New-York daily tribune., 1863-11-07
SPEECH OF GEN. A. J. HAMILTON
IN NEW.ORLEANS.
III. Views on the Issues Of the Day.

Lyceum Hall vas fully crowded few evenings
since TO listen to the promised address OF zen Al
iton. Military Governor OF Texas inc iafge nudiencs
was not kept long waiting. for the distinguished oratos
made his appearance promptly at the appointed nouI.
After having been introduced to the assembly ne pega
his address by some appropriate prennAary Ie'nh
and proceeded to make speech VI ieni"' A''' """
ard logic .,.. ,o,,,rr;,.
lie inquired who among u.s. previous TO the peginnin9
Of this war would anticipate the present aspect "a
srrs not only in the nation. but here in t city ana
least OF ali who would have anticipated. when contem'
Mating the scenes that were enacted here that TIE Ns-
tional banners would be everywhere dlspa!ed ON INC
highvay, ard oyal meetings be held calling upon the
peou.e 10 return from their rebellion and assume aSaA
heir position in the naton The man who would have
made such prediction three years ago would nave oeea
thought insane and more than likely treated IN the
usual violent popular al that time ne "oe,.
NOT be arrligned before any legal tribunal put won'o
have been taken in hand by mob. ana treatel ~
summary manner by the chiyalry He would have ioune
himself opposed 10 the wilof the people Afsyeu asSs
the Constitution and laws Of the United States. an
who have thought upon the subject, and every one
present had pondercd It more OF less ana cole,os
conclusion must be pretty well satisfied that the REBEL
lion was g, up propagated and sustained upon iase
hood hue and cry ware first raised because Il frest
don't was elected who not suited to the pecuias
s,es Of the southern politicians. They eounseeI inc
ucope Ia rel anticipation II what would be dono.
The President mirL he said. attempt TO Violate Inc
Constitution aud in order TO prevent that they detel
mined 70 destroy the Constitution. the laws ana ths
country They have succeeded to great eS'eh' N 90
stroying the people of the south.
What GOOD have they accomplished Have they
strengthened the institution Of Sseryt The time ha
come oy every enc to consider well the question, ana
% rcaec, or the results which 10 grow out OF the
war What Southern institution has been promoted'
STRENGTHENED or benefited b. tie Rebellion Cieariy'
negro slavery has not II matters not how deeply you
NAV be attached to Slavery the tine hds come iof Jou
TO inqniTe what Is 10 become OF T. go
The Government of the united States did not at nrse
cxpcc, to compelled TO assume its present attitude o.
hostility 20 the Institution Even Tor long TIME Atet
the opening of hostlities Government struggled TO sup
press the Rebellion without interfering with the ques-
tion oi Slavery ut all Bot occasions were soushs "
All the Rebels hy jeff Davis. the so-called fresldent
by every stump speaker by the press ot the South every
where that the States that had ouce declared them
selves out Of the Unon would never return 10 the ahe'
giancc They declared they would never consent 70
any terms short recognition Of Southern independence
with The ht conceded 10 every Slave STATE lnciuuihS
Maryland OF joining their Confederaey. Inc Issue
WAS thus fairly made up. The whole slave power wd4
to he arrived against the Union. who thus become
the champion Of freedom by the acts Of the Rebels
themselves
lion not one single wrong could be pointed out Ihs
most that could be done 10 arrain the people OF the
North Ii WAS said that they would occasionally run on
A few negroes This Was perhaps true. But there was
another thing equally true. Men were found IN every
city and State of the North to asis, the United States
officers in returning slaves TO their owners WIZ they
never will Tie people Of New-Oreans even. never
vii, again The pcop of Texas after this war IS over
never " Ill assist IN taking negro back TO slavery;
And no man will be found TO stand np before TIE o0' "
-, ,ha rnyersaI principle OF sefdefense the same
nrucipe which jsties any of US IN deehdhg our vee
bv eyery means in our power the Government must
strike AZ everything uenacng its life and 1t VIII yee
leave this Slavery question where 1t will do no harm
This is war the death between the Goyerninent ano
slavery and one or the other fall. Which must h
be, lCres OF Slavery. Of course
You wo have learned to love the institution as one
Of your gods let me warn you not TO waste your precious
time in believing that Slavery viii be renstated here "
elsewhere .
The Rebellion has caused the sacrifice Of nearly ha
million 0. in their attempt 10 make slavery better
than il was The trainers OF our Constitution never
thought Slavery would grow "a bo SO great. IL they
had thew would never have made that instrument what
IL was They we're only induced for the sake Of har.
mony and compromise to wink at the great ey as many
of them knew Il was. But they were ashamed Of the
principle and endeayorcd to conceal the evidence Of il
sxistence Hence there is allusion to II in direct
terms The historian of lO0 20 so years hence will
be astonshei 10 md word IN the Constitution Of the
United States 70 give sanction 10 slavehodng. We only
know now by tradition that the question considered
in the Convention at all and formed subject of discus
sion 5y the delegates As il feared that Congress
might interfere stop the slaveraie section in
serted denying that body the right prohibiting the i'm
porton OF persons from the coast Of Africa. and IN
the section which has been most quoted BY Southern
politicians 1t is provided that fgit,es from service oi
labor. etc. shall be delivered up. This applies ven
to white apprentices and sailors negro slaves MI
Madison said that the word slave bad been careiuIy
excluded from the Constitution In order that the word
might not know that an instrument based ~ u Wa
upon the principle Of universal liberty To man prosctco
or recognized the right OF property IN huinan nssn.
But tho provisions with the traditiohh unueIsauinS
and inter prctatioa answered the purpose oi pre.eh
interi,renc In the institution by Congress- IL would
puzzle many a man who IL now IN the hoDei army ana
who would no dolbt hc glad 10 get back once more on
NJ: ,,e:.:oa. With ~ lie ssyes srerf h' "a he'4ri