The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-11-02

ingly enact the most odious attainders, stripping
citizens of all honor, capacity and character as
such, in defiance of that constitution and disre-
gard Of every sentiment of justice and humanity.
And now, my friends, have touched upon all
the great cardinal points ofhuman liberty. The
right of the msjorty to govern; the right OF sui.
frage the right to some hearing and trial upon
accusation made; the freedom of speech; free
dom of elections the rights of conscience and
religious liberty, and the right of the poor man
to labor in his own honest, accustomed occupa-
tion to earn bread for himself and his children.
There is not one of these that is not older than
human laws. There is not one of them that Is
not paramount to human government Every
one of them is a God given, inalieDable right,
which none but tyrants would question, and none
but lmbeciles and towards would ever think of
yielding. And every one of them has been ruth
lessly assailed by the fanatics and bigots who
framed this constitution, for tell you that the
principles which this constitution claims to es-
tablish will leave you nothing in the semblance
of liberty. And now what is the meaning of all
this Why precisely, my friends, and nothing
less, than that the men who. made this coDstitu-
tion your masters, and you are their slaves.
That gentlemen is your political status as things
are now situated. There is no mistake and no
disguise about it. Are you willing to accept
tins your lot? Are you prepared to receive
and transmit such legacy to your children p
If you are you have no business here. III you are
not, then you have something to do when you
have lett this place and returned to your homes
You to carry back with you a fixed and in
domtable purpose to maintain and uphold your
rights as freemen, the new constitution of Mis-
souri, TO the contrary notwithstanding. You are
to go home and fill the places of men and do the
work of men. You are to assert your unquestion-
ed rights against arbitrary, unprincipled usurps-
ton. \ on are to rouse up the spirit of liberty
among your people you are to show them that the
contemplate and tyrannicsl work of the conven-
hat sat last win in / n
rary Hall, of his city, is not the supreme law of
Missouri, but miserable abortion of lampblack
and rags, which the people of Missouri ere
long to tear into fragments and scatter to the
winds. Do not understand that in this / coun-
sci you to violence. counsel no violence
And let no one misrepresent me as counseling
violence-vioence is not necessary. / will how
ever, say that in event could the people Of
Missouri live under this constitution. They
may suppose they could. They might attempt
to bear its burtheBs, but they would not feel at
first the full pressure of it, weight They would
however, realize its terrible infections in the end
and know that in no event would they submit
to be governed by it. If violence were finally
necessary, they would meet such an emergency
as the occasion demanded.
But gentlemen, there is no need of other
means than such as concern the peaceful exhibit
ton Of the popular mind. This cruel and tyran-
meal constitution is the ungenerous work of the
people of Missouri. 1t was dictated BY fear-a
terrible, horrid fear of the people. The cause
that made it will destroy it. When its bigOted
and cOwardly authors were sitting in Mercantile
Libary Hall, they were pandering to and cring-
ing before the arbitrary power of military detcc-
tives and provost marshals. The fierce, releni-
less spirit of martial law necessary or e1cusable
in war, but utterly inconsistent with civil Liberty,
Is stamped on every line OF their work. But
my friends, the military power is gone. Our
bloody law-givers are no longer supported BY its
presence, nor stimulated by its resentments. In
its stead is seen again, thank God once more the
sacred majesty of peace rejecting the popular
will, tranquil but mighty in all influences for
good, inviting full discussion of political topics
and breathing the spirit of just and equal laws.
The makers of this Infamous constitution al
ready trembling and covering before the rising
power. Already they begin to perceive the ne
cessary results. Even now they seized with
terrible fears they contemplate the image of
an insulted, outraged people. And they need
only one broad glare upon it TO utterly disown.
repudIate and wholly run away from their wicked
work. Gentlemen, they have already seen the
image, and they are running away now.