Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-04-02
Union Feeling in AI.,b;,n,u.

that the Union men OF Huntsville, Alabama,
had held meeting, at which Mr.. Clemens
and Others delivered strong speeches against
the rebellion and in favor of u return to the
Union. In the Chicago Tribune of Monday
we find full report of the proceedings of
an adjourned meeting of Unonists of Ala
bama, held at Huntsville, on the 18th in
slant, which is thus described.
BY order of General Logan, the military,
numbers of them were present as
listeners, took no part in the proceedings.
The deliberations and action of the meeting
were these of Alabamians. Generally the
men who participated were beyond middle
age-men of wealth and of great respecta-
blity. But two speeches were made, which
l send you in full. OF the speakers need
say little by the way of introduction to your
readers Hon. Jere. Clemens is we'll known
to all as former Senator. Judge Hum
phreys is one of the ablest members of the
Southern bar, and was del legate to the
Charleston Convention.
SPEECH OF MIR. CLEMENS.
Mr. Clemens said This is an adjourned
meeting from that held at this place on
Saturday last. of which the country people
did not have sufficient notice to attend
The object of the meeting was explained
at the Saturday meeting. | will restate it
for the benefit of those who were not then
present. The object of the meeting is the
restoration of civil government-to bring
us law and order-to secure peace.
We were hurried into revolution against
our earnest protest. This people was for
the Union. Madison county gave 900 ma
iority against Secession yet we were car
ried away without support. We had no
p,,nb IN hn I.ln nj tinl
chair. Day was at last come, thank God,
and we can say that we take shelter under
the Stars and Stripes.
We propose to call upon the Governor of
the State to convene coairention Tar tie pur
pose Of rescinding tile act Of secession How
far the Governor will pay respect to our
action l cannot say. To be candid, think
he will pay it none. In calling upon him,
we avoid the charge of prccipitancy, and
follow the constitutional method. After
that, we have the right to call upon our
inherent rigEts--to act fo- ourselves. We
have the right to assemble in our capacity
as citizens and rc-cstablish civil government
for ourselves
Falsehood, fraud, and crime took us out
of the Union. They told us that Secession
was necessary to save slavery During the
ten years proceeding the rebellion, the State
of Alabama had not lost ten slaves year.
We had rebellion, and the consequence now
is, that there is not one man in the State of
Alabama who can say he has the title to II
single niggcr. Not all of us have title to
anything. The practical result is emancipa-
ton. Cotton, they said, was king-would
secure US recognition and independence.
The result is, Confederate money is worth
five cents on the dollar. They said that
civil liberty and State rights would be Sc
cured by Secession. The first act of the
Confederate Congress deprived the people
of the right to select their President. II a
man owned twenty negroes he was excused
from military duty, If a man had ten starry
ing children he was not. The man who
owned the negroes could stay at home with
his wealth the man with starving children
must leave them and 90 to the battle
field.
You and may have had some fear to the
success OF the Coniedercy. Thank God
there is now no prospect of its succeed
ing.
WHAT JUDGE HUMPHREYS SAID.
Judge Humphreys followed in a long
and able speech, IN the course of which he
said
Alabama should at once rescind the Ordin-
ance of Secession. ! am confident we shall
then have as many years for getting good
radiance of this institution as we want. As
far as the execution of military orders on
the subject is conce rncd, the officers and
men of the Federal army are bound to carry
them into effect. ! am in favor of such po-
| litical action OF the Government as will
obyiate the necessity OF Such orders. DO
not misapprehend me. | believe the insti.
tuition Of slavery is gone as permanent
| iug-oyerth"Own by the action of the
| Southern States believe in case of re-
turn to the Union we would receive politi-
cal cooperation so as to secure the manage.
ment of that labor by those who were slaves.
There is really no difference, in my opinion,
whether we hold them as absolute slaves or
obtain that labor by some other method.
Otcourse we prefer the old method; but
! that question is not now before us.
We are, Tor the present, calling to the au-
thofities of Alabama and to the citizens OF
other parts of tue State to heed what we
have felt, and that they need not feel. II |
am to be considered an enemy to my coun-
try for telling them those things, let il bc so
let the sentence come. But that state of
affairs will no longer exist The people of
Alabama say that the State was precipitatetl
--wrongiully prccipitated-o of the Union
and that they are willing to take their stand
4 in the old lniOn-that Government in
which they always found prosperity, which
| gave them strength at home aud abroad
Since the action Of France, does any one
think that AN alliance with her would have
restored popularrghts, secured State rights
Does amy man say so
! am Told that there ia u difference between
Mt Lincoln and Mr. Chase. For my part,
| wish Mr., LlncOln io succeed. II Chase be
elected the next President, there will pro
bably be more Tadicalisin la the Govern
ment OF the country. Hut II is hardly pos
sible that Vein Alabama shall have any thing
20 do Ia making the selection.
! What Nc want now Ia such p0lltical ~,
iion a. will put Alabama night where she
beloags back Ia tho union Have yonI
boys not struggled long enough, suffered
snoaah fought OR enough battle zelda, foT
10 take some action 7 do not believe that
restoration of the union alll be hunlliA.
ting 10 the south II Nc take Gelion Ia
the rlghi Nay, as sill secure aiones peace,
lgs sad ordeE
Whsn | IetaTnsd itam The ,haTlsslon
Con,,ulien, ln eco. Tho people uisi la lhis
soul. .14 speaking 20 loapga 30 d4l ig