Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-10-29


stand. although il revolted our hearts But
togreyive It when it is dying To think OF
galvanizing into new life the hideous carcass
whose vitality was extinguished by the hand
of fate To attempt to fasten anew and ar
tiicialIy upon the nation curse OF which
for century she longed in vain to De rid,
and which at last, is being wiped out by the
great process of providential retribution =
To resuscitate and nurse to new power of mis-
chief the traitress that fell in an attempt to
assassinate the Republic Revive slavery in
the midst of the nineteenth century, Have
you considered the enormity of the
undertaking? Look around you'll You
see a great Republic purified of her
blacklist stain, which sent blush of shame
to her cheeks when the world abroad pointed
to it you see the heart of a noble people
relieved of the CALLING burthen of wrong and
guilt; you see the nations of the world
stretching out to us their brotherly hands and
cheering us on with their inspiring acclama-
tions from the down trodden and degraded
on earth to the very angels in heaven you
hear all good and generous hearts join in a
swelling chorus of gratitude and joy, for at
last the great iniquity is tumbling down, len
thusiastic cheers and now strike heaven and
earth in the face and revive it? Now poison
the future of the Republic again, now imperil
the life of the nation again, and revive it
Are you in earnest Here we stand before
an atrocity so appalling that we seek in vain
for parallel on the darkest pages of history;
we search lin vain the darkest corners of
the human heart to find motive or a reason
that might excuse a crime so ridiculous for
its folly, folly so disgraceful for its wicked
ness. Great applause. But, thank God, it
is impossible Tremendous cheers You
think you can stem the irresistible current of
events with your contrivances of political
legerdermain, with your peace cry, which is
treason, and your war-cry, which is fraud /;
with your hypocritical protests against ty-
ranny which does not exist, and your artful
imposition of Union cas- it was, and can:
not again be. With these pigmy weapons you
think you can avert the sweep of gigantic
forces! Poor schemers, you might as well
try to bring railroad train running at full
speed back to its starting point by butting
your little heads against the locomotive.
You might as well try to catch in your arms
the falling waters of the Niagara IN the
midst of the cataract, to carry them back to
their source. loud applause.) In vain you
sacrifice your honor for what is infamous
In vain you jeopardze the life of the nation
for what is dead. The doom of your cause
is written in the stars. Enthusiastic cheers.)
If you love yourselves, and want to secure
the respect of your children, then, beseech
you, leave the scandalous and hopeless task to
the ignorant and brainless who may show as
an excuse for their mad attempt the weak
ness of their minds, and to those hardened
Williams who have become as insensible to the
secret lash of conscienced and to the
open contempt of mankind. But if you will
not, then happy those of you whose names
will sink into utter oblivion, for only they
will escape the ignominious distinction of be-
coming mark for the detestation of poster
ity. (Cheers.) Revive slavery in the midst
of the nineteenth century And you dare to
hope that the American people will aid in
this crazy attempt-in this crime against JUS
tice, liberty and civilization-in this treason
against the future generations You dare
to expect the American nation to commit SUI
icide that slavery may live ? Poor men, de-
sist You are undone. You do not seem to
know that he must fail who appeals to the
cowardice of the American people. (Enthu-
siastic applause.) Get out of the way of the
nation who marches with a firm step and
proud heart after the martial-drum beat of her
destiny. She feels that the struggle of ages
congresses itself into the pOrtentous crisis
of this hour-it is for coming centuries she
fights and already she sees before her what
was once only a patriotic dream, rise into
magnificent sunlit reality Liberty Liberty
and Union one and inseparable ! now and
foreverl Uong continued and enthusiastic
cheering.)