The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1866-08-24
SHALL THE STATES LIVE?
Speech OF Hon. J. R. Doolittle at Madi.
son, August LIST, 1865.
THE CONVENTION TO BE COMPOSED OF IT'S
FRIENrSI

Concluded from last week
THE CONVENTION TO BE COMPOSED OF ITS
FRIESrs,
And, yet, there are some men who sup
pose that this convention, just about to
NEE, at Philadelphia, vi break loose from
this fundamental creed under which it as
sembies! 1t is utterly impossible! Sup
pose that one or two or three or four or
FIVE thousand men assemble under that
call, is there a man who will 40: vote for
every principle contained in it and will
not pledge himself in loyalty to the con-
stitution, the UEion and the government
of the United States, in good faith, cor-
daily, with his whole heart? Why, then
should gentlemen be alarmed themselves,
or alarm others! Ideas control men, ana
control parties, and control conventions.
Ideas are stronger than conventions, or
men, or parties. Ideas rule the world.
They always have. They always will.
And the ideas which are contained in
that call will rule that convention as GER
tainly as the revolution Of the earth.
(Cheers.)
But, fellow citizens, let me tell you
another thing. Those ideas were written
in that call on purpose 10 rule that con-
vention.
Do you suppose that it is possible that
the men who were engaged in framing it,
the men who drew it, devised it, and
signed it did not intend what they said !?
There is not the dotting Of an "i' DOR the
crossing of d &C" in that document which
is not significant of what it means.
THE PRINCIPLES OF Tue CALL.
Now then fellow. citizens, what are the
principles which these men avow and
pledge themselves TO sustain in this con-
ven,ion! First of all the Union of the
states is in every case iudissoIubIe and is
perpetual, and the constitution of the
United States, aud the laws passed by
congress in pursuance thereof, are su
preme, constant and universal in their
obligation"
Yet men seem to be afraid that soma
secessionats will ge. into That convention :;
that some men are going into that con
ventioD who believes in the right 10 dis
solve the Union, to withdraw tie states
from the Union, that the Union is not in
di>soluble, that the Union is not perpet
uaI, the constitution Of the United States
in its oblig ations.
admit, fellow citizens, that some men,
perhaps, may come who heretofore be-
lieved in that fatal heres5, but who have
become convinced by the bloodiest expe
rieuce the world has ever seen that that
theory was fatal and false, and must be
abandoned, that upon the last appeal to
the God of battles that the Dry has been
crushed out and is now abandoned forever.
Some such men may come to tbs conven-
ton saying frankly, freely, as honorable
men, and as brave men 1--WE DE
lieved in secession, we fought for seces
sion, we fought it out to the bitter end,
but the decision Of that Almighty King
who rules the universe has been against
US, and We surrender the controversy,
and surrender it now and forever"
NoRTHERS sECEssIoNIsTs.
Ispeak now of men who may, perhaps,
come from the south how is it with
some men from the north! Let US try
it on.
Suppose Mr.. Horace Greeley of the
New York Tribune, should come into the
convention, or offer to come in; he is me.
at the door with the question: "Sir, do
you believe that the Union Of the states
Is III every case indissouble, that it is per
petual, that the constitution Of the United
States, ana the laws passed by congress in
pursuance thereof are supreme, constant.
and universal in their obligations -
Now, whether Mr.. Greeley could come
into the convention or not depends upon
how he would answer that question. If
he should answer that question as he did
from his newspaper 10 1860 for six long
weeks, when day after Gay be argued and
insisted that if the majority of those states
voted iu favor of secession, they had a
right to &C out. Greeley should never 90
into the convention. (Applause.)
Greeley, in 1860, by his published de-
cIara:ions, was a secessionist-he may
have charged his opinions. God grant
he has. Uaughter)
The TRIBUNE, however, processes never
to change any opinions, never to correct
any mistakes and one Of the rules Of that
paper is that however much injury may
be inflicted upon private individual by
the false statements of the Tribune it is
better that the individual should suffer
than that the Tribune should acknowl-
edge itself capable Of doing wrong.
(Laughter.)
say Mr.. Greeley may have changed
bis opinions; | hope he has; aud if he
has, and if he will say like an honest man,
4 was wrong in 1860 in advocating
this principle of secession, | was wrong
in my newspaper when I said that if
majority thought that state should 90 out
it had a right to 60, so | am now salts
he'd that secession is a great heresy, that
the Union is iEdissolubIe, that it is con-
slant and universal in their Obligation"
Mr.. Greeley can walk into the convention
if you subscribe to the creed upon which
it assemblies.
So, too, without going in.o particulars
or naming individuals, for | would not
even have named Mr. Greeley but that he
is known as the editor of great newspa-
per which has wide circulation over the
country apd tborofore s,ooI, 81 L..