The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1867-08-15
EHo9- oaiscns b.

'1''''e'S' T y. "5 ofTy - "I9' isel "e"'g'a'
-
Fsllose. Ciiiscns:
,
Pardon me while say that. in pre-.
seniing my views, / ,hink Of no living
man, individually, to whom my remarks
are TO amply. have come to talk freely
to you about the dangers Of the country.
Little minds ascribc Iittie objects 10
those whose views they do not agree
with, and he has attained au uuenvla.
BILE reputation whose friends say Hyou
mean him" when / am speaking Of
trcachery aud showing the evil conse.
quences Of certain line Of policy. |
have no personal attacks 70 make on an
enemy, even ii | have enc, God knows
If could, with my own hands, / would
gladly place crown Of imperishable
honor on the brow OF my most bitter
foe, if could thereby rescue my coun.
try from the perils that environ it -
[Applause. But If / have an enemy.
aud yindictiye spirit, aud desired hin,
10 become forever infamous, | could ask
no more of him than that he should
support the hellish schemes of those
who are new seeking to subycrt the
Constitution aud destroy our liberty
lie is digging a grave for himself which
posterity will never water with n tear.
Let him alone. | have come to discuss
the present phase Of the revolution.
We have had a war which RACED fur.
iously for four years. Il originated
simply ia difference of opinion as to
our rights under the Constitution. lhis
difference existed from the first. 1t
existed among the trainers of the Con.
stitution. IL could not be settled by
argument. and an appeal was made 10
the sword Il was an open, manly fight.
There was nothing secret or ambiguous
iu the issue. 1t was waged BY men in.
aueneed 10 the masses by patriotic emo.
tions on both sides; aud It was not to
destroy the Constit Ition. but to assert
10 each side their different views. On
our side il was asserted that the States
were separate and independent sovcr-
eighties, aud tl,ut the Constitution was
compact. which each party was Mt lib.
erty to dissolve Mt will, and SO we scce.
ded and declared ourselves out Of the
Upion. Ga the other hand, il wns con.
tended that we we're not nut Of the
Union, notwithstanding our secession
acts; aud that the Constitution was not
compact, but binding law upon the
States resulting from compact, aud
therefore no one of tho number could
dissolve the connection at will. Upon
this issue we went 10 war. The war
was fought till We laid down our arms
and agreed to what our enemies said
that We were 10 the Union.
But there is now another question to
settle. IL is still within the range oil
argument. Its proportions are huge.
The issues are startling. It is not diff
fereuce Of opinion as TO what the Con.
stitution means, and what are our rights
under il; but its object is plaiuly. IN.
uiistakably, to set asidethe Constitution
and provide something else. / have
never doubted that we were coming to
this issue. In speeches made by me,
five, Nix. eight and ten wears ago. i
predicted this. and every page Of our
history since that time has verified the
prediction. The people of the North
| honestly love the Constitution, but the
leaders there hate il and intend 10 dcs.
troy il. aud the eonyulsion through
which VIC have passed has thrown the
opportunity of making the effort into
their hands. and the present military
bills and the one which is not vet pro.
mulgated as law, are the means adopted
to accomplish their design. These bills
are proposed for our acceptance. Thsre
| is remarkable feature in these mes,
ures. that while force is emp.oyed %
execute them. thew are not vet pomi.
ually submitted to US for our acceptance
or rejection.
/ object 10 the whole scheme beeause
il is unconstitutional. A distinguished
man--paraon me, | ought to say a no.
torious individual, said TO me few days
ago, that | ought not toswasse my ti,ne
to prove the uncoustitutiouaiity Of these
measurcs--a thing which every man,
woman and child in the country knew
and yet he was for accepting He spok.
ruthfuliy. That tottering, grayehaired