Year: 1863

'ul s'ahuaru as rule OF conduct IN public
affairs. Under it newspapers have been sill
enoed, free speech denied, citizens of every
grade and condition in life torn from their
homes and imprisoned, no sex exempted,
childhood punished, and all this has been
borne without revolt. What have the peo-
pie received in exchange for such unparalleled
suferings and forbearance ? Have thew a
country restored to the highway of national
glory Has the evil of secession been over
come =? Has this rebellion been suppressed +?
Has the blessed Union been restored Are
we far on the way towards that consumation
SO devoutly 10 be wished 2 Does the brilliant
bow of promise span the future? Is the sky
clear and bright over our heads to-day Does
tn rising sun ofthis halo wed anniversary come
to US with healing in its beams The rul-
ers OF this country have had all, everything,
even to lives and citizen. All has been cast
at their feet. Taxation without limit;
banking system which absorbs and CONTROLS
the currency; an act of conscription which
demands the life Of the citizen, and bill of
indemnity for past, land future crimes commit
ted against his liberty, are the work of one
Congress, and constitute a measure of despot-
ic powe which, boldly affirm in the face of
my couutrymen, has no parallel this day in
The history of civilized nations. And what
has not been seized by bold hand. What
are the returns for all this? The ear has
heard the promise, but the hope has found
it broken. The beautiful apples of gold set
pictures ofsilVer, which you beheld SO tempt
ingly near at the opening of this war, are
Dead Sea fIut--ashes to the taste. Oh
what scalding irony the position of affairs to-
day cast upon the boastfu, ,vainglorious proph-
ecies Of two years ago. Armed with sup
preme power, the members of this Admins
traton are now shaking with mortal terror
in TIE midst of their official predictions that
war would restore the Union in sixty days.
The people stand by in amazcment and
horror, stunned by the evil fortune which
pursues US. Their confidence, long abused
and now dead, bereft of hope, and paralyzed
by the want of a capable and honest head to





which has att ended the unlimited exercise
of the doctrine of necessity! Does it how
ever surprise the student of morals. of histo-
~ and philosophy Can wrong, injustice,
a righteous cause? Has it ever been so p
Ough t it to be Ifsuch was the law of hu-
man action, then evil would have stronger
reasons in its favor than God ever designed
it should have. No. Away with this nox-
ous heresy. 1t is baneful in theory and
dsastr inous results. Let US do right, tho
earth and hell confront US. Let US follow
the principles of truth and liberty though
they should give us no wider home than the
grave. All hail the Constitution The tri- :
al has been made to administer this Govern
ment independent of its aid, by a higher law.
The failure is complete. The world will
take notice of this fact, and think the better
of the American Constitution. The Ameri-
can citizen everywt ere, aud of all parties,
will engrave this great lesson on his heart,
and fee in every hour of peril hereafter to
the shelter Of the Constitution as the house
of his refuge. The worship of the golden
calf in the wilderness, and the calamities
which attended the sacrllege, gave the ark OF
the living God firmer hold on the conf
dence and affections of Israel. Let the re-
suits of dIsoSedience to the Constitution
which we now behold. teach us similar
lesson. To this. disobedience may be traced
the Iliad Of all our woes" The Constitu-
tion is strength-itl is wisdom. 1t is love Of
country. 1t is liberty. It is Union. All
this has been in times past and all this it will
be again in the future to those who embrace
and obey it. Thus far have spoken of those
important and overshalowing Incidents of
this war which have befallen the people Of
the loyal States-assalliug US like plague and
famine shaken from the wings of some bale
full comet sweeping over the earth. But we
do not shrink from full consideration OF
the actual issues involved in the prosecution
of the war itself against the seeded States.
If Englishmen in the Parliament of England
in the days of King George could denounce
a war waged ostensibly to restore and pre-





serve the Union of the British Empire, but
in reality tending to, and resultinsin its dis
solution, the citizens of New Hampshire may
reasonably claim similar rights. Ifone por-
ton Of our own countrymen can discuss their
plans forthe future condition Of a commoncoua
try shall never be able to understand Why
we shouldbe silent. Common sacrifices and
common destiny beget common privileges.
If Wendell Phillips shall rave, snail not the
sane men of New England reason? Ifa
committee on the conduct of the var shall
bring disaster upon great and noble army
aud ruin the country in order 10 blacken the
fame and prostrate the usefulness If the
brilliant and able Mcclellan, who shall hin
der us from sp eakins freely our niuds N
this committee Of ths WI hole people On th9
ubiect of the vgar itself2 I scorB ana ueyy