American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-06-15

While | say that, and solmemnly believe
it, and believe it is capable of the strong
est proof may also add that it is the
great error which is being propagated in
the land to say that our national life de-
pends merely upen the sustaining of the
Constitution. Our fathers made it, and
we love it. He intended to maintain it /;
but if it suits us to change it we can do so
[ [Applauscl and when it suits us to change
it we will change it. (Applause.) If it
were torn into ten thousand pieces the
nation would be as much a nation as it was
before the Constitution was made ma
ton always that declared its independ-
ence as united people, and lived as a
united people until now;a nation inde-
pendent of all particular institution un-
der which they lived, capable of model
ing them precisely as their interest re-
quire We ought to have it distinctly
understood by friends and enemies,
that while we love that instrument we
will manhattan it, and will, with undoubt-
ed certainty put to death friends OF foes
who undertake to trample it under foot
Yet, beyond doubt we will reserve the
right to alter it to suit ourselves, from
time to time, and from generation to gem
Grafton. (Applause)
One more idea on that subject. We
have incorporated in the instrument the
right of revolution, which gives us, with
out doubt, the right to change it. 1t new
er existed before the American States.
and by the right to change there is no
need of rebellion, instruction or civil war,
except upon denial of the fundamental
principle of all free Governments; that
the major part must rule; and there is no
other method of carrying OH society, ex-
cept that the will of the majority shall be
the will of the whole, or that the will of
the minority shall be the will of the whole.
So that, in one word, to deny the princi-
pies | have tried to state, is to make a
dogmatic assertion that the only form of
Government that is possible with perfect
liberty, and acknowledged by God, is a
pure and absolute despotism
The principles, therefore, which [ am
trying to state before you are principles
which, if they be not true, freedom is i'm
possible, and no Government but one of
pure force can exist, or ought to endure
among men. But the idea which | wish
to carry out as the remedy for these troub-
les and sorrows is this: Dreadful as they
are, this fearful truth runs through the
whole history of mankind, that Whatever
else may be done to give stability to au-
thority, whatever slse may be done to per-
pctuate its institutions, however wise,
however glorious, practicable and just
may be the philosophy of it, it has been
found that the only enduring, only imper-
ishable cement of all free institutions has
been the blood of traitors. No Gov
ernment has ever been built upon imper-
ishable foundations which foundations
were not laid in the blood of traitors. 1t
is fearful truth, but we had as we'll avow
it at once, and every blow you strike, and
every rebel you kill, every battle yon win,
dreadful as it is to do it, you are adding,
it may be year, it may be ten years, it
may be a century, it may be ten centuries,
to the life Of the Government and free
dom of your children. (Great applause.)
Now, passing over that idea-passing
over many other things which it would be
right for me to say, did time serve, and
were this the occasion-let me add, you
arc a Union party. Your origin has
been referred to as having occurred eight
years ago In the one sense it is true,
but you are far older than that. ] see
before me not only primitive Republicans
and primitive Abolitionists, but | see also
primitive Democrats and primitive Wings,
primitive Americans, and if you will al
low me to say So myself am here, who
all my life have been in party to my
self. daughter aid applansc) As
Union party l will follow you to the ends
of the earth, and to the gates of death.
(Applause) But as an Abolition party,
as Republican party, as Wing party,
as a Democratic party, as an American
party, | will not follow you one foot Gap
plause.) But it is true of the mass of
the American people, however you may
divide aud scatter, while this war lasts,
while the country is in peril, while you
call yourselves, as you do in the call of
the Convention, the Union party" you
are for the preservation of the Union and
the destruction of this rebellion, root
and branch"
And, in my Judgment, one of the great
errors that has been committed by our
Administration of the General Govern
chief of which we are about
to nominate for another term of office
has been to believe that we have succeed
ed where we have not succeeded, and to
act in manner which is appropriate for
those who have succeeded. You will not,
you cannot succeed until you have utter
ly broken the military power of this peo-
pie (Applause.)
/ will not detain you upon these incl
dental points, one of which has been
made prominent in the remarks of the ex-
cellent Chairman of the National Com
mittee. do not know that l would be
willing to go so far as, probably he would,
but cordially agree with him in this. L
think, considering what has been done
about slavery, taking the thing as it now
stands, overlooking altogether, either in
the wav of condemnation or approval,