Do we hear
these censures from those whose declarations
and conduct in other respects show them earn
estly in favor of the vigorous prosecution of
the war? or do we ind them coming, with
rare exceptions. from those who are under
stood to be the apologists. if not the avowed
defenders of the rebellion? Senator Doug
las in one of his last patriotic speeches, de-
clared there were'but two classes of people in
the North: those for the Government and
those against the Government. He was
right.
What is the practical test of disloyalty p
Is it not a. a.disposition to aid the enemy Is
the rendering OF aid limited to joining the
ranks of the enemy2 Or is it not quite as
mischeivous to the Government by Gripping
its efforts to put down the rebellon-by at
tempting to degrade the Administration in
the public judgment, lessening the public con-
fdenee in its wisdom and patriotism, and pro
claiming its incompeteney to conduct the war
to successful conclusion
Why are we constantly reminded of the
great expense Of carrying on the war, and the
resulting heavy burden Of taxes on the people?
Is it to encourage earnest support of the Gov
ernment in the prosecution of the war. or to
induce the people, through their Representa-
tiges in Congress, to refuse the necessary ap,
preparations for carrying on the war? :? Do
you hear the earnest loyal men of the country
denouncing the taxes, present or anticipated
Suppose the taxes be heavy and increasing,
will they be lessened by protracted war, such
as the peace advocates would compel by their
policy, rather than by the employment of all
the resources of the country to the speedy
suppression of the rebellion? The shorter the
war, the less expense it will be. Is this not so?
The severest denuuciations are heard against
the Government because of the arrests of sus-
pccted disloyalists. Without inquiring into
the expediency of the policy, may l not ask,
have not these arrests been made, in every
case, pretext for assailing the AdminstFa-
lion, to aid the II brls ? Docs any really loyal
man fear for his personal liberty because of
these arrests? They are only those conscious
of not being true to the Government whose
visions are disturbed by the spectre OF mill
tary seizures and Imprisonment B. Do you find
the loyal press exercised about these arrests,
or those only whose conduct in other respects
has branded them with treasenabie sympathy
for The rebellion. s.. .-
Ii is not unlikely a few arrests have been
made which might not have been, without pref
udiee to the pu bic interests, but it is quite
clear Hany more should have been made for
the public safety. Indeed, the evidences of
reasonable combinations in the North are so
many. as to udmonish every really loyal man
of the Decessity and duty of supporting the
Government, in the most vigorous measures
for the suppression and punishment of their
authors Can any one believe that If we
were at war with foreign power, like evi-
dences of sympathy with the enemy would not
arrest the attention Of the Government and
bring upon the conspirators- the severest pun
ishment? and can any man, not disloyalist
tell Us the difference between treason in aid Of
rebels, and treason in aid OF foreign enemy?
And, sir, a word in regard 10 the procIama-
tion of emancipation. Whatever may be
thought of the wisdom of that measure, or of
its practical consequences upon the condition
of the slaves in the insurgent States. let me
ask, do you find its bitter opponents among
the truly loynl or the justly suspected disloyal
men Of the contrary? The ohiectOrs say, the
proclamation is an idle threat. that can in no
way affect the status of the slaves. If this be
so, it is certainly harmless, aud why assail it
with such unappeasabe violence why not
leave it 10 die of its own ineficieEcy?
And so, sir, it would be treated by its OPP
| enents, regarding it as they profess, but for
the value of the assaults as a means Of weak
ening the further confidence in the Govern
ment, and thereby encouraging and strength
ening the enemy.
Bat our Northern malcontents do not rest
with their censures upon the weakness of the
Administration for suppreSsing the rebellion.
They make vigorous appeals TO our fears, by
telling US that unless early peace be made
with the rebels, other political divisions of the
country will follow, and that the Northwest
err Suites, including Ohio, will, because of
their geographical position and immense in
teresls in the free navigation of the Mississip-
pi and its tributaries, break eff their coEnee-
tion with the Eastern States and foIm alli-
ance with the rebel COnfederacy. Denouuc
ing this, as does every patriotic citizen, as an
atrocious libel on Ohio and her sister States
Of the Northwest, let me ask, sir, why it is
made? Is it to encourage the Government iu
its efforts to suppress rebellion? Is it to dis
courage the enemy in his efforts to destroy the
Government Can theFe be doubt of its
purpose to address the fears of the Admins
tration. in hopes ofindueing its consent to dis
honorable peace; and failing in that, to eneoar-
age the people of the Northwest to cultivate
friendly relations with the rebels, and thus con-