Year: 1861

GEO S. HILLIARB ON THE WAR-The la
dies of Boston recently requested Hon. G eo.
S. billiard to present flag on their behalf to
the Seco nd Massachusetts regiment at Camp
Andrew. That distinguished gentleman made
a powerful speech on the occasion, from
which we make the following extracts:


hold this armed contest to be a great
historical movement, and to have high moral
interest aRd significance, because it is to de-
termne the character Oft the institutions un-
der which we, and those who come after us ),
are to live. You are nGt merely sustaining
the administration of President Lincoln
against unlawful combinations, but you are
Sighting on the side of law, order, govern
ment, civilization and progress. The result
of this war is to settle the question whether
they who are hereafter to inhabit this mag
nilcent country are or are not to have that
primal blessing of a good government, with
out which the most abundant material re.
sources are as valueless as scientific books or
philosophical instruments would be among
the most barbarous tribes of Africa or Aus
tralia. Surely there cannot be imagined
war more worthy of calling forth all the en-
ergies of a great people than this.


Aud if am asked to define my meaning
more distinctly and precisely, | say that the
questions now submitted to the stern arbi-
tratement of war are substantially these: Is
the Constitution of the United States com.
pact or law? is this Union a Common
wealth., State or is it merely a eonfederacy
or a copartnership2 Is there right of se-
cession in the separate States, singly or col
lectively, other than the right of revolution?
These are momentous questions, and if they
can be settled in no other way than by
war, then such a war is worth the price it
costs. great as that is. For if the right of sc
cessioa be fairly and logically deducible from
the Constitutional any State upon its own
mere motion, with cause or without cause
can withdraw from the Union as partner
may dissolve a opartnership-thenth the Con
stituton itself is stupendous failure the
men who made it were bunging iourneymen
and not master IA echaRics, and the institu-
tions of our country, so far from deserving
our gratitude and admiration, are worthy
only of our contempt.


| want to have the armed heel of the couu-
try crush the serpent head of secession, now
and FOREVER, SO that it shall never glare with
its baleful eyes or brandish its venomous
tongue. Let not the fate and fortunes of this
glorious country be committed to the keep.


ing of a clumsy. misshape' raft, compacted
of twenty-four or thirty-four logs. good
enough tc float down river, but sure to go
to pieces when it gets into deep water but


let them be embarked on board a goodly
ship. we'll feund, well fastened well manned
in which every timber and plank has been
so fashioned as TO contribute to the beauty
and strength of the whole fabric with good
seaman at the helm, the Constitution in the
binnaele, and the stars and stripes at the
masthead When the time Of my depart
ure shall come, let me feel ,let me know, that
leave those whom love uader tie protee.
ton of a government good enough to secure
the affection of its subjects, anG strong
enough to enforce their obedience. Remea-
Der that If astrong government be sometimes
bad, a weak government is never good