SPEECHES GEN. J. H. LANE, OF KANSAS. Speech of General Lane in the Senate of the United States, July 18, 1861. Mr. President : I represent a constituency whose rights were trampled under foot by the slave oligarchy of this country. Fraud, cruelty, bar- barism, were inflicted on them by that power. Although thus afflicted by the slave power of this country, in an attempt to force upon us, against our will, that institution, yet, after that struggle was over, we were willing to stand by the compromises of the Constitution, and permit slavery to remain undisturbed in the States where it existed. An attempt is now being made by that power to overthrow the Government — to destroy the Union. They have brought upon us the conflict. If, in that conflict, the institution of slavery perish, we will thank God that he has brought upon us this war. We wish not to be misunderstood. We would have stood by the compromises of the Constitution, and permitted slavery to exist in the States where it was planted ; would not, by word or act, have disturbed it ; but they have force 1 upon us this struggle, and I, for one, am willing that it shall be followed to its logical conclusion. I do believe, Mr. President, that the institution of slavery will not sur- vive, in any State of this Union, the march of the Union armies; and I thank God that it is so. It is an institution that has been the curse of the country ever since my recollection ; these Halls have been accursed with it; the people of the States where it exis':s have been accursed with it, and the people of the free States have been accursed with it. I respect the gentlemen who represent slave States upon this floor, but I say to them that my experience is, that the institution of slavery requires from its devotees devotion — that kind of devotion which makes fiends of men. There is no crime that the devotees of slavery will not commit in maintain- ing or extending it. It was the amusement of the slave oligarchy of Missouri to stufi" the ballot-boxes of Kansas. I respect the Union sentiment and the Union men of Missouri ; but it was the amusement of the fillibusters of Missouri and of Alabairfa and of Louisiana and of Georgia to stufi" the ballot-boxes of Kansas, in order to force their accursed institution upon us. It was their daily practice to murder unarmed, helpless prisoners, and to tear from reeking heads the scalps of their yet living victims. It was tbeir common practice to take free-S^ate men who were from slave States, tie tliem to iree-s, and deinandinjr of them to recant their free-S'ate prin- ciples, to cut off finger by fiiiti;er, until rbe hands wer*^ fingoiless, and then tie them to stakes and riddle them to death with buUe's. And iheo this General Government was used to force slavery upon that people. Tiie Constitution of the United States was trampled uuder foot ; the Army of the United States wa*; used by these men to force that institution upon our people. Not, one word was heard from that side of this Chamber, or fr im that side of the lower House, in complaint. The Constitution maybe trampled under foot to advance 'slavery, to force it upon a gilla'it people ; but when the President of the United Staes exercises exr,raoi-dinary authority, within the Constitution, in my opinion, he is arraigned here by distinguished gentlemen as having outraged that instrumint and trampled it under foot ! Mr. President, I said that I disavow any intent upon the part of the Government or its Army to war against th'^ insrituriun of slavery. I said that the effect of marching an army on the soil of any slave Sc:ite will be' to instill into the slaves a determined purpose to free rhem-;elvr^s ; and, in my opinion, they will crush out evri^yc^»ing that stands in thtjw-yof acquiring that freedom. I said to the S mitor from Virginia that, in my opinion, there would be a colored army marching our, of the slave States while the army of freedom was marching in. When I §ay that, I mean, of course, those slave States where ihey hold slaves in larg; num- bers. I do believe, Mr. President, that, wh-^never the army of freedom, the Army of the Union, is marched into Arkansas, into L-misana, into either of the Carolinas, Alabama, or Georgia, it will be the tocsin, if yoa please, for an insurrection of the slaves, and thit they will ovei throw everything that stands in their way. So far as I am concerned, I do not propose to make myself a slave-ca'^cher for tr.iit >rs, and re urn t'lem to their masters; but I would do this — and it is known to 8enat)rsthat I have expressed that opinion — I w.mld, at this session, digest a plan to colonize the slaves thus liberated by their own act at some pjint outside of the Union convenient thereto. ^Speech of General Jam.es H. Lane, at Sprinrjjield, MUsoiiri, in ref^ponse to a serenarfe from the Ticenfi/- Fourth Indiana Rr(jiment, under com- mand of Lieut. Col. Garvin, Thursday A^ov. 8, I06I. Gentlemen and Fellow-Soldiers : The reception of this compli- ment was as far from my expectations as from my^ieserts. I am aware these demonstrations are not intended so much for me as for the Kansas brigade ; yet I should bi the first to appreciate and acknowledge any honors which may come from the noble State of Indiana. Can I lorget Indiana ? Never ! [ Cheers.] <' If I forget thee, let my right hand forget her cunning.'