The National tribune., 1902-02-27

my wife and [ drove home to Harrisburg.
Our four children during their mothers s
absence were cared for 10y Mrs. Christy,
the wife of my law partner, William NJ.
Christy. These good people, who lived
across the street from us, were almost as
fond of our children as though they were
their own, and the children felt quite at
home as their guests.
1t is needless to say that we had joy
full meeting with our little flock of two
girls and two boys, the eldest nine years
old, and the youngest but little more than
two. We found them in splendid health
and spirits. The two eldest, who the pre-
vious year had visited me at Corinth with
their mother, were eager to hear all about
the regiment and its achievements.
My stay at home was an agreeable res
pite from the labor and duties of the
field.
The citizens of Harrisburg and Saline
County in general gave me very warm
reception. Co. e, Of my regiment, then
commanded by Capt. VIM. Il. Webber,
was enlisted in the County, and it was
made up of young men of the best fam
lies l was visited by many kiDsmen and
friends of the company, who were ANXIOUS
to hear directly from them.
During my stay at home l freely dis
cusstd the political aspect OF the war
duty of Union men when it came to yot-
ing.
Saline County had always been Demo
cratic | had often represented the Coun-
ty in Democratic Conventions, which had
brought me in close relations with a ma
jority of the people. My intercourse win
the peODle convinced me that President
Lincoln's Administration was supported
by a strong public sentiment in this Coun-
ty I arranged for a good delegation from
Saline County to attend the meeting to
be held at Spout Spring.
THE SPOUT SPRING MASS MEETING.
Great preparations were made for the
meeting. This place is in the center of one
of the Oldest settlements in the State, and
is accessible 10y public roads from three
Counties. The spot selected for the as
semblage was in the midst of beautfui
grove The meeting was to be closed IN
the afternoon by Il barbecue More
than 5000 people attended, many promi-
nent persons driving 80 or 40 miles to be
present.
A procession was formed, in which more
than 1000 women marched, to demon
strate their loyalty to the Union and their
devotion to the soldiers Mt the front.
Hon \. ]. Kuykendall, of Vienna, ILL.,,
presided He called the meeting to order
in a patriotic and eloquent speech. L was
introduced to him as the speaker of the
day. In looking over that vast crowd
met the eyes of many early settlers, men
and women. who had known me from my
infancy. There were but few persons In
the audience with whom l was not per-
sonally acquainted. / felt that | was on
my native heath, and that / had come to
my own.
recognized the fact that this meeting
was not to end simply in an increased de
termination of this people to support the
war. | felt that the hour had come for
new alignment in politics in southern
Illinois, and that this meeting should start
the great movement for voting column
composed of men who fought for the
Union. and who by word and deed sup
ported the Union cause at home.
made loyalty the central idea of the
speech. l justified the war for the Union
as lawful, as necessary for the preSerYa-
tion and perpetuation of government
through the ballot-bOX, and the preserya-
ton of the Union as the only means OF Sc
curing peace, prosperity and progress for
the future. | pointed out the continental
grandeur of the Republic, oceanbound
upon the east and west, with the Great
Lakes upon the north, the Gulf Of Mexico
on the south, and. the Mississippi River,
with its tributaries forming the great ar
terry of the Nation; that this country was
unequaled in climate, in fertility of soil,
in natural resources and in diversity of
products: that it is our home; that it was
the home of the Republic; that our indi-
vidual rights extended over every foot of
this great domain; that there was no nat
ural boundary along which a dividing line
can be run between the slave States and
the free States; that the interests of this
and all future generations were bound up
in the proposition that this territorial
unity must be maintained, and the Gov
ernment of the great Republic preserved.
/ declared that it was the highest duty
off freely what
ever of blood and treasure might be neces-
sary to save the Republic.
| indorsed the Emancipation proclama-
ton as a great war measure warranted
by the Constitution and by the highest
standard OF morals.
/ urged upon the attention Of that peo-
pie that we were engaged in the greatest
war of any country, or of any age; that
the life of the National Government was
involved in the struggle; that the war
power had been conferred upon the Ma
ton by the people when they framed the
Constitution and Government that war
meant n trial Of strength; that in exert
ing the war power to save the Union the
Government was exercising the inherent
right of self-defense; that the right Of
self-defense included and made lawful the
use Of any means necessary to success;
that the President Of the United States
as Commander-in-C Chief of the Army and
Navy was the judge of what military acts
were necessary and proper to overcome
the enemy; that under the universal laws
OF war the only limitation upon the power
of the President in dealing with the armed
forces and people of the Confederate
States, in suppressing their rebellion
against the authority Of the United States,
was, and is, that his orders shall not do
violence TO the laws of humanity; that
the Emancipation Proclamation was a
mighty missile Of war hurled against the
rebellion; that il was a war measure. and
as such was strictly within the constitu-
tiOnal power Of the President, as truly
as was his authority 10 order the fighting
Of a battle, and thereby the destruction
Of the lives Of enemies OF the Govern
ment.
| summarized the argument by decar-
ing that in war every act necessary to
success was lawful.
This presentation of the question met
with unbounded approval. Old men who
had served in the War Of 1912, in the
Black Hawk War, and in the Mexican
War, crowded the platform and expressed
their qualification at this answer TO tho
anti-war orators.
/, turned my attention TO the political
aspect of the war and the issues involved
and declared that the time had come thai
the voters of the Northern States whC
favored the successful prosecution of the
war, as the means to preserve the Union
should lay aside former party affiliations
and stand together nOlifirally as TTnior