Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-09-08
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FERRY.

IN
ing at Harper's Ferry, on Saturday afternoon
last was not large, but sufficiently enthusiasts
tic to attest the earnestness of the people, and
to bear testimony to the deep desire in the
public mind for change. A misapprchen-
sion as to the hour when the speaking would
commence, prevented many from being in
attendance. a stand was erected on Shen-
andoah street, in front of the old arsenal
grounds, an application for the USE OF the ar
mory yard having been positively refused by
Capt. D. j. Young, who has the place in
charge. About 3 o'clock, the meeting was
called to order by Maj. E. w. ANDREWS,
who in neat Introductory speech, presented
to the audience Hon. MONTGOMERY BLAIR
Mr. B., in the opening of his speech
which occupied nearly oshours and half
in dclivery-said that it had given him great
pleasure to respondsto the call of the State
Executive Committee to appear before the
people of West, Virginia, and confer with
them upon the grave. questions involved IN
the political contest now going,on. lie. came
not with any eloquencc of speech to enchain
them, but in a plain way to present plain
truths. If he had any claim to attention, it
perhaps arose from the fact that he was
member of Mr. Lincoln's cabinet during the
war, and shared his confidence: in his life
time; and in this connection, was acquainted
with the circumstances which surrounded his
administration. Those who are now in pow
or, and who seek continue their power, put
in the plea that the republican, party had
brought the government through four years
struggle, in which its very life was imperilled.
They have no exclusive claim to any such
service. It WAS the people of the United
States, and not a..party,. who had suppressed
the rebellion. 1t happened during Nr. Lin
coins administration, and lie called upon the
people, and they rallied to the support Of the
government. In this way the radical leaders
were seeking to obtain advantages. from the
results of the war, but neither Mr.. Lincoln
or himself had ever entertained or expressed
doubt of the loyalty of the Democratic
party. lie cited the course Of Douglas, who
had early waited upon Mr.. Lincoln, and ten
dcrcd him the support Of his wing Of the
party. The Breckenridge men of the North,
also contributed. Of their strength to aid in
unfolding the flag of the..country. Fernando
Wood-the most extreme man Of the whole
North-organizcd regiment, and put it in the
field. Some of these men, like Ben. Butler,
not satisfied with saving the Union, now want
ed to 90 farther, and destroy the Constitution.
When Washington was threatened, and
clouds seemed to hover over the nation, the
speaker, in cabinet meeting, opposed the sur
render of Fort Sumter, on the ground that
the flag of the country should never be low
cred to foreign or domestic foe. He thought
hen the flag had to be hauled down, the
post of honor was the private station.
Nearly four years had passed since the sur
render of the Confederatcs and in all that
time no man had raised his arm against the
government. Slavery had been cXtinguished,
and with it the doctrine of secession and
yet, the country was in chaos and confusion.
Why not let the passions, the ill-will, the bad
feeling, engcndercd by the war, die out and
4 real and earnest peace be inaugurated ?
Cen Grant had said "let US have peace"
and the speaker could respond amen to that
Not the Democratic party. They seek con-
ciliaton. They appeal to the people to come
to their assistance, to aid them in restoring
the government to harmony under the Con-
stitution, and to relieve the country Of this
tax that is eating up the substance Of the
people. On the other side, in the policy of
radicaism, we see great standing armies all
civil!law abolished hdLeus corpus done away
with the judiciary established by the Con
stitution, not respected; all courts superseded
and judgments rendered by military commits
sions; laws for wholesale prescription enacted;
er post fdcto laws, and bills of attainder pass
ed, in violation of the Constitution the gov
ernments which the fathers established taken
from the whites of the South, and put in the
hands of an ignorant, scrvile race the func-
tions of the Executive usurped, and the mil
| itary placed under the control of the General
of the Army, and he a candidate for the Pre-
sidency. DO you, fecmen of West Virginia,
believe that all this is done in the interests
of the country? No; it is done in order to
sustain-at a cost of sums of money untold
every species of corruption, and plumber, and
RIGHTEOUSNESS. Instead of having peace and
security, society was disorganized, and muir
ders were continually occurring. In Ten
nCssee, Brownlow could not have an election
without calling on the military. This cOnfu-
sion was not the normal condition of the peo-
pie of the South. For two years after the
war, civil governments were in full blast
there, and peace reigned-the natural flow Of
order from a fountain of justice. For mise
rabe party purposes, this must all be sub
verified, and the governments of these States
turned over to the blacks. 1t was not done
for the public interests. He referred to the
pledge of Congress in the Crittcnden resolu
ton, that the war should be prosecuted not
for the purpose of subjugation, but for the
supremacy Of the Constitution, and the main
tainance of the Union. This pledge had been
violated in a manner that was cruel to the
South, and ignominious to the North. The