Year: 1861

of the term. In the first place, maI,y of those
engaged in il are engaged in crusade nominally
to ameliorate the condition Of portion of our
population. They are engaged in a crusade to
make things better than the Creator made them.
or to make things equal which he made unequal.
1t is impious, in that a great deal of the fanati
csm of the war springs, doubt not, from that
sourc e Such an effort never could succeed, were
they to Overrun US and drive us away


It IS against the interest of those who
wage it. and. of all the people who will suffer by
it, the New England States will suffer the most.
This is a war against the principles which their
fathers and our fathers fought for-that every
State government derived its powers from the
consent of the governed. They say we are revo
lutionists they call us rebels. / think it will be
a revolution before it is over, but if change of
government makes revolution the revolution is
at the North.


At the South our movements from the be GIN
ning. have been planted upon the principles, as
have trld you, of our Revolutionary fathers, and
the Confederate States to-day have rescued the
Constitution, with some improvements some
changes, all Of which We think improvements
They stand to day the defenders, supporters and
maintainers of that Constitution which was the
admiration and devotion of us all. But change
of government has taken place at the North
The Constitution of our fathers has already been
trampled in the dust. From the time Mr.. Lin
coin went into his Office until to-day it has been
but one step after another, one stride after an
other, upon the Constitution of the country.


| tell you the revolution is at the North
There is where constitutional liberty has been
destroyed; and if you wish to know my judgment
about the history of this war you may read it in
the history of the French Jacobns. They have
become a licentous and lawess mob, and | shall
not at all be surprised if in less than three years
the leaders in this war-if Lincoln and his Cabi-
net, its held-come to the gallOws or gullotine.
just as those who lei the French war-(applauSe)
for human passions when once aroused are as
uncomfortable as the elements about US The
only hope of mankind rests in the restraints of
constitutional law: and the day they framed and
ratified those awless measures of Lincoln, they
dug their own graves. They may talk of freedom
and liberty, but tell you no people without rulers
restrained BY the constitutional law can be free.
They NAV be nominally free, but they are vassals
and slaves, and this unbridled mob. when they
attempt to check it, Lincoln and the rest will be
dealt with just | tell YOU it i'm France.


What is to be the result of this war? am not
a prophet, but | look upon it as fraught with the
most momentous consequences, not unto US, but
to the people of the North. have always be-
lieved that if the Union were destroyed the North
would run into anarchy and despotism. We are
the salt of the concern and il is only questionable
whether or not we have quit too soon. That is
the only doubt | have. Where it will end do
hot know, but never again will they enjoy consti-
tutioEal government at the North How long
will they be able to war against us? tell YOU it
will be until we drive them back. There is no
hope for us, there is no prospect for early and
speedy termination of the war until we drive them
back; and my idea, my wish, my desire and my
counsel would be to raise men enough immedi-
ately, from the mountains to the seaboard. to do
it, They RELY upon numbers, and they have got
them; but have told you the battle is not to the
strong. We rely upon the Righteousness and the
justice of our cause, and also the valor of men,
tho Igh they bring two one. three one, five to
one, or ten to one, as was done in Greece.


And now, in conclusion, ask you, one and
all, women as well as men, before you make up
your judgments, to consider the magnitude of the
question, the great issue before you, the perils
surrounding you, the dangers besetting you;
think of your homes and your iresides, and then
think of subjugation. Think then of your duty,
and all ask of you is to perform your duty as
faithfully as have done mine to day, and leave
it with you, the country and God. Loud and
prolonged applause.