^ It was the place of my birch, and is the place of my mother's grave, Indiana h*s given me legislative, exeeutive, military, and Con- gressional honors. She has nursed me as a fond mother brings up her child; and let my heart grow cold, and ray tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, when L cease to be gratefal, or fail to speak well of ray bene- factors. [Loud etieers ] But the home of my adoption, and toils, and .,.--^" strife, is Kansas. She was a prairie waste when first I set foot on her soil, but, through clc-sprrate odds, she h-is fought her waj up in to the S'S- teihood of States, and ah'cady her little army has become famous throughout the nadon ibr itw bravery aud patriotism. For Kansas have I wrestled ns wrestles the mother when she brings forth lier fir.st-born into the woild. [Thundering cheers.] Indiana, as a part of 'he past, is enshriLod in my heart. Kansas, as my home, and as the living present, absorbs my thoughts and sways my dcstiiiy. Once I obeyed the voice of Indiana, and honored her; now, I go at the bidding of Kansas, and love her. [ Loud cheering.] But, gentleman, I am proud and happy to see the two sisters of our glori- ous Union stdking hands with each other on the soil of rebellious Mis- souri, determined that our united blpwis shall crush out this nio^t caus^eless and wicked rebellion, and preserve the national heritage left us by our fathers. Gentlemen, I shall not conceal the fact, that in one respect I differ from some of my compeers in command, as to the mode of warfare which IS best calculated to briog this wretched contest to a speedy, durable, and Honorable close. The p< lut of diiference refers, of course, to slavery — tbe cause of all differences — the Pandora's box from which has issued all our nafional troubles. My creed is, let slavery take care of ili^elf. If it c:!n survive the sh-ck of war, let ic live, but if between an upper and nether millstone it be ground t » p »wder, and the winds drive it away, it is not for me to gather up tbe dusi again. I do not propose to make war upon slavery, buc upon rebels, and in the mean time to let slaves and slavery tike care uf them-elves. An oligarchy more cruel and proscriptive than ever scourged and cursed a nation, ancient or modern, has brought on this war for shtvery 3 and if we are required to protect, defend, or in any way help slavery, then we are required to co-operate wiih the enemy, to help him, to defend him, and to work for the same end. Can we place our- selves thus in alliance with our deadly and barbarous foes, and at the ^ame time conquer them, subdue them, crush them? When lesser contradic- tions are reconciled, we will taink of harmonizing this. War, at best, is a terrible calamity to a nation. In all the country through which we have passed, the mails are stopped, schools are suspei'ded., churches are turned into hospitals for the sick and wounded, aud general demoralization prevails. Protract the war one year, and desolation, moral and material, alone would mark the track of armies. Justice, humanity, and mercy require that the conflict should terminate as, soon as possible, and wiih the least piacticable shedding of blood. Astounding as it may appear to you, gentleoaen from Indiana, yet it is a fact we have repeatedly demonstrated, that a heavier blow is dealt out to the realui of Secetsia in the abduction or freedom of a slave than the killing of a soldier in arms. Yes, and I may put the truth in a stronger light still. Abduct from the same family a slave, and kill in arms a son, and the loss of the slave will be regarded as the greater misfortune — the cahmiity for which there is no healing balm. I could bring up more than a thousand witnesses whose observation and experience qualify them to speak of the truthful candor of my remarks, if, then, by allowing the slave to h\\ into the wake of the army, and find the priceless boon of freedom, we avoid bloodshed, save property from des! ruction, and strike death dealing blows upon the head and front of this r-ibellion, does not every consideration that is good and just