Year: 1862




nation has ever before encountered so
formidable civil war, in the midst of
which it has grown more powerful in all
the means for successful termination OF
the contest. History presents no par
allel. And it has accomplished all this
within its own limits and by the energy
and patriotism Of its own citizens.


And what citizen of the United States
can contemplate this picture and not feel
proud Of his glorious country2 II has
presented this picture to the world, and
yet it has not called forth half its energy
or lis mighty power. 1t has given the
nations a warning Of what is in the fu-
ture, and they are not blind to the signs
of the times.


This rebellion seems to have walked up
this nation to just sense Of its high
mission. We had heard this wild cry of
secession for years, and stood spellbound
at its growing assumptions and increas-
ing strength. 1t seemed to paralyze the
arm of the nation. II had an immunity
entirely incomprehensibIe 1t dared to
become a part and parcel of the very
Government whose chief end and aim it
was to destroy. The Government was
powerless to punish its insolence. The
cry was, " force must never be used TO
preserve a government formed by the
consent Of the governed" Blood can
never be shed to put down rebellion in
Republican Government, lest you de-
strOy that Government.


But the assault on Fort Sumter aroused
the nation to its consciousness, dissolved
the spell by which it had been bound
and infused into the government life
and vigor uever before displayed.


8. You were also. told that the object of
the Government in the prosecution of
the war, was to subjugate our people,
plunder our country and set free our
slaves: And officers highest in command
in the armies of the South, published in
general orders or proclamations, that
some of the forces of the United States
had inscribed upon their banners "beauty
and booty" as indicative of their pur-
poses in engaging in the war.


That these statements are utterly I'M
true, you have seen yourselves From
fifty to seventy-fye thousand Federal
troops have passed through our State,
and you have seen no motto Of "beauty
and booty" upon any banner borne by
them-nor have you heard any such word
as subjugation of the South or freedom
to the slaves. 1t is utterly untrue that
any such demonstrations have been
made by any division of the United
States army, by authority of the Governs
ment. And the people of Tennessee are
under lasting obligations to the soldiers
that are in our midst and that have
passed through our country, for their
and generous forbearance
towards hostile population, and for the
respect paid to the rights Of all classes
Of our citizens.


We have seen nothing in the conduct
of this war, that conflicts with the pur-
poses Of the Government as declared by
Congress in August last, by almost a
unanimous vote" That this war is not
waged in any spirit Of oppression, or for
any purpose of conquest or subjugation,
or purpose eff overthrowing or interfering
with the rights or established institutions
Of any State, but to defend and m maintain
the supremacy Of the Constitution, and to
preserve the Union, with all the dignity,
equality and rights Of the several States
and that as soon as these
objects are accomplished the war ought
to cease" And the Southern Commits
sioners themselves Messrs. Yancey, Mann
and ROst, in their letter TO Lord Russell,
of the 14th Of August, 1861, say that
' II was from no fear that the slave would
be liberated that secession took place.
The very party in power has proposed
10 guarantee slavery forever in the States,
II the South will but remain 10 the
Union" And this declaration Of these
Commissioners is sustained by the fact,
As you will remember that ia the winter
If 1861, Congress passed by two thirds
7ote in each house, proposed amendments