Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-07-07

their lives, their fortunes, ana their ga
cred honor.
Though the trial may be long and Sc
we're, though the contest shall wax fierc-
er and hotter than ever before, though
the cost and the sacrifice may be great
indeed, il is to be borne In mind all the
while that the stake at issue Is FAR
greater still. Sir, whatever may be the
cost or whatever may be the sacrifice OF
savinq your country, 1t will be infinitely
less than the cost and the sacrifice of
losing your country. II the Republic be
saved. all else, comparatively speaking,
Is saved with it. IL the Republic is
lost. all else of this worlds goods or of |
this worlds hopes, which are worth liv |
ing for or worth dying for, are lost with |
1t, and lost irrecoverably and forever.
Senators may dilate upon and deplore |
as they may the costs and sacrifices of
the war. They may expatiate upon and
pour out their laments over the mise
ries and manifold horrors Of the war
We concede it all. We have no contro-
versy nor disputation with them upon
that question. But, sir, who caused 1t
all Who brought all this horror and
misery Of civil war upon our country
Who are responsible for this great ini-
| auity that affiicts our land Who are
answerable before the tribunals of God
| and man? The Senator from Kentucky
| did not answer that question he did
not anticipate that question; he did not
anticipate the answer to that question.
Treason, rank, bold, audacious treason,
plunged your country into all the hor-
rors of civil war. Treason in its mad
ness and it's blindness brought this great
aflliction upon your country, appealed
to arms, fired the first gun, struck the
first blow, and forced upon your country
the terrible issues ofcivil war 1t lett us
no other alternative except the still great
er Calamity ofnational abasement, ofna-
tional dishonor and national degradation.
1t challenged us to the wager of battle
From necessity we accepted the issue
By that issue we abide. BY that issue
treason itself must abide, be the conse-
quences what they may.
There can in the nature of things be
no terms of settlement; there can be no
terms of compromise; there can be no
prefers of negotiation to traitors in arms
against your assailed and betrayed
country, short of their entire subjec-
ton the complete overthrow of their
military power, or their unconditional
surrender and absolute and unqualified
submission to the authority and the
laws of the Government they have at
tempted to destroy, and with ample
| | sureties for keeping the peace forever
| thereafter. Would you concede any
thing more? Would you accept any
thing less?
Talk of compromise on such ques-
tion Talk of negotiation with'such foe
: at such time and under such circum-
stances Compromise! Compromise
, of what, pray tell me? Compromise OF
, the question of our right to exist and to
have being as a nation? Compromise
of the question whether we shall subdue
| the rebellion, or whether the rebellion
: shall subdue us? Compromise of our
right to life, liberty and the pursuit OF
, ! happiness Compromise of the question
' of our right to self-eXistence and to self
4 protection as a nation upon the earth?-
! Is that what you mean?
q Negotiate Negotiate with whom
o in Heavens name, with whom? Nego
a tiate with armed traitors in the fielC
+ who are seeking the life of the very gov
q eminent that gave them birth and nour
> ished them and brought them up? Ne
gotiate with armed assassins who are
, seeking to cut your throat, who demand
your life or your inheritance Nego.
tiate with an enemy who spurns and
| laughs to scorn your every suggestion
of settlement? The very consideration
! of such proposition at the present time
:. and under the existing condition OF
q things is derogatory, is abhorrent to ev
cry loyal and manly and independent
and patriotic mind.
Mr. President, there Is but one plair
and palpable course for us, and that is
to prosecute the war with all the vigol
y and with all the energy and by all the
,, means which God and nature have
d placed in our hands, and within the rec
: ognized limits Of civilized warfare to pur
down this rebellion. Sir, this Republic
! must conquer the rebellion, or the rebel
: lion will conquer this Republic, and
f there is no other alternative. Trusting
, that the God of battles, through the
agency and the instrumentality of oul
! gallant and heroic officers and men now
o fighting in the field for the cause Of thu
Q Union and of free republican govern
! ment, will soon crown our arms with
. triumph and give us victory and peace
I we wait in patience, we wait in hops
d and in confidence, the final issue of Thu
, contest.
! Never despair Of the Republic. Thi:
n rebellion must be put down. Thi:
!. Union must be restored. This Republic
!, of ours, with all its promises and all it:
# hopes for the future and for the worlo
: must be saved. I repeat, this monste
rebellion must be put down this fou
: conspiracy against the life of the best
and most benefcent government the
: world has ever seen must be crushed out
v We are not at liberty to doubt about it
4 | had almost said we were not at liberty
d to debate about-it. 1t is simply ant
/ only thing to be done, to be done at al
# events, to be done at all hazards, to b.
q done at all sacrifices. If more men ar
wanted to save the government, NOR
!, men will be had If more men ar
i needed whether it be one hundred thou
I, Lor q