[113] war may be a long one, but it is to be a victorious one to you. Some men ask, “Can we coerce them back into the Union?” I don't say we can, but we can conquer them; and when we do so, every dollar of property in those States shall be confiscated for the benefit of the great Northern army. Those fine plantations shall belong to the Northern soldier, and with Northern men we shall repeople those States. This may be bold talk, but it is true, and it is certain to take place. I am still for peace, if it can be had. We have waited with all patience for it. They have fired upon our flag, and we will never suffer it to be fired upon with impunity. We may as well let them know now as hereafter, that the reward we will mete out to them for their treason shall be, committing their homes to the flames, and their own carcasses to the eagles of America. (Cheers.)
Speech of David Dudley field.
This is not a time for words, but for deeds. Our Union is assailed: that Union which was created after so many years of patient labor, of common suffering, and common glory. Our Constitution is defied: that Constitution which Washington, Franklin, Madison, Hamilton, and their compatriots made, and which has served us so well in peace and in war. Our liberties are menaced: those liberties which we inherited from our brave and suffering fathers, and which we received as an inheritance to be transmitted intact to our children. The symbol of our country's strength and honor: that flag which our countrymen have borne over so many lands and seas, has been insulted and trampled. Our fortresses, arsenals, mints, custom-houses, hospitals, have been seized. The roads to our national capital have been obstructed, and our own troops, marching to its succor, molested and stopped; every form of contumely and insult has been used towards us. The foundations of Government and society are rocking around us. Truly, my fellow-citizens, this is no time for words — we must act, act now, act together, or we are lost. This is no occasion to inquire into the causes of this awful state of things. All hands, all hearts, all thoughts, should be concentrated upon the one great object of saving our country, our Union, our Constitution — I had almost said, our civilization. If we fail in this great emergency, if we allow a single source of discord to intrude into our counsels, if we do not give to our glorious land, in this hour of its peril, our substance, our labors, and our blood, we shall prove ourselves most degenerate children. A great conspiracy has been forming and extending for many years to overthrow this Government; the people have only now believed its existence; it was something so monstrous as to be incredible, till an armed rebellion has overcome eight States, and seems to be spreading over more; a military despotism has obtained control of eight millions of people, and is knocking at the gates of the capital. Therefore arm yourselves; for this contest is to be decided by arms; let every man arm himself. None capable of bearing arms can be spared. It is not 30,000 that this State must get ready, but 300,000. Arm yourselves by land and sea; rally to the support of the Government; give your counsel and your strength to the constituted authorities, whom the votes of the people and the laws of the land have placed in power. Never give up. Never despair. Never shrink. And from this darkness and gloom, from the smoke and flame of battle, we shall, with God's blessing, come out purified as by fire, our love of justice increased, the foundations of our institutions more firmly cemented, and the blessings of liberty more certainly secured to ourselves and our posterity. Every motive that can influence men is present to us this day — love of honor and love of right — the history of the heroic past, the vast interests of the present and the future of all the millions that for ages shall inhabit this continent.Speech of Judge Thompson.
fellow-countrymen,--In 1832, the State of South Carolina attempted to nullify the action of the Federal Government upon the questions affecting our revenue laws. Fortunately, Andrew Jackson was then President of the United States. Himself the very impersonation of republican democracy, he was also at that period surrounded by loyal majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives. In that emergency the old hero at once determined to defend the Constitution and uphold the laws. Both branches of Congress stood firmly by the side of the people's chosen chief, who proclaimed, in words which cannot die--“The Union must and shall be preserved t” (Tumultuous applause.) True, South Carolina had aided to swell the majority by which he was placed amongst the foremost rulers of the nations of the earth — nevertheless, his fidelity and patriotism, his devotion to the Constitution which he had sworn to support, raised him above the reach and beyond the stretch of mere party feeling, and prompted him to lose sight of everything that might tend to seduce him from the service of the country he loved so well. Thus it was that the prompt, statesmanlike, and energetic action of the Federal authorities in that memorable and trying crisis, most effectually suppressed the spirit of rebellion which then menaced the peace of the country and the stability of our cherished institutions; and the determined announcement of Jackson to preserve the Union at all hazards, was responded to by the united voice of every hamlet, village, town, and city throughout the limits of our blessed land. Since then Columbia's sons have ever made the heaven ring with music to the inspired words:--Then a song for our Union--the watchword recallAfter the lapse of thirty peaceful years — years of unexampled national prosperity--20,000,000 of freemen, in this hour of our country's peril, again are chaunting the magic words:--
Which gave the republic her station.
United we stand — divided we fall--
It made and preserved us a nation.
The union of lakes, the union of lands,
The union of States none can sever;
The union of hearts, the union of hands
And the flag of our Union for ever ana ever,
The flag of our Union forever I--(Great cheering.)
The flag of our Union forever and ever,The decisive and vigorous policy of the hero of New Orleans gave peace and harmony to the country at once, and proved to the world that whether fighting under Washington or Scott, against a foreign enemy, or under Jackson or Lincoln (cheers) against domestic foes, the people of this enlightened land have a government which is invincible against assaults and attacks, let them come from without or from within. The spirit of rebellion again rears its hideous head amongst the citizens of the sunny South; and as it was met by Jackson thirty years ago, so is it now being met by President Lincoln. (Cheers.) Now,
The flag of our Union forever l--(Cheers.)
