The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-03-21

We Know No Party, but the
Party Of the Constitution.
Mcclellan Mass Meeting Held
i'm New York March 18th.
SPEECH OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JACOBS;
.-f OF KENTUCKY. aG-.51

MIR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN: On last
Friday | received letter from the secreta-
ry of this meeting to address you here to
night, and though l have been absent at
the seat of war and had duties TO attend to
at present, could not resist the tempta
ton to address New York audience when
probably might do some good by SO doing.
(Applause.) In 1880; when your political
sky looked as bright as MONDAY Daniel
Webster declared before the Senate of the
United States that the Union Of the States
was in danger, and many thought it could
be applied we'll as aperoration to the spen-
did speech which he was so soon to deliver;
but at the close of short month the blind
est could see the sagacity Of that great
statesman. On April 18th, 1880, q dinner
was given in commemoration of the ami
versary of Thomas Jefferson. Andrew
Jackson was there (applause,) and Calhoun,
was there. Twenty four regular toasts
were read, when that gallant eld hero and
statesman, Jackson, was called upon for
voluntary toast. Seeing the drift Of the
previous toats; be gave the ememorable toast:
"The Federal Union must and shall be pre-
served' (Applause.) 1t electrified the
uUtIUu Iucu, lt udo clcSeliaco tAC .hntiOu
lately. But, could he be here to-day, he
would see innumerable violations OF the
Constitution, and would have added: "The
federal Constitution must and shall be pre-
served" (Applause.) An attempt was
made to destroy the Union of the States
upon the tariff question, but by the iron
hand ofGeneral Jackson that was put down.
He then with a sagacity uuerrirg, declared
that the next attempt would be that the
question of slavery-because that was a
question which concerned greatly the peo
ple of the North and South-would next be
agitated 1t va, question full of evil to
the future The abolitioDists and secess-
iunists go hand in hand, and they did
so from 1920 to 1860, when they elected
an abolition president. Mr.. Lincoln was
elected, though in o constitutional way, the
President of these United States. Then
South Carolina went out of the Union, and
other States followed, My State, Kentucky,
then took a position. She denied that
State could 60 out, and that is what she dc
nies still-a Mon cannot be broken. Ap.
plause.) Since Mr.. Lincoln had been elec
ted, constitutionally, the President of the
United States, we ought to have supported
him as such as long as he would carry on
the true policy of the government. We, OF
Kentucky, said to IL other States who
we're deserting the old Cnlon on account OF
Mr.. Lncoln's election: 'lf Mr.. Lincoln
commit overt acts, demonstrate against them
as American citizens; keep on remonstra
ting; try every constitutional means to pre-
vent their occurrence. If these usurpations,
however, are to continue-if it is true that
the liberties of the people are to be tram
pied upon and the country is threatened
then unfurl the isg of your country, appeal
to the people north, south, east and west,
collect them around you to guard your ma
tor and your Constitution, applause }
We appeal to the North to compromise.
What was the miserable territory of
Mexico, which God had set HIS slguet
upon, that it was impossible to make slave
State OF it? Because slavery was not pro
ftable in it. "Wby not give up that and
save the shedding of American blood p
We asked you that. We took neutral
position. | know Kentucky has been ma
ligned for it; but think it is one Of: the
proudest laurels upon her brow. And why?
We saw the danger. and did not believe, as
Gen. Scott told you, that we could overthrow
the South In sixty or ninety days. ('No,
no.") We knew it would take more time
than that; the South could not be conquer
ell in day, or in u year, or a series oi
wears, therefore We demonstrated with you
North and South to assist Us in our endeav
ors to keep peace, and compromise on the
Crittenden resolutions. (''Grand.") But
- xuonlI or IN We
held the position of neutrals-we were not
prepared to go to war-we had consplrators
then who were using every effort to destroy
the Federal government, and the State
government, and drag US at the foul door OF
secessionism We armed ourselves, how
ever, and prepared for the conflict, so that
when three Southern armies invaded our
State We were ready for the issue, and drove
them from our soil. (Cheers.) The Presi
dent agreed witt our policy. He declared
at first that he had no right TO interfere
with the institution of slavery in the South
or in State-that he had no right to
interfere with State rights. The Chicago
platform, in resolution, affirmed the same
thing. That was the position then of Ken
tucky, afterwards forced into war We
were for the last man and the last dollar to
crush the rebellion with, but not to crush
the constitutional rights of the States
(Applause.) Not to crush and violate the
Constitution. iApplause.) Not to crush
the rights of the States North and South,
because some Of the rights of the States
North have been crushed as well as those
South; or at least have been attempted to
lie crushed. (Applause. "Thsts so,
But We were for the policy of the, iron.
hearted Jackson, of another concentration
of power of the Union arms to crush out
those who were in arms Against the Union
Applause That was the policy of Ken.
tucky, that was the policy Of Jackson, and
that was at first the policy of the govern
ment. what the government was them
(Applause.) To-day we have turned "cop