Newspaper Page Text
Tri-VV eeklj Mepiilijiean,
Amerious, Georgia:
b. W, HANCOCK,
Editor and Proprietor.
TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1807.
S3P*EEC HI
OF
HON. BENJAMIN H. HILL,
ON THE CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY.
DeUvcir ! in the Ofty of Atlanta, Tuesday,
July hUh, 1807.
[.iKpmirrn by j. iiesly i^mlth.]
Ladies and F,d!ow Citizens ■■ •
Human govornnnnts, like everything else
humau, naturally tend to decay. They can
only be pccscrvcd by constant watcltfulaess,
courage and adherence to correct principles.
These remarks apply with unusual force to
tree govern men t®, which arc the most diffi
cult of all to maintain. It we, the people
of the Uniietl .Slate- 5 , were the iirst in hi.-to
ry who hud attempted the experiment of liv
ing und r a democratic or republican form of
government, we might be excused if we fail
ed to discover thesvmptoms of apr rosrhing
death, and to apply the remedies to preserve
our liberty and the blessings we have hither
to enjoyed lint we arc not the first who
have made this experiment. Other people
have had Commonwealths, Republics und
Democracies, which have risen and fallen times
almost without number. 1 but asst rt a great
truth—on which finds no contradiction or
exception in all history-—when Isay that the
great leading amt substantial causes of the
decay o£ Ireidom in all countries, have ever
been tile same. 11mv inexcusable must we
he if we f .it to discover the symptoms, and
how cowardly ami recreant if we fad to ap
ply the peeper remedy to prevent eo loci a
death!
No people ever commenced (o build.tip a
free government under such favorable ;us
-picesus we. Wlmt a climate, soil, vanetv
of productions R-. I material resources, do we
possess; and what an ancestry and what a
common s'Higgle fur liberty did our father
pass through.'-! Did any people ever before
commence with such a vantages? Rome
commenced us a small city and was despised
by ihe barbarians around it. She extended
her power by her arms, and increased until
at last she became mistress of the world. We
commenced with such a people, country and
productio, sas no people ever bad before,
and we had fewer dissensions and elements
of discord, than any people .ever stiff -red from;
and Providence, as if to separate tis from the
crimes and corrupting influences of the old
world, spread puit this great continent be
fore us, with tile wide nto s' parate us (mm
them, with no inliueii e of monarchy, and
oppressive system to tiueu.cn or make war
upon us. II we fail, it w ill be by our own
Jolly. What excuse can we render to our pos
terity and to the world, if we, in-ILis day,
with the lessons of history before us, allow
free institutions to perish on this continent ?
And our race will,have been the soonest run.
We have not yet lived a century It is but
seventy-eight years since the Cunstitaiion was
formed, and bat ninety one years since inde
pendence wpsdeclared by our fathers, while
the commonwealth of Rome lived four him
dred years before the measures winch pto
ducedher decay were proposed. What a
spectacle ! The best people, the richest soil,
the most valuable productions, established
as if by the Providence of God, as anew era
in the history of the world—and bidding lair
to be the shortest lived of any free govern
ment in the history of nations !
There is no difficulty-whatever-—and T as
sert it without fear of contradiction—in dis
covering when and how a nation is dying. 1
cannot now 7 go into an analysis of all the
symptoms of national decay and death. Il
is only important to present the leading one
which controls all others—which existing,
produces ail others, and which being reme
died cures all others, ’1 lieu hear it.- the
great symptoms of'i lie decay and death of a
government is thu disregard of the j-'l'ndamen
tai. law of that government: Whenever a
people become to treat !i inly tlieirown fun
damental law, they have arrived at the most
dang'-rous pint that is possible, short of en
tire destruction. Republics, above ail other
kind of governments, are maintained by re
spect for law- If toe'people of the United
.States fail to have a "Snared regard for their
own law —wliich is not lute that of other na
tions, to lie ascertained by argument, by de
cisions. or by search, but is a plain and wise
ly written Constitution —they will deserve
the awful fate that awaits them ; and lie who
disregards its plain language lias no excuse
to shield himself from the infamy of a tiai
tori [Applause."j 1 charge before Heaven
and the American people, tins day, l hat eve
ry evil by which we have be'-n afflicted is
attributable directly to the violation of the
Constitution. Tinkers may work, quacks
may prescribe, and demagogues may d< ceivc,
but I declare to you that there is no remedy
for us, and ho lmpe to escape the threatened
evils, but in adhering to the (''institution.
Fellow-Citizens : Pardon me while I say
that in presenting my views, 1 think of no
living man, individually, to whom my re
marks arc to apply. I have come to talk
Ireely. to you about the danger of the coun
try. * Lillie minds ascribe little objects to
those whose views they do not agree with,
and he has attained an uuenviable reputation
whose friends say “you nftan him,” when I
am speaking of treachery and showing the
evil consequences of a certain line, of policy.
I have no personal attacks to make on un
enemy, wen if 1 have one- Cod knows if
I could, with my own hands. I would gladly
place a crown of imperishable honor on my
most bit ter foe. if I could thereby rescueinv
country Iron* the perils that environ it!—
(Applause. | But if 1 have an enemy, and
have a vindictive spirit, and desired him to
become forever infamous, I could ask no mare
of him titan that lie should support the hel
lish schemes of those who are now seeking
to subvert the Constitution and and -stray our
libertv. lie-is digging a grave for himself
which posterity will t ever water with a tear.
Let him aioue. Ila t come to discuss the
present phase of the revolution.
We have had a war which raged furious
ly for tour years. it orig natfd simply in a
difference of opinion as to our lights under
the Constitution. This difference existed
from the first. It existed among the framers
of the Constitution. It could not be settled
by argument, and an appeal was made to the
sword, ii was an open, manly fignt, 'J here
was nothing secrequr ambiguous in the issue.
