Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-09-05
SPEECH OF
HON. JOHN WENTWORTH,
Delivered at the
GREAT UNION MASS MEETING
SPEECH OF
Held i'm chicago, Sept. 1st.

oar institutions. Our beautiful city Of
Chicago has reached its present proud posi-
ton, and grown to its present growth, and
has never yet been disgraced by mob
Within the past week a great Convention,
composed Of men widely different and
even hostile views from those you entertain,
attended by concourse of thousands, as
sembled here, and yet assure 20 as one
of the eustodians Of the citys peace, that
it has not cost your treasury ten dollars to
keep the peace during all the excitement
of the past five days. And why so2 Why
was there not violence, outrage and disor-
der2 Because, gentlemen, of the preEa-
lence of universal liberty of opinion, and
of universal liberation. Because as peo-
ple we indorse and exemplify that widely
known maxim of Thomas Jefferson, "that
error can be safely tolerated while reason
and Christianity are left free to combat
it."
You who differed from our friends so re-
Gently here have had an opportunity of
examining their side of the case. If they
were true and loyal to the Constitution of
the country and the old flag of our fathers,
they had the opportunity to show it. If
their sympathies were with the gallant
soldiery that are carrying our cause to the
beiobtb of snnooss upon the points of their
bayonets, they could have shown it.
Well then, when the news came that
Sherman had moved to the southwark IF
Atlanta, and that volunteers we're rushing
to Grant at the rate of thousand day,
didn't you hear these men in their street
sssembl&ges and in their meetings in this
square make the welkin ring with their
cheers for Sherman and Grant, TCries of
No, mol We'll, neitkerdid l. Loud
laughter. When they were sitting in
their Convention, celebrating upon the
choice of a candidate, and the news came
over the electric wire that glorious old
Farragut had hoisted the stars and stripes
over Fort Morgan, and the rebel flag had
come down in humiliation, did you see that
body of able, sagacious representative men
rise in their seats and with uplifted hats
and swelling voices make the wigwam F"
ring ferries ofno, no, AndHeither did I,
hear a single word from their oracles or
orators of sympathy with our gallant sol
diery who are Drawing death in the field,
or of the fundamental principles of our
Government, or one single word of denun-
tldllph Oi LllOsb lldllOI5 III uLlus VIII dlC
striving to destroy the best government
the world ever saw. Not one word of CEN
sure had they for them. But the burden
Of their song was peace, peace. Stop fight
ing they cried; keep your soldiery from
shooting at their misguided brethren, and
when jeff Davis comes North, as he did
a year ago, they will go to him and use
their influence with him to induce him to
STOP shooting upon us. Laughter They
promise to ask him if he hasn't done mis-
chief enough, shed blood enough, and fred
upon our flag enough, and say to him now
in Gods name stop and give us peace, for
" blessed are the peacemakers." Laughter
and cheers.
Jefferson Davis entered Congress about
the same year did. have met him often
and knew him well. But there was this
difference between jeff. Davis and me. l
paId 1Or my education, JviE didn't for his
He was taken at tender age and placed
at West Point, and your father and mine
was taxed to pay for the instruction that
rescued him from oblivion. We made the
very common mistake of Judging of his
head rather than his heart, and did not no
tice the viper that was coiling there, and
which we nursed into life to sting us if
possible to death. When his schOolboy
days were over, JEFF. was sent out West
here at the Government expense and
spent year or so surveying around Calu-
met, fishing and lounging, and shooting
grouse at Government expense and eating
them himself Laughter. He then mar
ried into the Government-his wife being
the daughter of General Taylor, who was
supported by the Government; went to
the Mexican war and returned to become
Secretary of War and to villify the gallant
soldiery of Illinois for their part upon the
field of Buena Vista. For this Governor
Bissell called him out, but on this particu-
lar occasion JEFF. didn't come out. TGreat
laughter
He was for peace ,"blessed are the peace
makers" Laughter and cheers. When
he ceased to be Secretary of war, he woke
up one morning and suddenly discovered
tina. he had lost his rights. daughter.
Yes, this man who ate our bread, and suck
ed our blood, went out of the Union and
raised the unholy and hellish banne ofre-
volt, and there are men, or at least those
who have the form of men, who would 90
down upon their knees to this periured
pauper and whining.y say ave know,
JEFF, you haven't had your rights. There
is much left you could have had by putting
your hands upon it; please come and take
and if there is any thing left that you can't
use we'll take it; but JEFF, come back;
we want peace, and blessed are the peace
makers" Uprosrious laughter.1
When spoke from these steps a few
rraal-u oo,o told ,ro, that Iooi1oJ
could not be taken until the other platform
was in the field. We have it now. Its
platform is made, its principles enunciated,
and its candidates put forth. Their flag
has only one emblem, that of peace. They
sing but one song, that of peace. So am
for peace, but with this difference: l want
an honorable peace; they disgraceful sur
render.
When traitors fire upon the flag of nv
know of but one duty-that of
resistance.
There are some things that cannot ap-
prove in the prosecution of this war. But
we must remember that war always brings
its calamities that are inseperable from a
state of war, and whatevermay be the petty
views of individuals upon the non-import-
ant events Of the war, the man that will
not stand by his country now, and fully
and faithfully serve her in all things, is un-
worthy Of name or placeamong honorable
men. Cheers.]
The leaders Of the South want no peace,
except upon the oasis of recognition of
he fright of secession-which we will
never grant. Concede it once, and al we
owe is gone. When we come together for
IN election, and the question is about to be
iecided by count Of votes, up will jump
ome demagogue and cry, "Don't do it, for
f you do know of some State that will |
ecede," [Great lsughter.] No, gentle
men; it is unreasonable. We must fight |
t out, and when peace is obtained, it must |
'e a lasting permanent peace which shall |
,ind this Union together in bonds stronger
md more enduring than the eternal hills
peace wrung from this traitorous crew, if |
~ Il