[89] the world. (Applause.) If we are defeated, the last experiment of self-government will have failed and we will have written with our own hands the epitaph of human liberty. We will have no flag, we will have no government, no country, and no Union; we will cease to be American citizens, and the despots of Europe will rejoice in the failure of the great experiment of republican institutions. The liberties of our country and of the world will have been intrusted to our care, and we will have dishonored the great trust and proved ourselves traitors to the freedom of our country and of mankind. This is not a sectional question — it is not a Northern or a Southern question. It is not a question which concerns our country only, but all mankind. It is this, Shall we by a noble and united effort sustain here republican institutions, or shall we have secession and anarchy to be succeeded by despotism, and extinguish forever the hopes of freedom throughout the world? God grant you, my dear countrymen, courage, and energy, and perseverance, to maintain successfully the great contest. You are fighting the last great decisive battle for the liberties of our country and of mankind — faint not, falter not, but move on-ward in one great column for the maintenance of the constitution and the Union. Remember it was a Southern man, a noble son of Kentucky, (Major Anderson,) who so gloriously sustained the flag of our country at Fort Sumter, and never surrendered that flag. He brought it with him to New York, and there it is, held in the hands of Washington, in that marble column now before us representing the Father of his Country, and whose lips now open and urge us, as in his Farewell Address, to maintain the constitution and the Union. And now, whilst I address you, the news comes that the city of Washington, founded by the Father of his Country and bearing his sacred name, is to be seized by the legions of disunion. Never. Never must or shall this disgrace befall us. That capital must and shall be defended, if it requires every Union man in America to march to its defence. And now, then, fellow-citizens, a desperate effort is made to make this a party question — a question between Democrats and Republicans. Well, fellow-citizens, I have been a Democrat all my life and never scratched a democratic ticket, from Constable up to President, but say to you this is no party question. (Cheers.) It is a question of a maintenance of the Government and the perpetuation of the Union. The vessel of State is rushing upon the breakers, and, without asking who may be the commander, we must all aid in her rescue from impending disaster. When the safety of my country is involved, I will never ask who is President, nor inquire what may be the effect on parties of any particular measure. Much as I love my party, I love my country infinitely more, and must and will sustain it at all hazards. Indeed, it is due to the great occasion here frankly to declare that, notwithstanding my earnest opposition to the election of Mr. Lincoln, and my disposition most closely to scrutinize all his acts, I see thus far nothing to condemn in his efforts to maintain the Union. And now, then, my countrymen, one word more before I close. (Cheers.) I was trained in devotion to the Union by a patriot sire, who fought the battles of liberty during the war of the Revolution. My life has been given to the support of the Union. 1 never conceived a thought or wrote or uttered a word, except in its defence. And now, let me say, that this Union must, will, and shall be perpetuated; that not a star shall be dimmed or a stripe erased from our banner; that the integrity of the Government shall be preserved, and that, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the lakes of the North to the Gulf of Mexico, never shall be surrendered a single acre of our soil, or a drop of its waters. (Loud and long continued cheering.)
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[89] the world. (Applause.) If we are defeated, the last experiment of self-government will have failed and we will have written with our own hands the epitaph of human liberty. We will have no flag, we will have no government, no country, and no Union; we will cease to be American citizens, and the despots of Europe will rejoice in the failure of the great experiment of republican institutions. The liberties of our country and of the world will have been intrusted to our care, and we will have dishonored the great trust and proved ourselves traitors to the freedom of our country and of mankind. This is not a sectional question — it is not a Northern or a Southern question. It is not a question which concerns our country only, but all mankind. It is this, Shall we by a noble and united effort sustain here republican institutions, or shall we have secession and anarchy to be succeeded by despotism, and extinguish forever the hopes of freedom throughout the world? God grant you, my dear countrymen, courage, and energy, and perseverance, to maintain successfully the great contest. You are fighting the last great decisive battle for the liberties of our country and of mankind — faint not, falter not, but move on-ward in one great column for the maintenance of the constitution and the Union. Remember it was a Southern man, a noble son of Kentucky, (Major Anderson,) who so gloriously sustained the flag of our country at Fort Sumter, and never surrendered that flag. He brought it with him to New York, and there it is, held in the hands of Washington, in that marble column now before us representing the Father of his Country, and whose lips now open and urge us, as in his Farewell Address, to maintain the constitution and the Union. And now, whilst I address you, the news comes that the city of Washington, founded by the Father of his Country and bearing his sacred name, is to be seized by the legions of disunion. Never. Never must or shall this disgrace befall us. That capital must and shall be defended, if it requires every Union man in America to march to its defence. And now, then, fellow-citizens, a desperate effort is made to make this a party question — a question between Democrats and Republicans. Well, fellow-citizens, I have been a Democrat all my life and never scratched a democratic ticket, from Constable up to President, but say to you this is no party question. (Cheers.) It is a question of a maintenance of the Government and the perpetuation of the Union. The vessel of State is rushing upon the breakers, and, without asking who may be the commander, we must all aid in her rescue from impending disaster. When the safety of my country is involved, I will never ask who is President, nor inquire what may be the effect on parties of any particular measure. Much as I love my party, I love my country infinitely more, and must and will sustain it at all hazards. Indeed, it is due to the great occasion here frankly to declare that, notwithstanding my earnest opposition to the election of Mr. Lincoln, and my disposition most closely to scrutinize all his acts, I see thus far nothing to condemn in his efforts to maintain the Union. And now, then, my countrymen, one word more before I close. (Cheers.) I was trained in devotion to the Union by a patriot sire, who fought the battles of liberty during the war of the Revolution. My life has been given to the support of the Union. 1 never conceived a thought or wrote or uttered a word, except in its defence. And now, let me say, that this Union must, will, and shall be perpetuated; that not a star shall be dimmed or a stripe erased from our banner; that the integrity of the Government shall be preserved, and that, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the lakes of the North to the Gulf of Mexico, never shall be surrendered a single acre of our soil, or a drop of its waters. (Loud and long continued cheering.)
Van Nostrand. New York, New York. 1862.
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