Year: 1862

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ern man TO be elected President by sec
tional vote in order to consider that as ey-
ldence that the two sections could not
live 10 peace, and 60 they might break up
the Union. Whenever the history OF the
last two years shall be written whenever
the history of this country from the time
that the Lecompton Constitution was
originated down TO The last presidential
election shall be written, it will appear
that the scheme was formed to break up
this Union. They desired to break it up,
using the slavery question as pretext.
to elect the republican candidate by a
purely northern vote, against a united
south, and then assign the fact as rea-
son why we could moi live together. The
scheme agreed upon in Washington last
May was for the disunion candidate to
carry every southern State, and Mr.. Lin
co'n every northern State, and the dis
uniouists were then to seize possession
OF the federal government, issue orders to
the army and navy, under tie seal of the
United States. TLey expected to have
possession OF the government, and they
| relied upon divided North and united
.south. and thus bring civil war to our
own doors. The scheme was only defeat
ed by the defeat OF the Union candidate
IN Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and
Virginia. Whenever the history Of this
country shall be written, il will record
that grand conspiracy, and the present
dlsunion movement as the result of it.


But tins Is not a Time te go into a dis
cussion Of the causes that have produced
these results. The conspiracy 10 break
| up the Union is Il fact not known to all
| Armies arc being raised and war levied
TO accomplish il; There can lie but two
sides to the controversy. Every man
must be on the side of the United States
or against it. There can lie no peutra,s
| in this war.


There can be none but patriots and
traitors Thank God Illinois will not
be divided on that question. / know that
they have expected to present United
South against a divided North. The
conspirators have been led to hope that,
in the Northern S;aie-, i, would be made
party question, produvin. civil war
between Democrats and Republicans, aud
the South being united, could step in
| with their legions and help the one des
troy the other, and then conquer the VIC
tor. Their scheme was L.uodshed aud
all the horrors of civil war in every
Northern State There is one way TO
prevent it united action on the part Of
Illinois; closing up the ranks, render. it
impossible that war should Iage Oh uur
soil2


repeat, that so long as it was posi-
be to settle this question by peaceful
means, was willing 10 make any reason
able sacrifice for that purpose, but when
the question comes whether the war shall
be transferred from the cotton fields OF
the South to the cornfelds Of Illinois, |
choose to say that the further off the war
the better.


War does exist. 1t is sad thought
to every patriot. War-ciyil war-must
be recognized as existing in the United
States. We may no longer close our
eyes to that solemn fact This govern
ment must be maintained, the enemies of
the country overthrown, and the more
stupendous and overwhelming our prepa-
rations, the less bloodshed and the shorter
the struggle.


1t is a sad task to enter into discus
sion of a question of this magnitude, in
volving consequences 90 fearful as must
result from this terrible conflict but sad
as it is, bloody and disastrous as / expec.
it will be, I-believe, and protest my SIN
cere conviction before God, that it is the
duty Of every American patriot to rally
around the Constitution and the flag of
his country.


l renew to you my expressions Of
grateful acknowledgements for the mag.
nifcent and imposing demonstration. Ii
Is the evidence Of your loyalty and devo-
tion to the flag Of your country. You
are prepared, and show BY this demon
stration desire, to lay aside all partisan
feeling, and unite in support of all true
men. in the tented field, in the councils
Of the nation, and wherever else man
may make himself most useful.
hENTAI, CARD