The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-04-09
Speech or Hon. Green Clay Smith
ae Lexington, Ky.

great question OF the day was Sl8v0fy-tn0
negpo-when on the very day that it was
been elected President Of these United
States, by the voice of y majority of the
people, came the word of secession from
South Carolina. Would to God that ac-
cursed State could be cut out entire and
sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic; but as
that cannot be done We will bring her back
70 the Union by force. [Great Applause
secession, because as they said,
they would preserve their Institutions from
any interference. Then it was that the
committee of thirty-three offered to Con-
Rress and the whole Government the pro-
posed amendment to the Constitution upon
the subject Of slavery; but they said they
wanted no amendment, and that they in
tended to 60 out any way and form sepa-
rate and independent government. They
did 60; they waged war upon us, bringing
Ill the horrors and sufierings of war to
our doors. They have used every means
In their reach for the most vigorous prose.
cution of their diabolical purpose. They
have used, my friends, and as most pow
erfnl agent-the negro! And why should
1 a9s asd e aSd use
gro in this war and am in favor Of doing
%. Immense applause.] And Why shSald
we not all, in this proud Commonwealth,
unite in supporting our Governments in
this and every other measure in suppress
ing this accursed rebellion Applause. r.
The Government has dealt most kindly
She must and will put down rebellion with
in her borders prolonged applausel at ev-
cry hazard. [Cheers.]
While on this subject, the speaker gave
. most timely rebuke to the copperheads of
the State, who had allowed themselves to
be led into the belief that Kentucky was
the United States, simply on account Of the
great consideration shown to her by the
Government. It was high time that these
carping individuals were brought to a
sense Of their error, and made to know that
Kentucky must do her portion Of work in
this great struggle. [Applause.l He then
drew . forcible picture Of the absurdity Of
Kentucky neutrality. we had said that
THE war; and We adhered to that decision
until the rebels came and stole our pro-
perty and destroyed our homes, when we
were glad to Welcome the yankees"
[laughter and applausS. 1calling upon Gov.
Morton, Of Indiana, to send US assistance,
Tor Godss sake.
Again, reverting to the a]l-important
subject Of the enrolment Of the negro, Mr..
Smith continued: 'sWhen went TO Con.
Rrs0 to represent my constituents, I did
% with the promise 70 vote men and mo-
ny Snr the prosecution Of this war, for the
suppression Of this most infamous rebel
ton, aud did % without one thought to
the contrary. [Cheers.1 The enrolment
blu came Ip-the blu for the enrollment
Of every white male citizen in the country,
which was to precede draft for the
stTengtheuing Of our armies, and deter
mined to vote for IL and did %. The
amendment was offered to enroll every
able bodied negro between the ages Of
eighteen and 56rty-0ve. There was no
question e % the right Of the Government
most able lawyers admitted Il - q propo-
aition no man could deny. The proposition
was made to pay to loyal owners $500 for
every slave sent into the armies. sua-
tained the entire measure and voted for Il,
fgreat applause and now comes the ques-
havdrthe States OF Maryland, Missouri and
Kentucky given their slaves by the hun
dreds and thousands TO the army. The
Government has the right and the power
to take them, and the great los We have
already incurred in slaves 10 . warning to
~ to take now what We will never again
be able to get for them. They are not worth,
to-day, more than $50 . pieoe, and yet
every loyal man will obtain the $500 from
the Government. Some men will say that
this act enforced would ba violation OF
the Constitution Of the Commonwealth
But I defy any man to point out q clause
in the Constitution Of the State, or o single
scratch of the pen prohibiting it. What
do you tell me that it il right to tear the
boy from his mother, the father from his
family, the laborer from his employer, the
farmer from his field, and throw them into
the jaws of death, and yet that it is .'uncon
stitutionap' to use the negro in the same
manuer3 Is it right, say, that this should
be done, simply that you may lie back in
luxury and ease with twenty or thirty ne.
rroes to do your bidding? tCries of mo
No."l say that this country is for white
people as we'll as for the negro. Laugh.
teri And would just as soon see negro
facing death with musket in his hand, OF
digging in the trenches, as to see white
man in the same position. [Great ap.
plause.l
who can think Of the five hundred thou.
sand men cold in death tonight on the
battle-fields, where they have fought fol
their country; of thousands of homes made
desolate; OF thousands OF penniless wild
ows and orphans, crying, almost, for
bread: Of thousands Of armless men, and
lame, and halt, and blind, seen on the
atreets of our cities and villages-who,
saw. can witness all this and cry "Uncon.
stitutional! when We propose to make
the negro do his share in the great work
TApplause]; when we propose that he shall
light that some of our brave soldiers may
live. that he shall labor in the trenches
that some others may restf
Again, 1 tell you, there Is no question as