It was waged by men influenced in the mass
es by palri-hic cm-,lions on both sides; and
it was to destroy ihe Constitution, but to as
sert on each side their t'iTercnt views! On
our side it was asscrledjt.ai thc_f?tales were
separate aqd independent Sovereignties and.
that the Constitution was u compact which
each party was at liberty to dissolve at .will,
andYo we seceded and declared ourselves
out of. the Union. On the other hand, it
was contended that we were libt out of tlfe
Union—nowilhstanding our secession acts;
am] that the Constitution was not a compact
but a binding law upon the States resulting
from a compact, and therefore no one of the
number could dissolve the connection at will.
Upun this issue we went to war. The war
was fought unfit we laid down our arms and
agreed to what our enemies said —that wo
were in the Union.
But t here is now another question tosettle.
It is still within’thc range of argument. Its
proportions are huge. The issues are start
ling. It is not a difference of Qirk l km as to
wlmt 1l»e Con.-timtiim mean3. and what are
our rights under it, but its object is plainly,
unmistakably,to set MidetheConstitution and
provide something else. 1 ha.e never doubt
ed that we were coming to this issue. In
speeches made by me, five, six, eight, and ten
years ago, i predicted this, and every page of
our history since that time has verified the
correctness of the prediction. The people
of the North honestly love the Constitution,
but the leaders there bate it and intend to
dost royjt, and the convulsions through which
we have passed has thrown the opportunity
df making tlie effort into their hands, and
the present military bills and the one which
is not yet promulgated as law, are the mi ans
adopted to accomplish their design. These
bills are proposed for our acceptance. There
is a remarkable feature in these measures,
that while force is employed to execute them,
they are yet nominally submitted to us lor
our acceptance or rejection.
1 object to the whole scheme, because it is
unconstitutional. A distinguished man—p>r
ilou me. 1 ought to say a notorious individ
ual—said to me a few days ago, that 1 ought
not to waste time to prove the unconstitu
tionality of tin sc measures—a tiling which
every man, woman and child iu the country
km w —uni y t lie was fa 7 accepting ! He
.-poke mttiifu ly. That, tottering, gray-hair
ed candidate in Pennsylvania, for perpetual
infamy, who.is building for himself a monu
ment. of malignity that will over-lop lhe pyr
amids of Egypt, said the Constitution had
nothing to do with it. I shall never g tdope
shuddering, and horrors wHlm-ver cease to
rise up in my mind, when I see men taking
the oath to support the Constitution, and
then legislating to putin force measures out
side of if. A great many of nor people flip
pantly say the Const out ion Is dead. Then
your rights, and hopes for the future, and
’all hopes for your children arc dead. I ask
every man, if the Constitution is dead, why
are we always, every day, and at pvery new
step, required to take an oath to support it?
Now, I affirm that these nii’itary bills are
not only contrary to Ihe Constitution but di
rectly in‘he face of the amnesty oath you
were required to take after the surrender.—
The Government thought proper, in accept
jng you' 7 submission to take your oath to
support the Constitution of the United
States ami the Union of the States. Why
was that oath required if the Constitution
was ffi ad ?
But it is saidjthe ConstituMonMoes not ap
ply to us. Then don’t swear to support it.
But it is said again that we aie not in the
Union. Then why swear, to support the
Union of these States? What “Union”
does that mean ? When you took that oatli
v,-as it tiie Union of the Northern States
alone that you swore to support? What
business have you with that, Union? No,
it is tiie Union of all the States known to
the Constitution that you have sworn to sup
port.
But they say that oath was prescribed by
the President, and that he is not loyal. Then
T must answer a fool according to his folly,
and a traitor according to his treason. ’What
do they require who passed these bills—this
military Juggernaut? They require every
man who registers ids name to vote, to swear
to support tiie Constitution, and counsel and
persuade others to dossando —and still it is said
the Constitution has nothing !o do with if 1
They say the scheme is outside of the < 'onsti
tution, and yet in the process of carrying it
out. they require an oath to support the Con
stitution and to counsel and per.-uado others
to do SO 1 That is more than Mr. Johnson
ever required in the Oath which he prescri
bed.
It is my business to support the Constitu
tion, and my duty and pleasure to persuade
Olliers to do so. Some of you who'f'avor the
acceptance of the military bills take an oath
to this effect, and still intend to vote for a
Convention which you admit to bo ordered
contrary to Ihe Constitution ! How is this ?
If you have a conscience, I have said enough.
If you vote for a convention you are I'IIR
JUREI)! [Tremendous applause.] O! 1
piby the race of'lie colored people who have
never been taught what an oath is, lior what
the Constitution means. They are dr uvn up
by a selfish conclave of traitors to inflict a
death-blow 7 upon the life of the Republic by
swearing them to a falsehood. They are to
begin their political life by perjury to accom
plish treason ! 1 would no! visit the penal
ty upon them. They are neither legally nor
morally responsible, but it is you—educated,
designing white men—who thus devoteyour
selves to the unholy work—who are the guil
ty paities f You prate about your loyalty !
1 100 ■ you in 'he eye and denounce you !
[Applause.] You are morally and legally
perjured traitors! You perjure yourselves!
and perjure the poor negro to ln-lp yourtrea- !
sou! [lmmense applause.] You can’t es-!
cape it! You may boast of it now, while j
passion is rife, but time will come when the
very thought will wither your soul and make j
you hide from the face of mankind 7
I shall discharge the obligation of the
amnesty oath. It required me to support |
the Constitution and the emancipation of the j
negro, and 1 do. I will not bind my soul to j
anew slavery, to hell, by violating it. I j
talk plainly, but I simp v want to strike '
through the in crust rat ion of the hardened con- j
science, and make men ieel and realize their ,
true situation.
