The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-02-28
A War speech by John Van Buren,.


On Tuesday evening, John Van Buren,
addressed the Democratic Union Associa-
ton of New York The following pas
sage from his speech will interest our
readers:
We must deal with those who speak to
the South, and not with those who keep
silent. We have no mode Of dealing with
enemies In arms, except by taking the
views of their leading journals and speak
ers. We have those views They demand
the Independence Of tie South and i,sisc upon
their right TO secele. THIS / utterly deny
loud applause and If God should spare
my life / never will Geese to deny it
There is nothing in the Constitution to
warrant it. 1t is the destruction of our
form Of Government, and must be resisted
at all hazards This, then, is the condition
of the country. Now, in regard to the
holping of Convention, in which We may
all confer with each other, and they Of the
South, as we'll as we of the North, might
debate how We could get rid of the exist
ing Government For it is plain that MI
Lincoln IS the constitutional President,
elected for four years, and he must serve
two years longer from March next, unless
the people of the Union choose to go into
Convention and decide otherwise. If
they do this, new election can be ordered
in sixty days, if the Convention SO decide.
Loud and continuous applause.
But the people Of the South do not
choose to see the thing in this light. they
choose rather, to abide 10y the opinions of
certain head men, who have led them into
this controversy, and are ,.nequivocally
opposed to anything like a restoration of
the Union. / never doubted that effer-
son Davis is opposed to it, Or that the ring
leaders OF the rebellion are opposed TO
reconciliation. Theirexistence-pol
ly, morally, and, in may be, physically-de-
pends upon the establish meat Of an inde-
pendent confederacy. No man who has
any regard for himself would uphold these
men, or treat them IS political brethren
hereafter The certain fate which awaits
any one who would do so, would deter
every one from the thought Therefore,
they are opposed 10 reunion. Our friends
in Illinois. who prowose to endeavor to
hold q convention, will find it a barren
task, because the South is determined not
10 return, and, until their armies have
power TO resist and put Us down, this war
must 90 or, and n,oSc wL0 lc0gli attempt 10
stoP it IriH je carrie! array by the toTrent.-
! Loud applause, and few hisses These
are my oplnions-my personal views.
And now let Us consider what IS the best
mode of prosecuting the war. have
s!rs1aY sic.et that Prefer peace. That tce
caan3t hlus. THOSE ,cdom I1e arc dealing NTH
,CsH not hare IT, end those trko attempt Il oj!lt,s
u ,ettk0nt TIER cyGScHt are on q JrsHtlsSs sr-
rand The articles Of their journals and
the declarations of their speakers show it.
Now, iome persons have suggested forei gn
Intervention. To that l oppose my obec-
ton, in any and every way, whether it be
/ in the form OF advice or Of forcible inter
| ference. | would not ever consent 10 the
| plan OF the Tribune to refer 1t to one of
the Swiss Cantons. This rebellion Is real,
and rather that call on foreigners 20 de
eide whether whether we shall live or not,
and on wha. therms !. would be better to
die at once. lAppIause So there is no
| use Of talking about foreign intervention;
! We must either subdue this tunul, our
selves or not at all Next, we should in
! QuiFe upon what terms upon wha. terms
I the war should 20 on. There was but one
opinion in the North when the war broke
out When Congress resolved that the war
TAs TO restore the Union as it existed be-
/ fore, and 70 restore the Constitution, there
| wGs But one unanimous opinion III Con
! grcSs 10 sustain the Administration. Sub
sequently 10 that tine, there have been
/ occurrences which have gorked sensible
changes in the Northern mind, producing
not only an open opposition 20 the Ad-
ministration, but almost plain sympathy
with the South, and desire TO end the war.
! Let Us sec what is the cause.
! Here Nr. Van Buren, referred to the
! Presidents proclamation, and he dIsap,
proved Of the policy OF which it was an
| expression
! As our armies progress, freedom to the
| slave must follow, a. matter Of course,
| just like the destruction Of every other
! kind Of rebel possessions. IF this is what
the President means, it is all right; but if
he means TO say that all slaves in the
! South are free. it Is false; for they are
now Just as much slaves in law rs if the
| proclamation had never been issued 1t
has, therefore, fallen dead on black as on
white do not think he can excite an
! instruction in the South and if he could,
every soldier in the United States would
rise up to put down the slave rebellion.
! Applause Ia a war against women and
children, we are with the and women and
! children. Applause More: if it could
be plainly seen that was the purpose OF
the proclamation, every Democratic soldier
| in the army would lay down his arms
| loud spplaus and then we would have
an interesting war. | would like to see
a war between the Abolitonists of the
North aud the Momen and children Of the
South | trust in the women in such a
fight, If they could only get at the Aboli-
tionS,s. Laughter. As for expecting
Greeley and Sumner 10 20 there, that Is
out of .hequestion. Renewed Laughter
But |, for one, would agree to 60 there
and help the women to ight these chaps
if it were only to see the rapid tracks
Greely and Sumner would make down
! PENNSYLVANIA avenue, with one honest
brave Southern woman after them. Loud
laughter.