Year: 1864

| New York, on the 4th of July, l8G3s


There can be no free government without
free election; there can be no free election
without deliberation; there can be no deibe,
ration without discussions; there can no dis
cussion without free speech; there can be no
free speech if prison bars and Punishment
are the rewards. (Great applause) But we
are told in these days that it is necessary to
violate those guarantees in order to preserve
the life Of the Union. They constitute its
existence; they mark its identity. Destroy
them, and you destroy the national life-
You might as well talk Of preserving the
life Of man by bowing down his upright
frame, taking from him all that separates
him from the brute. You might as well
talk Of preserving the life of strong, wise,
joyous and hopeful man when you reduce
him to a maniac or gibberng idiot. speak
walmy upon this subject, my lellowctizenss,
because feel deeply. have seen the prac-
tical operation of the system which is now
being taught in the case of a man in my
own State whom we all know-a man whom
we believe to be patriotic, whom we know to
have devoted his energies to the preserva-
ton of the Constitution as it is, and whose
hopes are garnered in the restoration Of the
Union as it was--a man whom we intend
(it deserved success will accomplish it to
place in the same rank beside your honored
Governor. Great appause.) We have
seen him carried from bis home at midnight
subjected to a military court.marlia sent
into exile after mock trial, and am here
to-day, one Of the ambassadors Of the democ,
racy Of Ohio accredited to Abraham Linz
coin with this message, to fluff the guaran'
tees Of the Constitution and restore her cili-
zen TO his home (great applause and cheers
for Vallandigham and, fresh from the per
formance Of our humble duty with which
we'were charged, | have to say to you tol
day that if the doctrines which are promuh
gated in high places, and which are stoutly
asserted and defended by those whose hands
are upon the ht Of the drawn sword are to
become the rule of this country, there will
be no longer first to be settled the question
of peace or war, but the question whether
you have government and whether you are
treemen. (Cries of that's it, and applause
We are told that the destruction of these
constitutional guarantees and the security
of personal rights are essential to the prose
cution of the war. Is this true2 The his'
tory OF the war Of 1912 and the Mexican
war deny it. If it be true that the destruction
of these guarantees and the abrdgement of
personal rights of the citizen are essential to
a vigorous prosecution Of the war, then say
here, that the war ought instantly to be stop
ped. (Iremendous cheering) We were
told at the time Of bis inauguration of Pres-
ri pt | hot her Ia
that it was not in contemplation of the
Southern States to make it, or in the class.
cal language already quoted of his Excellen-
cy, "that nobody was burt," Daughter and
| appause,) and we had, too, the brutal doe
trine proclaimed by Wes' ern Senstor, that
"vi,hout a little blood letting the Union


would not be worth a curse" What is that
Union, my feow-citizens? A confederation
of sovereign States, which came together
for the purpose of establishing that which
should have representative among the fam,


lilies of earth, and to reserve TO themselves
all the power over and care Of their own
people, (applause3 q Union Of separate and
independent parts Perfect sovereign and
independent! they came together, and dele


gated powers for certain purposes, and bound
up by the great force thus delegated, they
make one people Separate them, and you
will find that each State, resuming the hides
tructible powers which it has delegated, will
present that which is perfect sovereignty,
capable of taking care of its people, capable
of protecting the rights Of its people, and
capable of doing that which good and just
government, founded upon consent, can do;
capable of renewing or reconstructing, or il
necessary, making an entirely new Union.-
(Appause.) But, my fellow citizens, why
should we not have the benefit of the united
whole, the united power of all these States
to settle this great question Reconstruction!
(Applause,) Why should they not meet to'
gether in Convention, as they originally met
and again lay the foundations OF govern
ment as near like the old as possible? |
speak not TO men to whom my voice cannot
penetrate, because there is wall of hristling
bayones between US and them. | speak
now to our own section. Why may not this
be done? All the gentlemen in power will
tell us that they cannot compromise with
rebels with arms in their hands. Not COM
promise! Why, gentlemen, compromise is
the first law of combination-I was going to
say the first law of nature itself. 1t is the


law Of society, of government; partners in
business compromise; church societies com
promise; literary institutions compromise;
political organizations compromise; hus
band compromises with his wife; Qaughter;)


the father compromises with his disobedient
child; kings compromise with each other;
kings compromise with their subjects, or
generally lose them Uaughter) And if
there is truth in our holy religion, God ALI
mighty compromised with man when He ac
cepted in our stead the atonement of His
son. (Applause) This government of ours
is founded on a compromise. When the
convention sat three times at Philadelphia,
thew were at the noint of pyDp uD their