I have proved that these military bills vio- j
late the Constitution, and that you in carry
ing them out, violate it ami your amnesty
oath aad your registry oath. And what is ,
your purpose ? It must be-a great good you j
seek to induce you to commit so much crime j
and folly.
Sometimes men wink at what is by strict
technicalities wrong in the ind.vidual, to ac
complish some gieat good to the public. I
do not recognize tlie correctness ot such ac
tion : but what do you propose by trampling
up&n the Constitution und violating your
own solemn oaths? Is it to save the {State
and preserve liberty ? This is not the object,
but the purpose is as infamous as the measures j
resorted to to effect it. You first pro; se to
abrogate your State governments bv author
ity of the so-called Congress—a mere con- j
clave of a portion of the members
of that body." By whom is this dicta
ted ? The principle that whoever forma a
government should form itjfor themselves I
a well a; other?. i : a correct one; but the .
men whq propose this for, ns do not live in
any of the tern States to be effected by tbeir
legislation, it is not made to an it- either
white orblacli, or any otbei 7 elgS? oi Otirpep
ple, but to suit tbemeetejA whileptliey are
not affected by it.- and fT-Ton net upon their
proposition, in a manner to suit yourselves,
you wilt not be accepted by them ; nay, yon
violate tiie Constitution to subveit the goy
crriindht. And by carryihg out these meas
ures you disfranchise your own.people. Sup
pose you ci ncede, fur argument, that it is
right to enfranchise all the negroes ; if Ibis
be right, by what principle of law or morals,
do we disfranchise the white people? “Oh,
but,” you sav, “the whites have been rebels.”
Then they should ail !>e disfranchised, and
not a part of them. Besides, the govern
ment you ore to frame is to be a civ ll gov
ernment, and last for all time, and for peace,
when there can be no rebels. I sec it slated
that Gen. Sickles lias advised that the dis
franchising feature be repealed or modified,
and for the reason that tiie enfranchised class
are not fit to fill the offices. Well, if he has
done so, lie has acted wisely, and shown him
self capable of appreciating one truth. And
it is a great truth—owe that will hide a mul
titude of sins; and it might be well lor bis
fame il this recommendation alone could be
remembered of Dis administration. In the
face of tiie tact that a republican govern
meat can rest upon and be perpetuated only
by the virtue and intelligence of the people,
you propose to exclude die most intelligent
from participating in the Government for
ever.
You will, by these measures inaugurate a
war of races. A people who will abrogate
their own government and disfranchise the
most intelligent of them at the dictation of
those who arc not to be effected thereby, ami
live under the dictation of a forego power,
have no conscience ; but if you have a con
science 1 hope to reach it. By all you hold
dear, I warn you that byacceptiug these mil
itary bills you inaugurate a measure that will
exterminate the African race. Some of you
j who have come among us arc taking tiie ne
| gro by the arm—telling him that you are his
fiend, and ilia t you gave him his liberty ! —•
Ye hypocrites 1 Ye whited sepulchres ! Ye
mean in your heart to deceive and buy up
the negro vote for your utrri benefit. The
negroes know no better; but I would ask
them; If these men are faithless to the
Constitution of th; country, l o.v can they
be faithful to you ? Yet these men admit in
the very act that they are disregarding the
Constitution ! They take an oath to support
it with the purpose and intent formed be
forehand to violate It, and vote for measures
contrary to it. They are not fit to be trust
ed by any animal, dog or man. Such a mail
would betray bis pointer, and such a woman
sell her poodle ! They arc not capable of
being the friends of am body but themselves]
I don’t pity the whites so much who are to
suffer by these measures “You knew jour
duty but did it not,” und if you are beaten
with many stripes we have the authority of
Scripture for saying your punishment is just;
bat tusee the Africans led offby a claptrap
which they done midei stand, and used because
they don’t understand it, and thus led to the
slaughter by men who are faithless to every
principle, under ihe belief that they are be
ing elevated and exercising God given lights,
is enough to make any man feel sick at heart
and experience tiie and .'pest pity for the un
fortunate race.
This is not the first time that such things
have been attempted- Unfortunately, ilit-ie
have before been both i'ools and knaves in
the world, and some of you, it would seem,
will not learn wisdom from die 1.-s.-ons of tiie
past. If the Coiisii ution is dead, we are
outside of it, and, pray, what government
have wo? Wo have nothing, in that case,
but tiie will of an unlawful conclave, and
don t you know that this means only anar
chy and tlmn despotism and tyranny?—
What inducement is held out to von to ac
cept their propositions ? You say it is to get
back into tiie Union; and for this you are
willing to.submit to disfranchiement and the
inauguration of a policy that tends to a war
| of races! all to get back into (lie Union
just where you are already, and always were !
What dn you want to get back into that
sort of a Union for? If you are not now iu
it. what can you expect by getting in such 113
they present to you ? You say it is to get
representation in the Union ! Is not Kentucky
in the Union? Has she any representation?
: Tiie telegraph informs us that a resolution
[ inis been introduced into the so-c.al’ed Con
; g'ess making inquiries whether Maryland,
: Delaware and K entucky hare State Govern
; meats or not! Are you so stupid as not to
' see what all this means? The result will be
I the substitution of the Radical party for all
! governments, both State and Federal ; and
the substitution of Radical will for all law !
Take that home with von and d'gest it. That's
where you are going! Kentucky js excluded
from representation because it is alleged her
representatives were voted for by disloyal
men. What is meant by disloyal? Every
man who does not support (he Radical party
will soon be declared disloyal, and every
t-ttnto which docs not vote the Radical ticket
will be disloyal, and her government illegal.
I tell you, unless patriotism shall wake up
from tiie stun which the horrid confusion of
war has given it, the radical party will be
our only government, and radical will a»r
nly law.
