Year: 1861

Jere Clemens, who was one of the ablest


and boldest Of the Unions defenders while


there was hope that the Republicans


could make any concessions for the sake OF


the country, made speech at Huntsville,
Alabama, few days ago, justifying his
| signing of the Alabama ordinance of seces-
sion, when his constituents were for the
Union. We make couple of extracts
showing the spirit of his remarks:


have seen in the New York Times and
and in another Republican paper, commcn


tares upon the state of affairs in Alabama.
Our section of the State is represented AZ
being in actual revolt And exulting cal.
culations were made that war would begin
here in the county of Madison. The peo


pie OF the North were told that we were so


much affected with the spirit of treason to
the South, that we are ready to take up
arms against it, and that Mr.. Lincoln would
thus be furnished with an early excuse for
sending a hoard Of invaders upon us, under
the pretext of helping North Alabama. -


They calculated upon your treason as the
entering wedge to the suhjugation of the
South, and you were compimented by tn
>upposition that you were ready to form an
offensive and defensive alliance with the
Aboli,ionists, for the purpose of spilling the
blood and desolating the homes of friends
and neighbors Now it so happens that |
am better known at the North than any
other man in Alabama. Not known mere
ly as public man, but known personally.
commanded New England regiment dur
ing the Mexican war l served side by sid
with troops from Indiana, Ohio, Pennsyl-
vania, New York, and other Northern
States. Since then have Travelled a great
deal among them. | am known to them as
Union man, as native of North Alaba-
ma, as one of those upon whose treason
they so confidently calculated. For these
reasons it appeared to me that my vote for
the ordinance of secession would serve to
disabuse their minds Of the impression that
they might look for allies in our midst, and
this direction. which might be contemplated
under that impression. desire to keep
war from your doors, and rescue your char
acters from the suspicion of treachery.


They have threatened coercion, let them
begin it. They have called us cffeminate
towards, let them try it. They have pre-
sented to us the alternative of unconditional
submission, or death upon the gibbet. l
trust they will soon be taught there is yet
another which is always within a brave
mans reach--the alternative of dying with
arms in their hands, and staining the field
upon which he falls with other blood than
his own.


We may be invaded think We will be.
There is suffering, and danger, and pr,va-
ton before us. do not under estimate the
military strength and resources Of the
North. The odds arc fearfully against us,
and that very fact is an inducement with
me to cling more closely to the fortunes of
the State. In prosperous timcs-at the
height Of its power and greatness, fancied
wrongs or real injuries might drive me INTO
rebellion, but the hour Of distress and dam
ger is not the one shall select to sink away
from its banner. Al long as federal bayo-
nets threatened us-as long as hos
tile cannon are pointed at our shores-as as
long as threats Of coercion are borne upon
the Northern breezes, shall stand beneath
that banner, unmurmuring and uncomplain-
ing, true and unfaltering to the last.