Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-02-24
IrrrER rRoH RoY. D. 5. DIokINsON.

Ny DEAR Sir IL have delayed answer
ing your esteemed favor Of the 9th, invit-
ing me to address your citizens on the
22d, the Anniversary Of Washington's
birthday, for l felt SO much honored at
your invitation, and Aattered by the kind
terms in which you were pleased to con-
vev IT. that it has increased a desire, long
entertained, to commune with your people
upon the imperiled condition OF our eoun-
trv. I wished to speak upon the conspira-
cy which was plotted by knsves and trait
ors against the blood-bought land Of wash
ington, and Of the rebellion by which II
sought to enforce its hellish DEGREES and
1 wished to impale, in the worlds pillory,
the wretches, at home and abroad, who
are urging it forward, or apologising for
those who do SO, and the birthday Of the
Father of his country would be most mt
ting occasion for go grave discussion
But, am detained here, and hence this
letter.
was one Of those, and foremost
of those who desired to leave the States
where the institution of slavery existed,
10 conduct their domestic affairs without
the interference or annoyance Of sister
States or their people, and to this end l
devoted, in high official position, some Of
the best years and energies Of an active
life. did not pursue this course because
1 favored the institution of slavery, for l
did not; but because deemed 1t in har-
mony with the true spirit Of the Consl-
tuition, and calculated to allsy sectional
preiudice,-to quiet sectional irritation,
and to enable our country to press onward
to that glorious fruition which awaited
her coming. So long as the slave States
invoked the spirit Of the Contribution,
demanded its protection for them, by all
the holy memories of the revolution; and
can literally say to that deluded and
misguided people:
'Sly voice, though but humble, was raised for
Nv vote as q freeman, still voted the free,
This hand, though but feeble, would arm in
And this Eeart though out worn, has thOrb
Yes, Iioye thee, and thine, though thou vert
not my land,
and wePt With the world, over the patriot
band who are gone,
But mourn them no longer as once"
But when without any just or reason
able cause or shadow Of apology whstso-
ever, they raised the standard Of rebellion
in a resort to arms, said and now repeat
that the rebellion should be crushed by
the armed power Of the Government, at the
earliest moment, by the most direct means
and in the most summary manner; in
short, By all the terrible fury Of war. We
want no political paliatives, or panaceas,
a1aoFsn T,la
to be stretched or shriveled to suit the ne
oessities Of the occasion; no caucuses or
conventions to scheme for political advan-
tage; no resolution mongers to cover up
and conceal the point where loyalty leaves
of, and treason begins; but we want a
united and determined people Of all parties,
ages and conditions, acting in concert, TO-
cry out against and hunt this internal
scourge from our land, and drive it be-
yond the boundaries of civilization.
Abraham Lincoln is not the Government,
but its temporary agent and representa-
tive, and even the most prejudiced and
bigoted partizan should remember that in
such crisis as the present, support or re-
sistance to the Government is manifested
by supportingor or opposing its Administra-
ton. GoFernment cannot be sustained
and encouraged, nor treason arrested or
rebuked, by giving rebellion one blow and
the Administration two. If the Admins
tration is weak, it should be made strong
er by the popular a m. If itlscks purpose,
itenergies should be nerved by the ezhi-
bition of q peoples will. If il Is deficient
in wisdom, popular counsels should aid
and assist it. and stay up its hands until
the victory over the modern AmalekiteS is
completed The question is not whether
our glorious edifee would be best governed
or cared for by Democrats, or Republicans,
or Abolitionists, or Americans, Int wfaiN-
er the edifee should be preserve -.or
the common enjoyment Of all or be given
to the incendiary's torch or razed to
its foundation, for the qualification
Of an unholy ambition, which, failing TO
govern, would fain destroy, because it
would rather Hreign in hell than serve in
Heaven.
An Old-fashionsd JsSkssnisn Democrat,