1 look for this revolution to go on. Wh. ev.
or thinks this war upon (lie Canstitutiun will
stop with the ten states, is a madman or vim.
pletnn to bv pitied, or a knave to lie demised.
I have expected them to take charge 01 Con
necticut, because she dared to elect, a Govern ■
or that did not naiee with the Radical party :
and sure enough Sumner, in a bite tetter,
strikes that key note. He says a similar hilt
for all the States is a Fl.ort cut to universal
suffrage. The so called Congress, immediate 7
ly on its meeting, took charge of Kentucky
and excluded her whole delegati 1 u with one
exception. If they can reject these, they can
reject every one who differs with them, and
they will do so, and they will receive only
those who will agree with them These they
will receive. I care uot what may have been
their sins heretofoic . if the very worst seers.
Bionist in a.l Ihe laud, will whine around the
streets and eav he is radical now, he is as good
11s tiie saints in Heaven fur radical purposes,
[applause] They cue not for race or color,
or for antecedents ; if you ny.v favor radical
schemes y 11 are loyal, and if y ou oppose them
you ar disloyal !
But you say you are in favor of going into
the Union, because if you do not, your prop
e-ity will be. C' nli Gated A gentleman of this
city, tifew days ago, said to me that be was in
favor of the acceptance of these military bills,
because be thought it the best we could do.
I said to him : “Yon do not say that for your
self. but for your brick stores J” [Applause ]
But you are not half so wise as you are kna
vish ! You would lose the Constitution and
the country to save year brick stores, and
then by your very course you will lose your
brick stores also 1 lam ashamed to talk or
use argument in time of peace ! It : s a war
power, not known to international flaw except
as a war power, to be used only in time of
war, upon an enemy's goods ! Confiscation iu
time of peace is neither more nor less than
ROOKERY 1
But you say they have got the power and
! they wH) exercise it, unless we do as they hid
us Aud will you iu this case abandon your
' only Votection ? I' is dkeg.dug out into the
highway and surrendering your- purse to the
robber to keep him from taking it L
I I could introduce a great deal of. high au-*
thoiiTy to establish this point, but I will not
j insult tiie radical portion of this audience by
reading from any authority them except
from a Massachusetts Judge- Hero is what be
says :
“It ’ha- been supposed that if the govern,
moot have the rights of a betigerenf, then,
*»fUtr the rebellion is supplied, it will have
the rights of conquest ; that a State and its
inhabitants may he permanently divested of
all political privileges, and tieated as a
foreign territoi y acquired by arms. 1 his is
nn orror, a grave anil dangerous error. Bel
ligerent rights -cannot be exercised *whe*p
there are no belligerents. ’’
That is what I said: ‘ Confiscation is only a
war measure, and ceases with the war.’
Again :
“ When the United States take possession
of a rebel district, they merely vindicate their
pre existing title. Under despotic govern*
meets the right of confiscation may be un*
limited ; but under our government the
right of sovereignty over any portion of a
State is given and limited by the Constitution,
and will be the same after the war as it was
before.
There is one Lot. in Massachusetts, and if
Abraham were alive to.*day I would have him
pray t<> God to spare that State arul liust it
not only to ten men, but even to one
There is at least one good man in it, and.he
i> a Judge, and dares to proclaim to alf that
s enrity to property is givuu by the (Jonstitu.
I lion "the same after as b< fore the war And
i now I will read for the patriots of the attdh
| cnee st lnHhing from the most dietinguithed
i of alljvviiters on interna ional law :
i '“When a sovereign, arrogatir-g to 1 himself
I the absolute disposal if a people l e has con
j qur red. attempts to reduce them to slavery
he perpetuatee the state of warfare between
that nation and himself. (Should ii be said
; that in such a case, there may be p a e and a
I kind of compact by which the conqueror con
j seftts to spare the lives of the vanquished on
; condi ion that they a knowledge themselves
1 lrss’av s : he who makes such an assertion
j is iirr.or >.nt that war gives no right to take
| away ‘he life of an enemy who has laid down
i his.; m ‘ind submitted, but let us not-dispute
i the tom* : Let the man who holds such
I principle* of jurisprudence keep them for Ids
: own use and benefit ;he ayi 11 deserve to be
subjected to such a law I’u men cf spirit to
whom life is nothing -less than not long, un
less sweetened wiih lib.nty, will always con
I ceive themselves at war with that opprt&tmr,
| though ftoiu and tns iiiiius are suspendjd on
I th -ir put, tliro ;gU want of abilitv.”
! Mv friends > Iris was written by a man who
t lived in despotic times, by a man who was
' taught under a despotic government* and
! how his love of liberty and law eharxic3 the
i praters ab lit loyalty in free Atr ei’ca !
! But I will dwell no un re on ibis subject;—
Gorifiscaiion is the law of enemies iu w.«r, and
in peace it is the iaw of ihe robber. If they
have the will to rob you, you will never es
cape by submitting to their power L you
| suhnji , give up the law and substitute the
will of the robber, he bub'ly avows that it is
Isis purp -v, not* t> give he b k man lii<
i rights, our to biing about such measur p and
i ti, shape things us to perpetuate the mie of
i th>- radic.l party! Every man who joint*
i ihepa ty and can svtisfy them that he wi.l
j sincerely help in thin work, will be. accepted
t hey will pul th-. ir aims around your n ek
i a:;-d call you brolhera. [Applause] Y<u
jean makea'iieid of the devil upon these
j same term-, [Laughter and applause.] and
! there is but liitle and If-re nee between them,
j [Great applause ] If y u please the one
1 you will goto the other, and lam not sure
but you will get what you deserve but I object
ito your taking the country with you. [lm
I mei se applause ]
But. U, it is sad to eee the Constitution
trao p’c-I upon and the c/untry destroyed,
| oidy to perpetuate their hel.ish dynasty ; and
| then to st e some of our own people j in iu
l this unholy work, calling upon us i*> submit
j and laconic the agents of ctir own dishonor !
