Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-07-21
nOlhital.
HON. ALEXANDER LONGS SPEECH
Deliracd o GroesJecks Grove, near
Cmcihnaf July 9, 1864.

Cincinnati, Jub 9, 1864.
A great number of NTr. Longs constitu
ency and others assembled at Groosbeck'
Grove, eight miles from Cincinnati. for III,
purpose Of giving testimonial of their an
proval of Mr. Long course in Congress B.
The welcoming speech was delivered BY w
NJ. Cory Esq. Mr.. Long responded az
follows
Mr.. CHAIRMAN AND Fellow CITIZENS
1t is not in the power of language for me
to express the deep sense of gratitude
feel in listening to the eloquent terms in
which you, Sir, Cunning to Mr.. Cory,
have referred to myself and at beholdina
this demonstration of popular opinion; and
Sir, although you have cndeavored by the
powerful force Of the English language. oi
which you are so perfect master, to attrib.
ute it to myself personally, | am not vain
enough, for one moment to believe it so in
tended. 1t is the expression of popular
sentiment in favor of principle, which by
your suffrage, and your kind partiaity, my
fellow citizens, have been enabled to give
uttcrance to in the council of the nation.
1t means peace; peace upon the best terms
1t can be obtained, that would be satisfac-
tory to honorable men, but in any event
peace, even if it costs the recognition OF
the separate and sovereign independence of
the Confederate States.
| am deeply grateful for this manifesto
ton OF approval Of my course upon all the
exciting question of the day-a question
that sinks into insignilicance all the event.
Of our past history
| see before me the representative men
of a large portion of my constituency-me
whose esteem | highly prize, and for whose
political judgment | have always had the
greatest respect and regard.
In pronouncing for peace, which is 9
painful but stern necessity, upon the basis
of the recognition of the States COMPOSING
the Southern Confcderacy, although wo' 4
make any personal sacrifice to induce tc
them to return, if such a thing were posi-
bic to the principles of l776, expressed in
the Declaration of Indepence, that all Just
governments derive their power from tho
consent of the governed, | was fully aware
that | took upon myself great personal risl,
and hazard.
knew that for the last three years free
dom Of speech and the press had been, tc
a great extent, suppressed, and that most
Of the constitutional safeguards which for
merly surrounded the people and their rep
|
down | knew that in declaring against
the further prosecution of this infamous
war should subject myself to the frown,
of arbitrary power-a power far greater
than ever raised its head before upon thi,
contincnt-a power, relentless, inexorablc
and acrupulous-having Il million Of bay
onets at its back and dsbursing millions o
what passes for money per annum-a powc
supported hy an influential public pres
and by most mighty and potent organiza
tion among the people.
The prison, and dungeons of the countr,
from the Atlantic to the Pacific bore melan
choly evidence Of the penalty this despo
tism had visited upon those brave ant
courageous men who had before dared t.
condemn its policy and publicly express {
disagreement of opinion with it.
Had | consulted my personal case anc
sense Of security, to say nothing of my
personal interest, | should have remained
silent and not given expression to my sin
cerc and earnest and conscientious convic
tions In this war, from the beginning
the friends of peace have been threatened
with severe punishment, by mobs, or by
the government, if they continued faithful
to their conscience-and they have beer
rewarded with money, with Office with con
tracts and patronage, if they would aposta
tie and become the blowers of the wal
trumpet and be the minions of arbitrary
power.
The weak, the corrupt and the vacilatin!
went over to the ranks Of the admnistra
ton.
1t is the good fortune of these who, up
on those terms and at those risks, pro
nouncc for peace, that they have no hypo
critics among them, and that no better evi
dence of honesty and sincerity can be at
forled than to oppose this contract giyin!
and thieving corrupt dynasty.
| remembered that | was the representa-
tive of brave and patriotic constituency
and that it was my duty to pronounce il
their behalf, what | believed to be true
upon the floor Of Congress.
So great have been the excuses Of powc
by this administration, so bold and auda
cious its violation of everything connected
with personal liberty, that presume yol
were not surprised when, for thus deliver
ing my views and yours, | was threatened
with the punishment of expulsion from my
seat in the House.
Indeed the time has long since passeC
when any body should be astonished at any
outrage this administration commits upol
public liberty and personal rights.
That the honorable Speaker of the Hous,
should have been the mover OF TINS dis
graceful, unjust and anti-consttutiOnal res
olution Of expulsion will forever remain up
on the pages Of our Congressional histor
as another remarkable evidence of the blind
ness Of party rage and the terrible vindic
tiveneS of political passion.
1t will not be expected that thall refc
in detail to the doctrines | have advocated
as your representative upon the floor G
Congress during the eyentful session jus
closed
You are familiar with my position, and
am heartily rejoiccd to know, as | hay
been informed by the eloquent gcntema
who has just spoken in your behalf, that
meets with an approval at your hands, an
finds responsive hearts in the bosoms G
the constituency which have been so high
ly honored as to represent.
Three months have passed on yesterday
since, as your representative, | assume
the responsibility of declaring the delibel
ate convictions Of my Judgment, in suppol
of the principles and doctrines | then as
|. serted, in opposition to the further prose
: cution of the war for the coercion of sovei
eign States, by the use of such argument
u as God had enabled me to employ, and
III stand before you to-day to say that they ar
i. true; true and Interchangeable as the hills al
re everlasting.
O. The lapse of time, subsequent event
n and much additional reflection, have on
to served to convince me of the justice of tn
er views then expressed.
or That there IL no other alternative in tll