Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-09-03

SPEECH aga9a
DELIVERED BEFORE THE GRANT CLUB ol
GALLIPoLis, FRIDAY EVENING, p
-aet AUGUST 2lsT, 1868, BY
G. J. mEnAaER, Esq.
fnblished by request Of the Club. /
history furnishes the useful and instruc
tive information that the progress Of every
nation from infancy to maturity has been
marked with trials. These trials or com bina.
tons OF events, of extraordinary magnitude
and importance, constitute, what may prop
eriy be termed the crisis of their destiny.
whether owing to general law beyond our
i comprehension. or to the direct interposition
OF Divine Providence, for special purposes Of
its own, or from whatsoever cause arising,
certain it is, that these crises have occurred
and probably will always continue to occur
among the nations Of the earth s4l
Our country, my fellow citizens, is not an
exception to the general rule. We too have
to 90 through with the crisis of our destiny.
That crisis is the war of 1854 war which
resulted in the suppression of the most gi-
gantic rebellion that ever existed since the
world began, war, that called forth into the
highest action, every power, every resource,
OF people that has no superior on earth; q
war that has developed the highest moral
herolsm, the greatest Intellectual endowment,
the deepest, most unselfish patriotism, accom-
panied with the most lavish expenditure of
treasure and OF blood ever witnessed in the
former ages Of the worlds history. Cover
ing an extent OF country, co extensive with
the fairest portion of a continent. occupying
portion Of time of four years in duration, it
strained to the highest tension the mighty
power of great country, calling into aetivi-
ty, every faculty of moral, physical, intellec-
tual and material resource, of both Govern
ment and'people, that years of peace and
unexampled prosperity, had raised to be
among the most powerful nations Of the
earth 4t - n1. r.5..a
As in the natural world, when the ele-
ments have been lashed into fury by some
terrific storm, or the terrible thunderbolt has
riyen the hrm-seated earth, the greatest dan
ger lies in the subsistence of the elements
TO their proper equilibrium. So in the polit-
ical armament; when national disaster has
swept with unrelenting hand over people,
when the social, moral, and political status Is
confounded amid the surges, and disturbing
elements of sanguinary revolution, when it is
feared, that all, that is good and noble in a
people may 60 down amid the breakers of
disunion and political ruin, the danger lies
not in the progress of the storm, but in the
return of the disturbing influences, to their
proper condition in the body polite.
Such, my countrymen, is the condition of
our country Such is the danger at this
time to the republic
The crisis Of our destiny is still upon US
Our country still devolves upon us. as in the
war, the same responsibilities, still requires
of us the same unconditional, devoted, single
minded Loyalty to Liberty and free lnstitu-
tions. - '.'. .tla
If we fail in this crisis of our destiny, des-
potism, or what is still worse, Mexican anar-
chy will fasten its iron heel on the necks of
this people forever, aud Liberty which repre-
sents the majesty of great nation, Liberty
regulated by Constitutional Law, will flee to
a more hospitable,a q more congenial cline.
l propose to discuss briefly, the present
animus, OF disposition of the Dem ocratic par
ty, and demonstrate that it is dangerous to
the country. V -r--. u ---r
The completely of the Democratic party
with, and its blind devotion to the interests
Of the institution of slavery, has been its
chief characteristic for thirty years. Vacil-
cal question, here in favor of hard money,
there of banks, here for internal improve
ments, there opposed to them, by turns for
free trade and tariff, for and against the
constitutlonality of greenbacks; there is no
question upon which it presents clean rec
ord except upon this unfortunate question of
African, or human slavery. Toit, it has been
too true, willing to sacrifice the country rath-
er than slavery should perish. And TO day,
it constitutes the stumbling block, over which
many a good Democrat cannot see, either the
peril or the salvation of mis- country
Accordingly, in 1856, the close election of
Mr. Buchanan and Mr.. Fremont, adrnonished
the Democratic party to put their house in
order. During the four succeeding years their
preparations North and South, were thorough
and complete, TO effect the final catastrophe
which was to result in the disruption of this,
the noblest fabric of Government upon earth.
In 1860, every department of the Government
was filled by Democrats, devoted to the in
terests of rebellion; and it was supposed,
that the preparations for successful revolt. |
were SO thorough and perfect that the loyalty
of the N orth was SO completely bound, by
the subsidizing Of the Democracy to South |
ern interests, and by the bold front of rebel |
lion, that secession would be easy and no
ing to the integrity of the country.
In 80 and '6l, the Democratic Secretary of
the Navy sent your ships to the furt6est |
corner of the world, the Democratic Seete- |
tarY of War sent Your arms to Southern |
arsenals, the Democratic Secretary of the |
Treasury sent your gold and silver treasure
to Southern repositories. The Democratic |
party having cOnsummated these nefarious
acts. Immediately thereupon, six of the
Southern States passed solemn acts of seces-
sion, and formed the so-called Confederate
States Government, contrary to the Constitu-
ton of the United States, which declares,
that no State shall enter into any treaty, al
lance, or confederation. And in order to al
lay the indignation of the people, anticipa-
ted by this event, Mr.. Buchanan had the in
fanny to concoct and the meanness to send
message to Congress, asserting the doctrine of
non-coercion. This doctrine was the key
note of disunion, by which Vallandigham
and Pendleton, of Ohio, and Vorhees, of In
diana, then in Congress, and their Infamous
coadjutors, encouraged rebellion, and endeav-
ored to repress the loyalty of the nation
State after State completed the work of seces-
sion, seized the Navy yards, OF arsenals, and |
other property of the United States
nthe 4th day Of March, 1861, Mr.. Lincoln
was inaugurated as President, and it became
his duty, to protect the property, as well as
the constitution Of the nation.
He had hardly time to arrange the materials
of his administration, after announcing pol
10y at once constitutional and pacific, ere the
booming of cannon at Sumpter, aroused the
slumbering energies, and awakened the mar
tial genius of the people.
The loyalty Of the nation sprang to arms,
with an elasticity, only equaled by its former
inertia. The war was inaugurated by rulers,
and America was in the throes of fierce and |
sanguinary revolution. -Four years 1t ragged
with unequaled fury, and SO even appeared |
the strength Of the combatsnts, the Patriots |
heart at times drooped, with fearful uncer-
tainty of the issue.
But what became of the Democratic party |
l here wish it distinctly understood, that my
remarks are intended not for the rank and file,
but the leaders of that party. What, ask,
became of the Democratic party? Its South
ern wing, whose chief characteristic was
and their boosted chivalry, was ar
rayed in arms against the life of their
country. Its northern wing, whose chief
was a blind devotion to slavery,
and obedience to Southern dictation, found
itself in close fellowship and profound sym
o. - ne r.