! This is sad, sorrowful, aud ii lls me with
shame !
i These bills propose at every step to abr
; gate the Constitution --trample up n t.j
i Suiffe ah*' its laws to hint our eve y '
I ro pmjure every man whoarcvpit. them, with
every principle of honor, justice and safety
; disieg&'ded -—ail to perpetuate the power of
i their wicked authors Oau this scheme sue
| ceed ? vvill it eucceed ? That is the ques
| tiou. I feel truly thankful in my heart that
| I have an answer which lifts my soul amidst
all the gloom and the apprehension of the hour
Some of you may not aj prociate it, but to me
is tiie only oasis in the desert : This scheme
' will never, never succeed, and 1 proclaim its
I ultimate failure todiy in your hearing.—
| [Unbounded applause.] 1 know that some
; think it will Jhe air is full of tire ot
1 those who proclaim that there is no power to
j prevent it. Men have b fore this been weak
j aud foolish, and cowards and traitors have be
| fore believed as you talk now, but I have a
• reason for this faith that is in me, which is
j absolutely sublime in the strength of its form
deti< ns
Ist It will fail because it is not possible to
perpetuate a govevernment of force under the
form of a democracy I( may take come time
to comprehend this thought, but though you
will not forge: it That which is n>w proposed
is force. It i by men who do not live in this
Srate, and whose agents do not live here ;
.audit fs sought to acccmpu.-h by military
power, but under the pretence of your sane
tiou—not to please yourselves, but them
There is not an instance in history where a
: government of force has been perpetuated
i unde* Ihe form of free institutions. It is an
j impossibility,, and cau never succeed, [ip
: piiuse ]
' 2 1 But it is sought to be accomplished by
deceit »*nd fraud, which cannot much longer
! esc>pedetection. Trie masses of tlie people
j of the North love the Constitution and fought
I for it and the Union, hut the leaiers did not
: tight for it, an ! do not love it ; and they now
! seek to destroy it under* pretence that we
, must give some fiuther guarantee for our
| future good behavior than merely supporting
I the Constitution. As soon as the means by
j which tlaeir deceit and fraud have been cov
! ered are removed, the scheme will be crashed
•ro death by the people. It is a doubled
j shop*, and monster, like the sentinel at Hcll^ate,
! whi 1) can live nowhere except in a political
I pandemonium
And what must be Ihe results? I do not
I '-ay we will come out of all this with free in.
; titutions preserved, but this scheme can
never succeed, A despotism over the whole
! country and overall the people guilty and in,
; accent alike may ensue. You'll fail but you
| may bring ruin upon all Whenever vou
puh down the temple of liberty, you also will
be crushed by the fail. You caunot level or
lower us and elevate yourselves. We must
either a*l rise or all go down together. Des.
pot fern may come, empires may rise and fall
among ns, but whether they do or do not, we
shall not have the reign of a Radical party
Understand m: If 1 say a man cannot live
high up in tr.e air, I do noc mean that ho
cannot go up in a balloon arid remain for a
1 time ; or if any man cannot live under water,
i Ido not say that he cannot go down in adi
j ving bell and remain awhile ; but the lladici
1 afe will as certainly fail to perpetuate their
' power under this ecin me, as that a man will
; fail who attempts to dwell in the air, or
drown who muktg his homo under water.
''Uch a government would be unnatural—a
j political monstrosity, ad cannot possibly
| iastj; but you may destroy the forms as well
] as the principles of free gjve’nment, and then
i you vill have a monarchy, an autocracy, an
! empire, or a despotism, as the case may ho.
Ihf* very scheme was attempted in Rome
by much bottqt men thanyqu Rftlioals are, ‘
arid for a icanou Ilian you give.
It is not original with you. You are but
plagiarizing traitors -at btßt, arid get your
hctleme fibril the c iminals of long ago If
I did steal I would tiy to steal bomething
better aud from a more respectable source j
If you will examine and compare with
former times, the production of such men us
Phillips and Sumner, and their lesser I
followers and second-hand plagiarize™ down j
South, you will find all their miserable j tv-.
gou about “liber.y and equality'* the “natur- |
«1 light of man" and “the born right of ,
manhood suffrage/' are borrowed from the '
m< n who fomented social and civil war in
Homo, and which have been repeated in t veiy
4ge since, by' those who have no statesman*;
ship but the devilish ability of exciting ig
noiant men toe it each otheis' throats.
l ulflican Rome had an immense number of
-laves and freedmeu, and non voting citizens.
She bad h landed aristocracy embracing com
paiatively few of her people.
An agrarian law proposed, and for a time
was immensdy pt \ ular, but it failed and its
first author was slain, llis brother renewed
the law and enlarged it by proposing suffrage
to the slaves and freedmeu with equal politic
ill light?. It was "said “there could be no
freedom without equality Put tin? b o her
also perished- Then a great general beta me
the leader of the Radicals of that day, and he
had more fame and merit and ability and
honesty than all the Radical party of this day
combined but he aiso f. i ed. And wl y did
th»y fail ! Because they were attempting to
engraft, a government of force and rob per y
upon lepuulican forms attempting the ao
sitid task of making equal things which God
had made unequal -attempting equality by
taking that which industrious and frugal
men had made an.l given it to thnfrte&dvagi
honds, and by depositing in the keeping of
ignorance and vice, powers and tru.-ts w hich
intelligence alone can know how to exercise
and preserve
Put by the struggle Republican Rome per
ished and never knew liberty again. Nor was
this all; her bictoiy from the beginning of the
Agrarian at tempt, was one of blood, and fac
tion, and waste, and ruin, until the goal of
Empire wa^reached In the social and civil
wars which maike.d the struggle, more than
seven hundred thousand of her best citizens
were slain, and laa-id.-s these, whole Popula
lions of sane < \ her mod populous tciritorivs
wese exterminated.
