Year: 1863

Of our liberties hereafter. as they have
been preserved before. appeal to you
II this Is not their attitude. Can the
war be brought to a successful conclu.
sion by a party that coolly proposes
that when every interest Of the South
shall vibrate towards the Union, we shall
plunge into an abyss Of controversy and
discussion. instead Of saying the Cons,i.
tuition shall then, as in times past, be our
guide?


Consider. ! pray you, seriously, the
propositions that have been laid before
the community by our opponents, in
reference to this war. SEQ If it is not
true that they make this war one for in
definite purposes, for objects that we
cannot attain, and ought not to attain, il
they do not go further than saying it is
war for the purpose Of restoring the
Union and Constitution. They declare
boldly and openly that we are to aban
oon the traditions and laws of our faith.
ers. To attain their ends it IL necessary
to trample upon the constitution, 70 that
the general governmet shall be vested
with greater powers than we have ever
heretofore been willing to confer upon
it. They tell you that we want strong
government at Washington. They say
that if we take Jurisdiction from locali-
ties, from towns, counties, and States,
and centralize it at Washington, we shall
have a stronger government. l deny
tina. proposition. Applause. insist
upon it that if they succeed in that poll
cy, SO far from making the Government
stronger. they will make it weaker. /
do not charge that they do not honestly
entertain the convictions that they ex-
press, but charge, if carried out. they
will involve the Government in ruin.
Cheers. The strength of the general
government lies not alone in the power
which has been conferred upon it, but
the restraint which the Constitution
throws around it. 1t is made strong not
only by what the Constitution says it
may do. but by what the Constitution
says it may not do. The Constitution
forbids Congress from taking away the
right TO make laws, interfering with re-
ligion. with the rights Of home. with
the rights of free speech, because the
power of exercising those rights would
shatter it to atoms. Great applause.
1t i might make very palpable illus
tration / would say that the nation is
like well bound cask. Suppose cask
should take it into its head. reasoning,
perhaps. as wisely as they sometimes do
at Washington, that if it should burst it's
hoops it might become a hogshead--it
might increase its strength and dimen-
sions. Why, if it should burst its hoops
it would not even remain barrel il
would be mere bundle Of slaves. Now
when one general government at Wash
ington shall succeed in bursting these
restraints upon its power which are plac-
ed there for the purpose of its preserva.
ton for the purpose of binding the
government together, so far will it be
from true that they have strengthened
the government that the fact will be that
they have brought upon it weakness,
discontinue, dishonor and Disgrace
Let us see if these views are purely theo.
retical. Last winter was called upon


by friend of very different opinions
from myself--for l have friends on the
other side, notwithstanding so much is
said about my "friends" the
draft, and he wanted to know if feared
for the rights and existence of the States
from it's operation. / told him l had
no such fears. told him l should not
fear for the States, but that l should
tremble for the general government. it.
self, and then tried to make him see
that the attempted exercise of such pow
ers on the part Of the general government
SO far from arming it with greater
strength, would prove perilous to it. l
begged him to see. and tell those who
sent him to see me, that the strength of
the government should be based upon the
affections of the people. Loud cheers.


| begged him to tell them that if they
would make this government strong and
powerful, it was by addressing them
selves to the affections and regard of the
whole American people Cheers. Not
many months have rolled away since, in
response to call from the government,
the people Of this country sent six hun.
dred Thousand men to fight the battles OF
the country. Why did they go? Was
it because thay were called for by the
voice of power? 1t was because they were
sent for. to volunteer for the defense ol
the nation. and they came from school
district. village, town, city and State.
until they swelled into the mightiest mil
itsry array that the world has ever seen.
Well, as q result Of this voluntary action
of the public, the administration found
itself in the control of mighty army,
and forgetting from whence it derived its
strength--that it was the power and
strength of the people alone which they
held, they were bewildered with the
splendor of their position, and they de-


clared that they would no longer live up
on the charity of the community, and
send around a contribution box when
they wanted men or money. but when
ever men were wanted. they would send
officers to force the people into ranks. l
warned them Of the result OF that expert
ment. Iimplored them for their own
sake. for the sake of the cause in which


they had engaged, not to make the at
tempt. If had been influenced by per-
sonal or party considerations, ! should
not have said one word when they per-
sisted in the way that was to lead to dis
comfiture and disgrace, But ! told them
that if they would pursue policy that