Year: 1863

!
pay) 1t will discuss the conhsca;ion act


and the Presidents emancipation policy.
These measures affect the best interests of
/ the white man, and the peace apd security
Of the government for generations 10 come
| 10 discuss them Is our undeniable right.


plant my feet upon the constitution. and
solemnly declare in behalf of myself and
the great democrgtic party, that We will
never surrender to any power on earth
the right to discuss all these measures,


which bear SO fearfuiy upon our dearest
interests. We will discuss the Presidents
compensated emancipation policy. We
will discuss the right Of this government
to put its hand into the pocket Of the la,
boring white man for the purpose of free


ing the negro. We will discuss the cons
cript act. We will discuss the policy of
every law that is now or may hereafter
be placed upon the statute book. Those
Of them that are, in cur Judgment, wrong
we will ask to be repealed. We will
test their constitutionality in the courts
In short, we will do all that our fathers
have done to assert our manhood and free
dom to demonstrate to the world that
we are not the degenerate sons of glorious
sires. If we are to give up these priviIe-
ges at the bidding Of Gespot, let US hide
the face Of the Goddess of Liberty in
funeral veil, deceive the world no longer
with the semblance Of freedom, but accept
al once the rame Of despotism and wear
the collar Of slaves


Do we propose, as dem ocrats, TO do
anything wrong? 30 we love our coun
try the less that we intend to assert the
heaven given right Of free discussion No
as for me, so hen me God, it is because |
love my country more. What is your
country and mine | have no country
outside Of the provisions of the written law.
Mr.. Lincoln and bis Cabinet constitute
not my government. They are merely
public servants, to be held responsible for
their acts by an Intelligent, an honest and
a patriotic people Am I, in making these
declarations, preaching to you doctrines
subversive Of the principles and precents
Of the Fathers? Let me ask YOU in all
candor, does it not seem wonderful that
| may at this very moment be talking my
self into prison by utteling these ancient
sentiments Of liberty It sometimes
seems 10 me as ii fevered dream had
come upon this country, and as if, after
while we should wake up and find that we
had simply been plagued with hideo US
and oppressive nightmare. Bat we look
around us to-day and the sun is shining
the air is blowing. all is real, and vet in
the midst of all this reality, and in the
noon of the nineteenth century, we are
assaulted with this most terrible, pernic-
ious and destructive heresy-this denial
of the right of the people Of a free govern
ment to control and manage that govern,
ment for themselves.


What does the democratic party pro
pose to do It purposes, By the help of
God, to preserve this constitution. The
constitution made our Union without it
the Union would never have had an ex-
istence. 1t brought your States together
1t, and il alone, held them together fer
more than eighty years, and it alone can
bring them together again. 1t is the only
power that can restore the Union. We
are constantly told that it is mount bent
upon u4 to DO everything in our power
TO restore the C.ion we are ready and
wiIino-vea. We are ,..yious to do any
thing and everything but whas IS wr9ng
is wroag, aud wrong can never restore
the Union. The right, however, can, and
that we propose to DO. The democratic
party will take its stand upon the eternal
immutabe, ever living principles of right
and of constitutional liberty-to do right
by truth and justice, and leave to arighte
Gus God TO shape the consequences in the
future. If this Union is ever to be restor
ed, it will be done by doing right--by
preserving the constitution, the bond that
made it. This is my only hope for my
country. followed it as tue children Of
Israel followed the pillar OF cloud by day
and of fire by night. 1t, and it alone,
will lead US through this wilderness Of war
and blood, and desolation; and if it IS pre-
served the time will come when .he sky
will clear away, and in a brighter, better,
and happier land we will look back upon
this scene with proud satisfaction, as we
rehect.thal we die d OF low the knee in the
hour Of trial, base tyranny and lawlsss
usurpation.


In the meantime, what Go we expect
Do we look for ease and comfort! Do
you, to~day, expect me to tell YOU of an
easy way to haven of safety, where these
troubles and dangers shall no more beset
and affiict US? If you do, cannot graft
fy you. ou are not to repose Oh flowerv
beds of ease while Others ia time past
fought to win the prize OF freedom AMI
sailed through bloody seas. We may suf-
fer Some of US may lapguish in prison
and in chains; we may feel the iron fes-
tering in our flesh, because we assert our
rights as freemen We can afford all this :;
but we canno. afford to live one day or
one hour beneath sense of personal
abasement and disgrace. A man may die
and bis memory be crowned with the ben
edictions of mankind, evergreens may grow
about his tomb, and the lips of generations
TO come may bless him. A man can die
in cause like this without grief or sor-
row; ; but TO prolong lifs AT the expense of
( liberty and self-respect, is what a proud
/ race cannot and will never 60.


/ There has never been time in my ex-