It may be that we « f the United States
have been so eiazv in leaving the Coast itu
tionr— the only Ark of safety that* ur Heaven l
ly Father has dtM.med us to potffih, but I am
gratified with ft hope that it is not so. II not,
there is but one net hod for our rescue, and
that by a prompt restoration of the Uonsti
union. Will it come? Will we e.-cqie an
agaiian war, with resulting despoti-m, aud
save cur institutions for our children ? I
hope we shall ; I believe.we shall. Though
,i great iffort is being made a designed effort
—to destiny us as Rome was destroyed, 1 be
lieve the: itfjrt will fail I have great faith
in Anglo-baxou blood. I deiive g.ea/ encour
agement from Anglo histoiy. Our
liberty was not bora ia a d»y It is not the
\vm kof one generation. It is the fruit of a
hundred struggles, and its guaranties have
been protecting for eight hundred years.-a
ireu»y have been the efforts todestioy itl
Often the English Constitution was tramplerW
on Often tmitors sought to substitute m bit,
ary will for well eslaU:die«l law, and often
have the people for a time been misled. But
thus far they have always waked up and call
ed the (labors and factionists to account
Charles I trampled on the Constitution. !■
had judges that decide 1 that his will was tfm
law, and all who resisted that will and de
fended the Constitution were punished as dis
loyal. And it did seem as if his power was
irresistible. No doubt if you weak-kneed
Radicals of the South had lived in that day
you would have Slid, “the Constitution is
dead and we must consent to what we cannot
resist/' But John llampden would not con
sent. lie re.-dsted. He was tried as a ciimin
al for resisting, and was condemed, But
what was the sequel ? The people finally as
serted their power Charles and his ministers
pmUhed The very judges that coudemt ed
Hampden were themselves tiied and condemn
.•«f <ih eiiitiinats, aud the very officers, even
the sheiiSe, who ex cuted the orders of
Oh. -1 J: an• i Ills courts, .vc.re sued by the citi
z ns for damages, and had to pay nearly a
million of dollars for executing the processes
of a void, uuc .nstitutjonal law ! For a time
traitors held the power and trampled on
rights, but vengeance came, and peipotuai
infamy followed.
So Cromwell and his parliament violated
the Constitution, and though they also Hour
ished for a season, they too were overthrown.
S » James IC. trampled on the Constitution,
and had to fly from the kingdom a fugitive
lor life, lo aJi these struggles good men, for
a time, suffered, and bad men. itiled but the
English race have never yet faded to rescue
their Constitution from tiie power both of
traitors and fanatics.
1 tel! you the American people will not al
ways he deceived. They will lise in defense
of their Constitution, and traitors will trem
ble 'they who rallied three million st r oug
to defeat what they considered an armed
saulton the Constitution and Umion, will uofc
sleep until a few hundred traitors from be
hind the masked battery of Congressional
oaths and deceptive pretentions of lowilty
shall utterly batter down the Consti
tution and Union for ever. I warn you,
boastfully, vindictive Radicals, by the history
of your own fathers, by every instinct of man
hood, by every right of 1 berty aud every im
pulse of justice that the day is coming when
you will reel (lie power of an outraged and
betrayed people. [Applause,] Go on conlis'
eating ! Arrest without warrant or probable
cause ; destroy habeas corpus ; deny trial by
jury ; abrogate State governments ; defile
your own iace, and flippantly say the Consti
tution is dead ! On, on with your work of
ruin, ye hell-born rioters in sacred things !
but remember for all these things the people
will call you to judgment. (Prolonged ap
plause ) Ah! wbal an issue you have made
for ourselves. Succeed and you destroy the
Constitution ! Fail, and you have covered
the land with mourning. Succeed, and you
bring ruin upon yourselves and all the coun
try ! Fail, and you bring infamy upon your
selves and all your deluded followers ! Sue
ceed, and you are the perjured assassins of
liberty ! Fail, and you are defeat*d ; despised
traitors forever ! Vo who aspire to be Radic
al Governors and judges in Georgia. 1 paint
before you this day your destiny. (Unbound
ed applause ) You are but cowards and
knaves, and the time will come when you
will call upon the rocks aud mountain to fall
on you and the daikness to hide you from
an outraged people. (Applause )
Does it do you good to trample on the Con.
stitution—deceive the negroes and ruin the
c mntry ? It may be sweet now, but I tell
you the sulphurous fires of public infamy wall
never be quenched on your spirits iAp
plause.) Ipi tty you from my soul. Would
that the time w »uld never come when 1 had
to stand upon Georgia’s soil and thus talk to
Georgians. A struggle is coming. It may
be a long and bloody one and you who advo.
cate this wicked scheme will parish in it un.
less the people now arise aud check its con*
surnatiou Let eveiy true law-loving man
tally at once to the standai i of the Constitu
tion of his country. (Applause) Do not
abandon your rights Defend them. Talk
for them, aud if need be, before God and the
country, fight and die for thepD. (buihusias*
tie and prolonged applause.] Do not talk
or think of disuniou or secession, but come
up to the god old platform of our fathers
the Constitution. Let all, North and fcouth,
Come and swear before God that we will abide
by its good faith, and oppose everything that
violate it. The man who loves the Oonsti- j
tut ion now, and is willing to live and die for
it, is my friend and bpoiher, though become
faom he frozen peak of Mount Washington ; !
and the man who is for trampling upon it is j
my enemy, and I shall hold him so, though
he come from the 6tmny clime of the oranges
aud the cotton bloom. That is my issue 1
Oh how sorry a creature Is the man who
cannot gtund up for the truth when the
country is in danger. There never wai such
an opportunity as now exists for a umu to
show of what he is made.
