The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-03-06
BAYARD IN THE WAR.
ADVOCATING A DIVIDED REPUBLIC
He DenOunces the Struggle fer the Union Assais
Abraham Lincoln, Calling His Acts Usurpa-
tons, and Also Advocates the Recogn-
ton Of the Confederate States.

The New York Sun has been looking
up speech delivered by Thomas F.
Bayard, the present Senator from Della
ware, in 1861. At Dover the Unionists
had held Il meeting and declared that the
rebellion must be crushed, and because
he held contrary views Senator James
\. Bayard, father of the present Senator,
WAS called upon to resign. A few days
later, on June 9th, 1861. Peace Con-
vention,' to defend the cause of the
elder Bayal'. was held at the same place.
Thomas F. Bayard delivered the follow
ing speech:
Ny FELLOW CoUSTRYMES:--By no
narrow party name, in no narrow parti-
san spirit. do l address you, but as an
:ssemblage Of American freemen do l
congratulate You upon our meeting of
this day. Important AS are the issues we
are here met to consider. one result is
accomplished most gratifying to all fair
minded men. which I cannot pass by
without notice. mean the right of
meeting unrestrained and of free, I'M
restricted discussion by freemen of their
government. and the policy and measures
ot those into whose hands it has tenn
porarily been entrusted 1t is well
known to us all that reign of terror
was sought to be inaugurated in this
state. as it has been throughout the
North, and for this purpose troops, not
III our State, were encamped upon our
peaceful soil at the instance of these pol
ltlcians among us, whose insoence and
oppression is limited only by their fear
md their ability to do mischief.
To-day we stand here in the spirit of
rec men to vindicatc our privilege and
perform our duty as citizens, despite the
reiterated threats OF a protiiyatc and
lawless press in neishboring cities upon
the North, echoed by papers in this State
equally shameless and corrupt.
1t is known to MS all that personal in
timidation has been applied to each man
present to deter him from coming here
to-day-that many worthy but timid
men have been affected by such miserable
means is not to be denied, but the best
answer to these hounds of the mob who
sought to prevent lawful meeting called
IN the sacred name Of our countrys
peace is the assemblage now before me.
Never in this State has it been exceeded
tnnumbers and responsibility. We have.
it is true, no high judicial officer t. leave
the bench and take part in the excited
,cencs of politics; We have no delegation
'fpersons from the city of Philadelphia
mt We have the substantial citizens of
Delaware, with as great stake in her
fair name and prosperity as any Others in
ner borders.
In time Of danger and distress like the
present the country needs most the in
1elliyent aid of her best citizens. and
low. il ever. should they give her the
,rst effects of their hands and hearts,
indcterred by the wild passions and
'renzied violence which have swept over
he Northern States like whillwind
The question for every good man now
o ask is: My country, what can do to
restore your peace and lappincsS?' The
.'ast and its lessons should not be lost
'pon us, but to inquire now into the
original cause OF our troubles would not
&c within the scope OF these remarks nor
,,seful at present. The practical question
,efore us forbids mere sprculation; it
rares us in the facc-a hard. stern fact.
THE TWO ALTERNATIVES.
Eleven States have withdrawn from
he Federal Union with solemn and de.
hcrate action. and have united new
government. They have made their
declaration Of independence of the gov
rnment to maintain it at every COST
With this secession, or revolution, or
tbellion. or by whatever name it may be
:tled. the State of Delaware has had
taught to do. To our constitutional
luties toward each and every member of
he Union we have been faithful in all
ines. Never. never, has thought.
rord an act of ours been nntathiul to
lie Union of our fatherS-in letter and
II spirit it has been faithfully kept by Is
nd but two alternatives present them
elves. Shall we make war upon and
>uhiusate this new confcdcracy, or shall
re peacefully treat with them and con-
sent to their selt-government trusting to
wrongs and passions. to bring them again
ountarily into Il common government
with us?
Take the proposition Of war-of hor-
id civil war, my countrymen, Grant to
he Northern arms complete success
suppose that every Southern city be re-
luced to CHASTITY ruin. every peaceful
southern home dcsolatcd and every
southern man slain or made captive
This is the evident completest realization
If that dream of conquest so horribly
satisfactory to those minds who control
the Northern press. But what then
VIII union with slaves and the posses
ion of desert satisfy you? You do
not and cannot expect love and aid in
times of your necessity from those States
YOU have SD cruelty subdued. 1t is too
olain. therefore, that your success in
such a war would be the most fatal in
ury to yourselves.
And is such 4 war necessary for the
peace and happiness of the United States?
For half century we have lived at peace
with Great Britain, with her Canadian
possessions upon our northern border.
Upon the south. Mexico holds her gov
eminent with no threats of trouble to US
n our citizens. Why, then, may not two
American confederacies exist side by side
without conflict, each emulating the
rther in the progress of civilization >
The co-terminous Kingdoms of Europe
nifer many examples of similar peace and
prosperity. With such a sickening al
tentative as civil war. why should not
the experiment at least be made? 1t is
this question We are to pass upon to-day.
| believe with the late Senator Douglas.
who has before been quoted to-day. that
"a war is disunion, certain, final. inevi-
table" and, SO believing, oppose it.
THE WAR WORSE THAN USELESS.
| believe solemnly that the war maui