require that this policy be adopted ? This war is for slavery — let us make it the mighty engine for slavery's d'^struction, and the rebels will soon cry enough. They will see that, like Saturn in the fable, they are eating up their own children, and will consent to cut short the repast. Every guarantee that is given to slavery by the Government strengthens the rebels in their cnurse. The Kansas brigade has met the enemy in battle, and routed him in every conflict. We have destroyed Osceola, a sort of half town and half military post; but all these things combined have not brought the rebels to their knees as has the escaping of a few hundred slaves, by following the back track of the army. [ Cheers.] Gentlemen, my logic teaches that we cannot defend and make war upon the same foe at the same time ; and, if it is the purpose of the Government to crush the rebel* and prevent their slaves from stampeding, two armies should be sent into the field. An advance force might be called the treason-crushing army, and should be armed with offensive weapons. The other should be called the slavery restoring army, and should move about ten miles in the rear. It should be clad in a defensive armor of triple steel, for such is the raeanneps of» spirit which is bred in the hearts of men by slave-breeding, slave trading^ and slave-holding, that the masters would creep into every place of ambush, and fire upon those who were gathering up and returning their fugitive human property. It would be illegitimate for the slavery-restoring army to return the fire, as they might harm some of the pets and darlings for whom they are so generously acting. Therefore, give them the defensive arms, but no offensive weapons. Such an arrangement, novel as it might seem, must be had if slavery is to be preserved in the rear of an army which moves with a force sufficient to crush this huge rebellion. In my opinion, the second army should be as numerous as the first. Preserving slavery will cost the Government ten times as much as crushing the rebellion. [Voices — '' That's so.''] The policy inaugurated by the Kansas brigade, which I have the honor to command, was not adopted in a moment, but is the result of much ex- perience. In a speech recently made in the city of Leavenworth, my feelings of indignation became wrought up to such a pitch that I was be- trayed into the use of language which was justly condemned by the reli- gious sentiment of the country, and which in cooler moments meets my earnest disapproval. But whether excited or calm, whether my language be rough or smooth, principle and duty require that our policy be rigidly adhered to until condemned by the Government ; and if it should be con- demned, if the Government demand of the br-gade obeisance to the behests of slavery, I shall consider the question of withdrawing from the field. Since the rebels have failed to nationalize slavery, their battle cry is " Down with the Union." Let slavery lift up its crest in the air, and here I solemnly vow, that if Jim Lane is compelled to add a note to such an infernal chorus, he breaks his sword and quits the field. [Thundering applause.] Let us be bold — inscribe " freedom to all" upon our banners, and appear just what we are — the opponents of slavery. It is certain as if written in the book of fate, that this point must be reached before the war is over. Take this stand, and enthusiasm will be inspired in the ranks. In steadiness of purpose .-md courage each soldier will be a Spartan hero. The spirit of the (^-usnder will be united with the iron will of I he Roman, and an army of such soldiers is invincible. [Cheers.] These things to you. Indianians, may appear strange; but when your military education h received that peculiar cast, which experience is sure to give it, and whic now pertains to the Kausas soldier, then will we march shoulder to shoulder, and victoriously too, against the enslavers and brutulizers of men, and against the traitors to the best Government on earth. Soldiers, we have a commander, on whose courage, skill, and kindness of heart we may always confide. General Hunter has a Kansas educa- tion ; he has suffered with us because of slavery, and he will, I kuow, endorse the policy I have advocated to-night. It should be the business of Congress, at its coming session, to adopt a law directing the President of the United States, by proclamation, to order the rebel States, within thirty "^ «ixty days, to lay do^- n their arms and return to their allegiance, c ,, in default thereof, deoiare every slave free throughout their domains. So far as I am concerned, I hope the Almighty will so direct the hearts of the rebels that, like Pharoah, they will persist in their crime, and then we will invade them, and strike the shackles from every limb. Provision, too, should be made for settling the African in Ilayti, Cen- tral, or South America, and let the race form a nation by itself. Liberia has served a glorious purpose in teaching the world that these oppressed and wretched people are capable of supporting themselves, and of self- government. 