The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-01-16
Speech Of Gen. Thomas Ewing.

At the democratic celebration of the sth
of January, in Washington, the following
was among the regular toasts:
"our Volunteer Soidiery: The right arm of the
republic in welding either the sword or the
ploughshare; costless in peace, but efficient
and reliable in war; a national guard always in
ready reserve for any emergency, and capable of
repelling any danger while it creates none as is
now clearly shown in our recent history.
This speech was responded to by one of
the most gallant soldiers of the late war, the
patriotic brave and talented Gen. Thomas
Ewing, Jr, son of Ex-Secretary Ewing, of
Gen. Harrison's cabinet. Gen. Ewing was
formerly a republican. He said:
Ma. CHAIRMAN: The volunteer army and
navy of the United States came out OF the
ranks of no party, but of the people, and
fought to establish no party, but to defend
and perpetuate the Union.
The war was waged to settle doubtful
question of construction of the constitution,
which our forefathers differed about even
while framing it, and which they transmitted
unsettled to their descendants. 1t almost
reached solution by arms when Andrew
jackson was President, and when nuIlifica-
eiou, luC Twin DEOtucE OI secession, was
championed by Calhoun. Would to God
the statesman of that day had let compro-
mise alone, and let that stern old soldier
settle with his sword the question of nullifi-
cation and secession then and forever.
Gentlemen, the volunteers knew what they
fought for. They were not adventures
"the cankers of calm world and long
peace" They were generally among the
foremost in intelligence, thrift, courage and
patriotism, and enlisted to rescue the Union
from threatened destruction, They were, at
least for the first two years of the war, as
generally democrats as republicans. You
all know what they fought for. 1t was ito
preserve the Union with all the dignity.
equality and rights of the states unimpaired."
That resolution, still the law of the land.
was the solemn pledge of this nation to ev.
cry one of its citizens who gave time, money.
health or life to the cuuse; that all the terri
bic sacrifices Of the war should be for that
one object, and none other.
The war was grandly successful. The
overthrow of the rebellion was so disastrous
and overwhelming that not even in the brain
OF the widest dreamer is there thought of
It's repetition. But, instead of having a res
toration of the Union, the sole avowed OBJ.
Ject OF the war, we have the amazing spec
tacie OF the republican party, who conducted
1t, asserting that by the war the Union has
been destroyed, and boldly attempting its de-
struction with part of the very army which
fought to preserve it. Their theory Is, tina.
The ten states could not secede, but congress
can expel them; that is, the states cannot
destroy the Union, but congress can. They
admit that this doctHne finds no warrant in
the constitution, but only in the necessities
OF the radical party. In other words, that
having been trusted with power, they have
snatched from the nation the fruits of the
war, and applied them to the sole use, benefit
and behoof of themselves and their party.
They are loud champions of the public
faith, and are 30 sensitive of the national
honor, that they cry out with horror and
it any one objects to paving
oondholders gold for bonds redeemable by
aw in greenbaeks and yet they unblush |
ngly repudiate the great bond on the faith
If which the nation, during the war, got |
every dollar of money and drop of blood it |
spent
Gentlemen, what would have been the of. |
ect II, when the war broke out, or was going |
IN, congress had publicly resolved to prevent |
he restoration of the Union, to assume COM
nand OF the army and navy, to strip the |
resident OF the great powers conferred on
him by the constitution, and themselves
.surp them, to destroy ten great states, dis
franchise the white inhabitants and make
he blacks their rulers, and to build ND in
heir stead ten rotten borroughs with the
'otes OF which they would so intrench them.
eives IN power that even two-thirds uf the
people OF this country could never thereafter
!. them2 Would Dan. McCook have
ned at kennesaw for this, or William Lytle
u the 0auiey, or one in ten thousand of the
rave men who laid down their lives on the
numbered battle fields of the war? No.
had that purpose been announ-
ed when the war broke out, no northern
'anners would have crossed the borders;
nut a party which avowed purpose to dis
oyal and 30 revolving to our reason and our
ride OF race, would have been swept as by
tornado from power.
There never yet has been dan when that
trocious policy could have got the endorse
nent as against the avowed object of the
ar, OF one-tenth of the two millions of SOL
iers and sailors of the army and navy,
'ut oni the sympathies as lasting as life,