Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-05-03
TERMS OF ADVERTISING.
Gen. Rousseau's Specch.

The two chief speakers on the occasion Of
late public meeting in Brooklyn were Major
General Rousseau, and John Van Buren,. In
order to give cur readers some insight into the
views and sentiments Of that class Of men who
sustain President johnson, and oppose the
Radicals, we make few brief extracts from
fire speeches Of the two prominent speakers
Caid General Rousseau:
II never dreamed that when all the fighting
Sae done when peace was declared, when the
ensmias Of the couniry were d!sarmcd and help
lass that it would he claimed that all our ef-
orts we're lost, aud that the rebels had, in fact,
ACCOMPLISHED the dissolution Of this Union
Ert, strange to say, men who have declared
most solemnly, Up to the surrender Of Lee aud
johnson, chat the Union could not be dissolved,
nov tell US that the Union is in fact dissolved.
These .len, who have GOT the nation to eypend
lis strength, its malt million Of lives, and
four thousand millions Of dollars, now tell Us
that all that expenditure was for nothing, and
ihatthe Union is sdissolye9. Shame Strange
doctrine, my countrymen, for those WhG have
all their lives cOntendcG Tor the very ops osite
doctrine Because We will not throw away the
Constitution of the JDited States and submit
TO th dotatoa of Ehaddeus Stevens We are
;!snoEDced Is traitors to the country You
may well hiss, ny friends, ct that name l
wish had language 20 den0unce it as [ feel!
itpp!aISc. ! man, my couutrymen, who
comes forward now, in this dsy-vhen we
want but little more to have he Union re-
stored, and he Constitution Of the United
GCta;es, anG all oar relGtions &c the general GOV
e!,mant as they were before the war--and pa
ca5 himsei between thai neets OF his couatry
and itG accomplishments who declares that
',he restoration shall not take place, because,
ii II does, the :teputlican party will go down,
Eat nan is a T!screant mat can find 'VoIds
% express my dete.latou io:. Applause.
Tor Gvc years, ftloE-citizens the theory of
,ne Republican Party nas beau the opposite OF
what il uoH is [ have not been Republican
eny more !hanI have been D2mocrat. I
vasa Wig lama Jniou nan Applause.
Prt = gave to chat party a bind support in the
prosecution of the Wal | asked no questions;
:, believed that We were compelled to put down
,he rebellion IL order to have the peace that We
low enjoy. -..
"Weil. gentlemen. the loyal men down South
are not afraid OF The rebels. l tblnk not. We
have perfect unders andigg with each other.
Ind i, Tor one, my countrymen, can say to you
OF those Gouthcrn people to-day-aud you also
)
they meant TO Secede, they said it. And they
iei} to hat cause 50 long and so faithfully, that
in all the war there never was q regiment aban-
1onct lis coors and came into the Federal ar
nS 81 deserters That adhesion is an earnest
tc you that they tell the truth when they say
that they submit | DO not belive one word of
any great love they have for the North. 1t is not
possible; the bitterness is not yet passed away.
But must say this 10 you, and you sill agree
nth NE, that you have i state OF things un-
hoped for by the most hopeful. You have
promising condition now | did not expect to
see lyr ten years alter the war was over Cen
,!emen, il is an unprecedented coalition OF
things. Nc have had many bad men, who
brought all this trouble; they have not ceased
their Opposition 10 government and never will.
Put they have done lighting. If they submit
% the laws Of the land it is all we can ask
MI !4ncoln never asked for anything else
::fe told them to lay down their arms and sub
nit to the lass of the land Gou cannot make
people love each other You cannotc-enmase
mar love his wife Of his OWE accord,
The following passage shows that General
RoSseau not only conprehcnds, but is fully i'm,
5tei1: wi:h the spirit that inspires the whole
nolicy of President Johnson; and that like him
lie feels that his first duty is, noe to party but
% country. 1t is cheering 70 near him thus
express himself
Before close, | say wc are now, in my
humble judgment, in more serious contest,
i anything could be more serious than that Of
srmed rebellion. fVe are now contendiue With
l set men who are not seeking 10 over
turn cur government By arms for they have
not the courage to 90 that. But III the name
OF the Union and the Constitution they will
overtUrn both And the case OF the Southern
States to-day MAJ be yours tomorrow. Be
cause VIVA: may happen for one State with Que
party in power may be for other States when
that party loses power, What we want isa
common rule for Ill. We do not want our
rights 10 depend upon tie sscendency of any
party. -ou want rlle beyond which no
party can go in invading your rights But
Eour Constitution is i. danger, and if toe theo-
lies and purposes Of This party are carried our,
Il Is gone.
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