1 look upon the Republic of Liberia as the bud — yes, the full-blown hope — of the whole of Africa, and wish it every encouragement and success. But it is too many thousand miles for us to transport fou?- millions of slaves This age has not the time and patience requisite to such a task. But our own continent has room sufficient, with soil, climate, and pro- ductions, suitable for the accommodation of this people, who, in the mys- teries of Providence, have been thrown among us. Transportation to the places named may be made a practicable reality. The good of both race' require their separation. Ages of oppression, ignorance, and wrong ha made the African a being inferior in intellect and social attainments the Caucasian ; and, while together, we shall always have low, cringing servility on the one hand, and lordly domination on the other. It is bet- ter for both parties that each enjoy the honors and responsibilities of a nationality of his own. In such an event, our common humanity would make a vast stride towards perfection. As such a proclamation might have the effect to liberate the slaves of many loyal citizens, I would cheerfully give my consent to have them paid out of the National Treasury for any loss they might sustain. Let us dare to do right, trusting to the principle, that right makes might; and the great republic, once the wonder of the world, will emerge from these troubles purer, wealthier, and stronger than ever. These are among the reasons why freedom to all should be the watch- word of the Kansas Brigade, and would to God I could publish it through- out the army, and to the whole nation. Let the wind wafr it over the prairies of the West. Let the thunder of our cannon speak it in the ears of traitor tyrants Let the mountains of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New England echo it to all their people ; let the sound swell from earth to heaven, and the great God of angels and men, as its patron and f ien'l, will give it success. Again I thank you, friends of Indiana, and of the Kansas Brigade, for the compliments of this occasion. I bid you all a hearty good night. JExtracts from Speech of G-eneral Lane, at Tremont Temple, Bos- ton, November 31, 1861. I feel embarrassed in addressing gentlemen in the habit of hearing eloque-.t and classic speeches. When I set out in life, my mother said there was n'>thiiig to prevent ray success but mv unconq'ierable m')de>ty. Bat £ desire to return t>> the people of Boston ihe thanks of tt.e people of Kansas for past generosity, which made that State free. (Applause.) The children of Kau.-as are taught gratitu'de to those who stood by iheua in 1855 and 1856. iMy memory runneth not to the time when slavery did not threaten (he Union. The threats of the South, the stuffing of ball'>t-box' s, the r.iisinjj of blick flags in Kan-as bearing the word " Murder! '' and the eflbrts of the late Administration to destroy the government, followed by the attack on Sum'er, and the assassination of youl* gallant sons in the sireer.s of Baltinjore, must destroy all respect for it. We want a speedy crushing out of rebt^lli'.n, (applause,) and a perma- nent peace. He is a coward who wants a peace patched up with the kuowlcdge that our children will have this battle to fight over again. (Loud and repeated applause.) x\t last, we have the army and navy that can crush out the rebeltion, but it cannot be done without removing the disease. All know that slavery is the disease, and that the war is only waged for slavejy. Where is the man who would attempt a purification without curing the disease ? . He would be called a quack. The time has gone by for any one to aitempt to show that the war is not waged for slavery. Ask the soldiers of General Price what they are fijihting for? they will an-wer "slavery.