The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1864-04-02
ALABAMA.

Ii the reported speeches OF Jere Gle
mems aud Judge Humphreys, made at .
Union meeting in Huntsville, Alabama.
be true, then great and highly import
ant change Of sentiment is taking place
among those who were formerly leaders
in the rebellion movement. Huntsville
has been for some time in possession of
the Union forces, but the deliberations,
speeches and actions of the meeting
we're wholly those of Alabamians, aud
of men Of wealth and great respectable.
ity. The meeting was held on the 18th
inst. and but wo speeches were made,
those Of Clemens and Humphreys, which
are thus reported in the Chicago Tri-
bune
These men we're both deep in the Sc
cession movement. The position Of Jers
Clemens, who was formerly in the Uni
ted States Senate with JEFF Davis, il
we'll known; and Judge Humphreys was
also Secession light of consdera-
bic magnitude, as be was a delegate
to the Charleston Convention. Mr..
Clemens says " falsehood and crime
took Us out of the Union. They told
US that Secession was necessary to save
slavery" This was, no doubt, the great
tombstone but it is now sinking deep
er han plummet-line ever sounded, and
with 1t the rebellion was going down to
everlasting intamy. " You and |" says
Mr.. Clemens. "m may have had some fear
Of the success Of he Contederacy.-
Thank God there is now no prospec. Of
its succeeding" He says, " We were
hurried into revolution against our ear
nest protest. We now propose to cali
upon he Governor of the State 10 con-
we've a Convention for the purpose OF
iescinding he act Of Secession" Tha,
is, no doubt, what Governor Vance, o,
North Carolina, would like to do. as the
pith Of his recent speech iudlca es iha
The fear of Rebel layone prevents him
at present from coming out boldly like
Clemens. The truth of the matter is,
hey are all, except perhaps the arch
traitors, tired Of the Rebellion, and
would gladly come back to the Union.
Judge Humphrey said Alabama should
at once rcscind the ordinance of Seces-
sion. l believe the ms tuition of sla-
very is gone as a permanent thing. |
believe III case of return % the Union
We would receive political cp-operatlon
50 as to secure the Infringement of that
ator by hose who were slaves. There
Is really no difference, in my opinion,
whether we hold ,hem as absolu slaves
"r obtain that labor BY some her meth
cd. OF course we prefer the old neth.
i'd But that question is not now be-
fore u.s."
This is mild way of drawing the
dis inction between liberty and slavery,
but as he yields the fact that slavery is
dead his individual wishes must 90 with
the general curren. lie says again -
." "nat se want now is such political
action as will put Alabama right where
she belongs-back in the Union. Have
your boys not struggled long enough,
tough. on enough battle fields for you
to take some action do not believe
hat restoration of the Union will be
Illuminating 10 inc Soutn. II we take
&C ion in the right way we will secure
al once peace, law and order"
Such speeches and such sentiments
from highly influential Southern men,
who were originally of the Secession per-
suasion in its widest and deepest style,
will prove most ia al thorn in the side
Of the Rebellion. Nei her JEFF DAVIS
nor any other Rebel in the q" Confeder-
acy " can stop the onward current Of
sentiments and feelings like the above,
when sent abroad by Sou heru men like
Jere Clemens and Judge Humphreys.
heir equal in intellect, IN any respect,
aud standing on the same Southern soil
l is wedge which will rive The Rebel
oak, rotten at lis heart,