Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 1.
Frank Moore, Ed.

---

[86] in an angry spirit. I would make every effort to bring back every wandering lamb to the fold again. I would not levy war for aggression — I would levy it for defensive peace. (Cheers.) I would not do it to despoil others. I would arm, and that in a manner becoming this Government and people, not for aggression, I repeat, but for defence — for the purpose of retaining our honor and dignity, not only at home, but among the nations of the earth. (Cheers.) The most brilliant successes that ever attended the field of battle could afford me no pleasure; because I cannot but reflect that of every one who falls in this unnatural strife, be it on one side or on the other, we must, in our sober moments, exclaim,--

Another sword has laid him low,
     Another, and another's:
And every hand that dealt a blow--
     Ah, me I it was a brother's.

But we are called upon to act. There is no time for hesitation or indecision — no time for haste and excitement. It is a time when the people should rise in the majesty of their might, stretch forth their strong arm and silence the angry waves of tumult. It is time the people should command peace. (Cheers.) It is a question between union and anarchy — between law and disorder. All politics for the time being are and should be committed to the resurrection of the grave. The question should be, “Our country, our whole country, and nothing but the country.” (Cheers.)

'Tis not the whole of life to live
Nor all of death to die.

We should go forward in a manner becoming a great people. But six months since, the material clements of our country were never greater. To-day, by the fiat of madness, we are plunged in distress and threatened with political ruin, anarchy and annihilation. It becomes us to stay the hands of this spirit of disunion. The voice of the Empire State can be potential in this unnatural strife. (Cheers.) She has mighty power for union. She has great wealth and influence, and she must bring forward that wealth and exert that influence. She has numerous men and she must send them to the field, and in the plenitude of her power command the public peace. This is a great commercial city--one of the modern wonders of the earth. With all the great elements that surround her, with her commercial renown, with her architectural magnificence, with her enterprise and energy, she is capable of exercising a mighty power for good in silencing the angry waves of agitation. (Cheers.) While I would prosecute this war in a manner becoming a civilized and a Christian people, I would do so in no vindictive spirit. I would do it as Brutus set the signet to the death-warrant of his son--“Justice is satisfied, and Rome is free.” (Cheers.) I love my country; I love this Union. It was the first vision of my early years; it is the last ambition of my public life. Upon its altar I have surrendered my choicest hopes. I had fondly hoped that in approaching age it was to beguile my solitary hours, and I will stand by it as long as there is a Union to stand by--(cheers)--and when the ship of the Union shall crack and groan, when the skies lower and threaten, when the lightnings flash, the thunders roar, the storms beat and the waves run mountain-high, if the ship of State goes down, and the Union perishes, I would rather perish with it than survive its destruction. (Loud cheers.) I love that flag. with all its stars and stripes — that flag of my fathers — that flag that is known and honored throughout the earth, wherever civilization has travelled. I love it still; I would say, with the British peer, “With all thy faults I love thee still.” Let us, my friends, stay up the hands of Union men in other sections of the country. How much have they sacrificed of advantage, of national wealth, of political promotion! Let us aid them and cheer them on. Let us, my fellow-citizens, rally round the flag of our country, rendered illustrious by the gallant Anderson. (Cheers.) In the spirit of peace and forbearance he waved it over Fort Sumter. The pretended authorities of South Carolina and the other Southern States attacked him because they seemed to consider him a kind of minister plenipotentiary. Let us maintain our flag in the same noble spirit that animated him, and never desert it while one star is left. (Cheers.) If I could see my bleeding, torn, maddened and distracted country once more restored to quiet and lasting peace under those. glorious stars and stripes, I could almost be ready to take the oath of the infatuated leader in Israel — Jephtha — and swear to sacrifice the first living thing that I should meet on my return from victory. (Loud cheers.)

---

Speech of Senator Baker, of Oregon.

The majesty of the people is here to-day to sustain the Majesty of the Constitution--(cheers)--and I come, a wanderer from the far Pacific, to record my oath along with yours of the great Empire State. (Applause and three cheers for Baker.) The hour for conciliation has passed, the gathering for battle is at hand; and the country requires that every man shall do his duty. (Loud cheers.) Fellow-citizens, what is that country? Is it the soil on which we tread? Is it the gathering of familiar faces? Is it our luxury and pomp and pride? Nay, more than these, is it power and might and majesty alone? No, our country is more, far more than all these. The country which demands our love, our courage, our devotion, our heart's blood, is more than all these--(loud applause)--our country is the history of our fathers — our country is the tradition of our mothers — our country is past renown — our country is present pride and power — our country is future hope and destiny — our country is greatness, glory, truth, constitutional liberty — above all, freedom forever! (Enthusiastic cheers.) These are the watchwords under which we fight; and we will shout them out till the stars appear in the sky, in the stormiest hour of battle. (Cheers.) I have said that the hour for conciliation is past. It may return; but not to-morrow, nor next week. It will return when that tattered flag (pointing to the flag of Fort Sumter) is avenged. (Prolonged and enthusiastic cheers.) It will return when rebel traitors are taught obedience and submission. It will return when the rebellious confederates are taught that the North, though peaceable, are not cowardly — though forbearing, are not fearful. (Cheers.) That hour of conciliation will come back when again the ensign of the Republic will stream over every rebellious fort of every Confederate State. (Renewed cheers.) Then, as of old, the ensign of the pride and power, and dignity and majesty, and the peace of the Republic will return. (Loud applause.) Young men of New York — young men of the United