^' Ask the soldiers of General Halleck, and they will make the same answer. "Slaveiy" is written on their banners, and what is ours, — is it not substantially the same, when we war for the old Union? The time has gone by to attempt to convince men that the war is waged for nothing but slavery. AVe all know it. When it is attempted to arouse your sym- pathies for the slaves of the Union men, remember that there are no Union men in secession comniuuities. They are driven out, and their slaves are used as are those of secession owners. When they say that loyal men can control their slaves in secession neighborhoods, they say that which is not true. I have given to Union men receipts for the loss of slaves, caused by the march of the Kansas brigade. These very slaves had been used for months by the traitors of Missouri by force. These certificates came back to me, directing me to give up those slaves to the bearers. An order of the goveinment to give up loyal citizens for the benefit of traitors ! Keturn rhem to slavery ! Me ! The people of Kan- sas return them to slavery! No, sir! (Great cheering, and cries of " good !" " good !") He sought his commander, and told him his order was illegitimate, and that he would not obey it. (Cheers.) How many soldiers' lives are you willing to ^nve to maintain slavery ? (" N(me.") A.s for myself, I will not shed a single drop of blood to save the :iccurscd system. 1 have half a mind to relate an anecdote to show how the slaveholders cling to their property. (Voices — <^ Do it ; do it.") Well, I will. We were mirchino^ to Spring'iield — I was ia the rear of the coluuia — when I was infoinied by one of my men that a worn in in great disiress wanted to see me. I told him to bring her to nie, and he did She was a big. brawny woman — far,, and over forty, — and was crying. I asked her whar the matter was. She said, " My two ssons have joined the Confederate army, and now your soMiers have taken my iwo niggers." Said I, " My g)odwom;in, that is not the worst thing tha' could happen to you. I am on the track of your sons, and I shall probably catch them in a day or two, and hang them." (Laughter.) She threw her arms about my neck, and Slid, ''General Lane, you may do what you want with my sous, if you'll only return the niggers." (Great laughter.) I dir-engaged myself from her embrace, but didn't promise to return her niggers. sjc ;;< ^ ^t >;; :^ ^ ^i ^ ^ :^. The only way we can bring this contest to a successful issue is, by striking dire'tly and with all our power at the foundation. I would op- pose bowie-knife to bowie-knife, Indian to Indian nigger to nigger, and fre d it," and vociferous cheers ] Because the beautiful flag of stars that waved above the Kansas brigade never floated over a single slave! [C^ntiD- ued cheers.] God grant that the time may soon come, when, m the progress of 8 this unholy rebellion, our flag, whose fabric Freedom wrought and fash- ioned i ) her early days, again becomes an emblem of the great thought of the fathers, may floit no longer over a single bondman. [Enthusiastic cheering, at the close of which the speaker introduced GEN. LANE. He came forward amid tumultuous applause and said :] Fellow Citizens : For this demonstration, accept my thanks. I think I understand it. It is not for the man that you bring honors, but because you believe that he earnestly desires to close this war per- manently and speedily. ["That's it," and cheers.] That which, to me. is most astonishing, and which, for the first time, I have fully realized, is that Northern reverence for Southern slavery created, in the Northern mind, on the same principle that constant dropping wears the marble. The South, by unceasing appliances and for sinister purposes, has been able to create a strong reverence for the institution of human bondage. It was once in my own mind. I was born on the borders of the slave States. My mother was not very well, and I was not of much account. I was put out to an old slave woman to be nursed. I was educated and reared as a member of the old Democratic party. I was taught to reverence slavery beyond the Bible or any of the ordinances of God. It was a crime to discuss the cjuesdon. We could discuss God's laws, but so much above them was this patriarchal custom that we were forbidden to question it. This Northern reverence compelled two great political parties to en- graft on their platforms that the righteousness of slavery, being above even the government of God, should be no more discussed, " either in or out of Congress." Now, I will be frank enough to admit to you that I have lost some of my old reverence for slavery. [Laughter.] I saw it stuff the bal- lot-boxes of my own State; I saw it raise the black flag, and inscribe on it " no quarter;" I saw the most exalted ofiicers of the Goveroment, debauched by it, prostitute the Government itself to its own destruc- tion ! Right here in Washington, even, the shameful spectacle was presented of a Northern President being compelled by the traitors around him to betray the Government he was sworn to maintain, and conspire to ruiu the Republic. [Voices — "True, true."] At last I saw it fire upon a handful of starving soldiers, and trample the flag of my country under foot! For six months