The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-09-06


or prates ola new Union, / mark him,
as an enemy Qfmy country and the
robber of my children, Thee Union
with its glorious memories, its unfulfll-
hopes, its history blazing upon every
page with words and deeds Of deatblesss
glory all bind me to the old Union and
cause me to abhor the nome of recon-
struction. l would say TO the gentle.
man from Ohio and those who think
with him "In Gods name say no .mores
about reconstruction" But sinking
every other consideration, forgetting
all your zeal, your etGorts and your en-,
ergies all be directed to- the mainte-
nance of the old constitution, That is
hallowed by the memory of Washing
ton, the glorious history of the revolu-.
tionary struggle and dearer by far is it
to us and our children than any new
tangled combination that can be hatch
ed by any convention. 1t is rarely that,
any good comes out of a convention,
and the proposed convention Of the,
States both rebel and loyal is the most
unpromising ofthe entire brood. If
we want peace then let us.conquer. If
the South want peace lot them lay
down their arms and cease war. Then,
will be able to deal with them justly
and generously. Then will Z try to.
forget the. rivers of Northern blood
they have shedin their unholy struggle
for slavery. Fhen will l try to forget
the thousands they, have slain, the
homes of the bereaved, the hopes they
hopes they have crushed, and the hearts,
they have broken. But while an arm.
Yields sabre, while the Constitution
is defed and the laws laughed to scorn
! will uphold the authority whose SOL
emn oath was that the Constitution
should be preserved and the laws main
tanned. jo+s - i.i4Hd h--- i'io Do
But Vallandigham told you that
the Governmentcould never be held to-
gether by coercive force, that power
brought to apply upon the unruly copldi
never reduce them to obedience.
Was there ever a greater heresy ut.
tered by the mouth Of man, No acoer-.
cion Why gentlemen, the coercive;
power Of Government is the only safe
ty and salvation of society. No gov
ernment no community can exist an
hour without it. 1t was the weakness
ofthe articles of the old confederation,
that they conferred no coercive power,
and the statesmen of that day saw the
pressing necessity of the new Constitu-
ton. Take to-day from municipal and
governmental organization the power.
of coercion and society goes at once in
to anarchy and chaos. The weak
would become the modern prey Of the
strong, and might would indeed be-
come right. have been told that
there are those who would disturb the
quiet of the gathering in this city.
We, the authorities CT the city, co,
cree them into respect for law. Sure
ly you should not denounce coerciaa.
That glorious old war horse of De-
mocracy, and at whose feet l received
the first lessons of political and gov
ernmental duty was gloriously free
from this modern heresy. refer to
proclamation against the nullifers, in
which "coercion" cleaned and glisten-
ed in every line, will give him name
and an Immortality in history, when
the maligners and denunciators ~ of
his policy shall have been forgotten. |
therefore stand foS, General Jackson
aud against Vallandigham. Will you
stand for Vallandigham and against
General Jacksona ----s
But / Twill not press the matter fur
ther. The attention you have giyr
en- me fills me with gratitude, and leads
me to hope that the canvas will not be
marked with such bigotry and intoleT-i
ance as usually attend such campaigns
Our interests are one our hopes are
identical. Let us therefore meet and
discuss this matter in a spirit Of frater-
nal love, and good will flow from the
interchange Of opinion, and together
we will reap. the rich harvest Of wealth
and glory that awaits our country. As
the children Of a common destiny the
pathway Of our progress should be
marked by no shameful chickering's, no
Earrings, no discord. Differ we may.
differ we must. But the difference
may be honest, and the association not
unfriendly, but arm in arm, two by two
let us push on in the pace Of civilization
and progress, and reach the summit OF
greatness and glory aproud example. of
a free, enlightened people, who 1--we
Union, Liberty, and Law; who when
their country was assailed, defended 1T
and when treason reared its bloody
banner, beat it back, and handed down
to posterity the rich legacy of their