How can you go about the street and say,
“all'is wrong but I cary of help it V Yen
»vant courage my fiiend ! You are a coward ! i
You like ceurage to tell the truth and would i
Bell your birthright for a temporaly mess of i
pottage, even for a little bit of a Judgeship or
of a F.u eau Officer's place.
But someone says : “H *w will vou leftist !
it ?' I will lesist it first by not approving it. I
If everybody would do that it would be
effectually resisted so far as we are concerned.
But the so-called Congress has provided a
over for itsself in advance, under which to |
hide from the odium attaching to this scheme. !
It has piovided that you can vote either for
or against whatever constitution it may
frame. It is sought to make us responsible
L»r whatever may be the const quences and
relievo them. After a while when you become
alarmed at the results, they will say, “We
did not do this . We only gave you a
chance and you d:d it ”
But if we defeat this it is said, military
rule will continue Certainly until wicked
men shall be diiven fr m power. But lot it
beso. General Pope seems to be a gentle*
man, and 1 infinitely prefer IBs rule to Ihe
rule of such men as yon will get under this
scheme. ILsidop, the new government, if in*
augura ed, will trot bo able io Hc-tday with.,
oat mili ary pr teeii< a His safer to be gov
erned by pow. r than treachery
P.rhaps you will think I have overdrawn
the picture of the fearful consequences of
neoepliug lliia -scheme. I recollect an inci
dent which occurred over six years ago, when
I urged the people of Georgia not to secede,
because the country would thereby fall into
Ilie hands of Radicals, and \ redieted war and
itsattendant sufferings as thijresuit—though
then deemed visionary. I would be almost
ashamed now to read'my remarks of that day
—my p clure would be so tame and so far
short of the dreadful reality that has follow
ed. Avery prominent gentleman implied to
me, urging that there would be no war, and
to prove ii k he read an article from Horae ;
Greeley’s Tribute, and old Ben. Wade’s
speech declaring the South had a right to se
cede, and if she chose to exercise .that rigid,
they should be allowed to do so in. peace.—
He then said that Greeley and Wade were
better friends of the South than I, who was
i born hero, for I was trying to frighten the
Southern people from t he exercis * of a right
which they conceded, and they wore represent
(alive men ol their party. What could I say
in reply?- I could only tell him the truth
that these men only desired toefioourage the
South to disunion for their wicked purposes
to destroy the Constitution : and that a great
government could not be dissolved without
blood; and what have Greeley and Wade
dqpe since that time;‘and now I advise you
to reject this seiseuk) of force, fraud and de
l ceit whidi Congress has devised. If you, of
voin* own free will, submit to it, you will me
■ie consequences.of it.
I I advise you to register. There is no dis
honor in that. It is aiming yourself with
®n important power to be wielded against
the nefarious scheme, but don’t vote for a
Convention—don’t go for anything whatever
which is an assent to the scheme, but be
against it at every step- Never go half way
with a traitor, nor compromise with treason
or robbery. If they hold a convention, vote
against ratification—Vote against all their
measures and men. and Indict every one who,
under such void authority,inyadesyour rig ts
according to existing State laws. That’s my
policy. Fight this scheme all the time, f
have no more idea of obeying than John
Hampden had of paying ship money, be
cause I have taken an oatli to support the
Constitution, and I intend to keep it.
This whole scheme is in violation of all
the issues of the war—all the promises du
ring its progress—and the terms of surren
der. More than a hundred thousand men
abandoned Lee's army because they were as
sured if they laid down their arms they would
he iu the Union again with all their rights as
before. 1 knew the promise was false, and
warned you against the seductions of the Sy*
ren. The people—the soldiers of the United
States—were then willing to fulfill the obli
gation: but the politicians intended lo de
ceive you. Such men as Sumner and Ste
vens never intend to carry out the pledge of
the nation* They would acknowledge the
independence of the Confederate Mates to
day. before they would agree to restore the
old Union, even with slavery abolished. I
respect the Northern man who lienestly
fought for the Union, but 1 despise traitors
who, under the name of the Union, have
used the Northern people tc destroy the Con
stitution. The people of the North have
been long discovering this deception, but
they will be compelled to see it before the
traitors can go much further in their work.
liow many peop.e in Atlanta belong to the
“loyal league?" (Laughter) 1 warn all
decent men to abandon such dens. 1 know
t lie times have been such that many have
naturally gone astray. But save yourselves
before it is too late ! Destroy all the eviden
ces of your membership—bind all your corn*
rades to mutual concealment of the fact that
you were members and come out. You arc
pardonable for the past; but if you contin
ue you will be covered with shame and your
very children will disown you. (Applause)
Come join the Patriot’s League. Our only
pledge is to support the Constitution—love
its friends and hate its inemies, and proclaim
our love and hatred at noon-day and from
the house-tops. Save yourselves now , or be
forever lost to decent society and your own
self respect. All the brave and true men
even at the North, respect me this day more
than they do you. The very Radicals will
use, bill even they will despise, the Southern
man who becomes their sycophant.
My colored friends, will you receive a
word of admonition 9 Os all the people, you
will most need the protection of the law.—
You will most suffer by anarchy and usur
pation. Do you believe that the man who is
faithless to the Cons Put ion of the country
will bo faithful to you? If a man will take
an oath to support the Constitution and then
violate it, can you rely upon his keeping any
promise to you? No ; l tell you such pec
pie art friends to nothing but their own in
terest. They are betrayers of the Constitu
tion to keep themselves in office ; they desire
to use you to help them to get office, (ap
plause) and they will betray you whenever
they find it to their interest to do so*
They tell you they are your friends. It is
false; they are your very worst enemies
They tell you they set you free. It is
false. These vile creatures who come among
you and put themselves on a level with vou,
never went with die army except to steal
spoons, jewelry, and gold watches. (Great
applause.) Th y are two low to be brave. -
They arc dirty spawn, cast out from decent
society, who oomo down here and seek to
use you to further their own base purpos
es.
