Year: 1860

Lecompton agitation cannot be so pre-
cisely told. We know that be has lost
the control OF the House of Representa-
tiyes, that be has increased the Repub'
lican strength in the Senate. and made
the election of Lincoln by purely Sec
tional party at least matter of doubt
And this is the end of Southern Rights
Democratic Craftsmanship! This is the
boon for which you have to thank those
who would sgitate for your good Time
and again they have addressed you in
passionate harsngue iii favor Of the
rights of the South. Time and agsIr
they have assured you those rights were
dependent upon the election of Dem.
ocratc President. Time and again you
have listened to the Syren song, and
time and again you have been deceived


Now they come to you with another
remedy-disunion-the last the worst


the most dreadful in its consequences


the most damniug in its guilt. They
have led you ou as the veiled Prophet o.


Khorason led his deluded followers


Like him they have extracted from fail


ure itself, the argument to support 4
new delusion and like him they offel
you at last fiery poison which has
death in every draught, and torture il
every drop. Let me hope that the simile
will end here. and that they may not


when you have plunged into disuuiou
lift the veil, and exllaim


There ye wise Saints, behold your light, yoal
Star!n


Ye would be dupes, and victims, AMI ye are'


1t was my purpose, also, to have com
mented upon the Military Bill" Of the
last Legislature, which raises an army
of eight thousand men. and places it
under the orders of the Governor, at the
same time taxing the people 100000
TO carly out the provisions of this use
less, dangerous, and anti.repubIcan
measure but have already exceeded
the time allowed me by the terms Of the
agreement between Mr.. Morgan and my
self, and must defer that duty 10 ano:h-
er occasion. At present l shall only
trespass upon his courtesy far enough
to ask if these laws and Legislative reso
lutions can have any object but disun


ion? Is there any possible necessity
for them, or any color of propriety in
them, if we intend to remain peaceful
citizens of this great and glorious re-
public There is none and can be none.
The object was disunion, and arising
out of that are questions which you
must decide. if you would decide them
rightly, unshackeled by party, uninfa-
enced by passion, and uncontrolled by
prejudice. To say nothing of com
mon ancestry--of a common fame ac.
quired and common perils encountered
in the past, and in our own day-;To
leave pride, affection, feeling, kindred,
entirely out of view, put it to you as
plain practical question of intelligent
self interest, what have you to gain by
civil discussion ? There is no one
among you who is disturbed bv sinful
dreams Of a kiugly crown. You are
not longing for stars, and garters, and
titles of'nobility. Nor on the other
hand are your fortunes so desperate as
to make you look forward to turmoil,
commotion. and b!oodshed, as means
Of redeeming them. There is not one
man among you who can lay his hand
upon his heart and tell me OF single
governmental grievance from which be
is now suffering, except those which
were inflicted upon you at the last ses.
sion Of your own Legislature. Peace
has spread her gentle wings above you.
Plenty is around, and about you; aud
in all essential particulars you are as
free as the winds of heaYen which blow
eth where it liSteth.


If you are prepared to exchange all
this for the fevered aod troubled excite
ment of civil war, marked by horrors
in every stage of its progress, and end
ing in chains and slavery, future ages
must attribute the unspeakable folly and
wickedness Of the act TO a mania grow
ing out Of the very excess Of happiness.
If you are not prepared for that terrible
charge, you must at once absolve your
selves from all connection with the par
ty who are hourly dragging you nearer
and nearer 10 the brink Of the precipice.
Be not deceived by their false ssSump-
lion OF the nsme Of Democrat. They
have trampled on all that made that
name 50 dear to you. Listen not to the
evasive special pleading that men of all
parties voted with them. 1t is not true.
My party-the Constitutional Union par
tv-- were not participants in that guilt
But ;f true it would be no excuse. They
had the control Of the Legislature. Its
acts are their acts. They passed them,
and Mey now eRd0rsethem. There is not
one disunionisti ia the State Of Alabama
who is not to day standing under the
Breckirridge fag, andlallow me to say it
is impossible in the very nature OF th'ngS
that The banner which waves over. such
host can be stainless, or that the lead
er they have chosen can be above sus-
picion. AS you lovs peace as you
love your Gresides as you love your
wives and children as you love liberty
and would transmit it umimpaired to
vour dascandanta from generation to