They promise you lands, and teach you to
hate the Southern people, whom you have
known always and never deceived you. Are
you foolish enough to believe you can get
another man’s land for nothing, and that the
white people will give up their* land, without
resistance?
Ify u get ; up strife between your race and
the white race do you not know you must
perish ? You are now ten to on© the weaker
race. You Will grow weaker every day.—
You can have no safety but in the Constitu
tion and no peace except by cultivating rela
tions of kindness with those who are fixed
here, who need your Services, and who are
willing to protect you.
The same experiment which is now being
attempted with you by these Northern knaves
who seek your votes, was attempted by sim
ilar people in France for the negroes in Hay
ti. They passed laws to give the negroes
political equality—abol shed all distinctions
of color—and what was the result? There
was first a war of classes; then a war be
tween the whites on one side and the blacks
and mulattoes qu the other. Then there wr.B
a war between the blacks and mulattoes, and
neither while, black nor mulatto, have seen
peace or prosperity iu Iloyti since.
These men intend your extermination.—
Some of them are writing books in favor of
your extermination, and "I have myself
heard some of them avow that you ought
to be exterminated or driven from the coun
t*y. These are the same people whose fa*
thers found the Indians here. They declar
ed the earth was the Lord’s and belonged to
his saints, and that they were his saints. —
Then they killed and drove off the poor In
dian and took his lands. If you do not
make and keep friends of the Southern peo
ple, your fate is that of the Indians! Woe
to your race! You well know your race is
not prepared to vote* Why do yon care to
do what, you dont understand? Improve
yourselves. Learn to read .and to write; be
Hidfistrious; lay up your means; acquiie
home*; live in peace with your neighbors;
and drive off, as you would a serpent, the
miserable di: ty adventurers who'cornejamong
you, and who, being too low to be r ceived
into white society, seek to foment among you
hatred for the decent portion of (lie white
race. You can always know a gentleman,
whether from the North or the Fouth, and
all such respect and esteem —for swell will
not deceive you. Do not desire to vote until
you arc qualified to vote, and then look for
the light, to be given, not i.i a manner that
violates the Constitution, but in accordance
with it, and through your own State Govern,
in cuts I feel more deeply for you than I
do for the white race. White people ought
to know bet thull to disregard the laws aud
you do not understand oeceivers.
1 mu willing, anxious to welcome among
us pood and true men from die North who
come to help build up our country, aud add
to its prosperity. 1 wish they would come
on and come in multitudes* They will find
U3 friends. But when I see the low dingy
creatures—hutched from the venomous eggs
of treason—coming here as mere adventurers
to get office through negro votes—to ride in
to power on the deluded negro’s shoulders—
am! creeping into secret leagues with negroes
and a few ren gade Southern whites, and
talking flippantly about disfranchising the
wisest and best men oft he land, because they
know it is the only possible chance for
knaves am fools like themselves to get place
I can but feel ashamed that su< h monsters
are to be considered as belonging to the liu*
man species. 1 warn you. my colored friends
if you would be respectable in society, or
prosperous iu your purse, or decent iu your
own feelings lo avoid all such people.—
They will hug you and call you friend, aud
talk about your friends, hut they will pull you
down to degradation, to son ow, to poverty,
and to shame. They have white itkius but
black hearts aud will ruin your characters
if you associate with them. They are crea
tures born of political accidency, ow'd treas
onable conspiracy, and are>the enemies of
all good governments and of all decent peu
p-le. [Applause.J
And now my Llends of all races, of all col
ors, of all nations, of all sexes, of all ages—
let us resolve to stand Ly our ( onstitution,
and surrender it to no enemy. This is our
country. Let us resolve that we will never
be driven from it, nor ostracised in it.
JSTKW
FURNITURE
I HAVE on hand, and will be receiving,
from lime lo time,
EKPSTKaDS,
BUREAUS,
SAFES,
TABLES,
WASHSTAXD3,
BROOMS,
and various oilier articles in that line with a
lull assortment of
BURIAL GABES,
Metallic and Wood. Sold low for CASH.
Corner opposite Masonic Hall. •
july 20 ts S ANTHONY
CITY ROOK STORE.
Removal.
rpiJK subscribers would inform the public
lb that they have removed their Book Store
to Dr. Andrews’ Drug Store and J. E. Sulli
van’s Jewelry shop, under the new Hotel,
where everything pertaining to the Book bu~
siuess may bo obtained. Our stock embraces:
School Books of every kind,
Juvenile Libraries, Histories,
Light Literature. Toy Books,
Photograph and Ladies Albums,
Ladies’s Portfolios, Paint Boxes,
Stationery, School and Law,
Music and Musical Instruments.
NUNN & CLEG HORN.
july 20 ts
ii HiLL ACADEMY.
Amekicus, Georgia.
| j|RS. RANDALL & STANFORD will
JBJv open the 2ml Term of their School ou
MONDAY, the sth of August, for the re
ception, as before, of both boys and girls,
and hope to receive a liberal share of public
patronage.
Their friends will please take due notice
and govern themselves accordingly,
july lti 3t
Wagons ! Wagons!
FOI& BAJLE.
ONE TWO-IIORSE wagon, new aud war
ranted, in every respect
Abo, One FOUK-UOKdE Wagon strong
and servieeaole. Boil) to be sen at Mr
Price’s Warehouse, aud will bo sold very
cheap for cash, or Warehouse acceptanco.--
Apply to J. A r . PRICE, on the premises,
junc 22 ts