its hostile army has been men- acing this capital, and to-night it is encamped within six miles of here, and thence along two thousand mileu of border, seeking the destruction of the mildest and best Government on earth. I will not insult this intelligent audience by arguing that this is all the work of slavery — • slavery, an emanation from hell. [Cheers ] Slavery is attempting to send iis ministers to foreign powers, [Voice — "That's played out I"] plotting to destroy the only free government. [Voice — "Hurrah for Wilkes !"] Yes, I saw in a paper somewhere, "Hurrah for Wilkes! right or wrong, hurrah for Wilkes!" [Three hearty cheers were given for Wilkes.] Some cf the tender hearted and c.iuiiou^ are afraid the British lini will roar. Now, I feel like saying, with the o'd lady in Mis>ouri, that y-.u renniiioer. A Methodist min- ister wa> rraveling thmugh then — I hope ni'ire will go there. [Laugh- ter.] He st -pped at a house to get supper, and as the c-ld lauy was just about to pour out his coffee, he interrupted her by remarking that lie "usually invoked the divine blessing before partaking of any food/' <' Well," said the old lady, 'just pitch in /" [Laughter and applause.] Thank God, we have an army now. [Cheers.] Thank God, too, we have at last a navy. [Three cheers.] With this army and this navy now, if we will but adopt the policy which common sense dictates, we can crash this insane rebellion, and whip Great Britain to boot. [Cheers of approval.] We have been playing at this war long enough, in my opinion. I want to ask each man in this assembly, how much reverence have you got for the institution of slavery? [Voice— " Nary rev.'^] How many more loyal soldiers are you willing to offer as victims to that reverence ? How many more of our brave leaders shall be sacrificed ? How many more widows and orphans shall slavery make, with your permission ? [Voices — '^ Not another !"] I tell you that 1 have so far lost my reverence for that which, as a Democrat, I once worshipped, that I am not willing that one single widow or orphan shall be added to the mourners; I am not willing that another drop of loyal American blood shall be shed for its preser- vation I [Sensation and applause.] And another question, that seems of even more pertinence and im- portance to some, How much more money are you williog to pour out that slavery may live? For that is distinctly the question now. I won quite a reputation when I went to school, as a fighting boy. Every Saturday night we *• fought out.'' I was within one of the head, but the champion, Joe Darrah, was a great hulk of a fellow, weighing twice as much as I did, and as strong as an ox, and I couldn't whip him at fair play. Ours was the rough and tumble style. I knew I could whip him if I waited to grow, but my reputation demanded that 1 should do it then. So I watched for a boil to come, or something to happen that would give me an advantage. One day I heard that Joe had been in swimming, and had cut his leg below the knee. So I went to him and got him to show me the exact spot. I kept quiet, and, when Saturday came, I was ready to fight him. Joe struck out at me ; I dodged his heavy blows, and went in and kicked him on the shin. [Great laugbter.] He bellowed like a calf, and cried enough. [Laughter.] We are now at war with the South, and I am in to whip. [Voice — " Hit him on the bruise!'' immoderate laughter long continued.] You have got some sharp fellows in this crowd — that's just what I was going to say — perhaps you had better finish the speech. [Laughter.] If there is a bruise, a weak spot, on this rebellion, don't we owe it to the commerce of the coun- try and the world, to the orphans that are being made, to the widows and the wounded that are multiplying, to the loyal brave who are laying down their lives, to the humanity around us, and to the God above us, to find that spot and strike it ? [Cheers.] And there is a sore spot — a bigger bruise than was ever on Joe Darrah's shin, and you needn't kick it Lalf as hard as I did his ! [Excessive laughter and cheers.] At any rat , let us not expend our time and money, and spill our blood in the thankless work of soothing and doctoring the bruise. Don't stop to baudage it up with— [Voice interrupting: " Cotton !" followed by great lii.jghter.] This is the smartest audience I ever saw outside of Kansas. [L. Lighter.] I was nursed by a slave, and was educated and graduated in the great 10 Democratic party ; and now all I ask — all that the country asks — is that this Covernineiit may fight the traitors to crush out the rebellion, and let slavery take care of it- the fugitives alreauy with our army, and saying to the others, "You shah not come within our lines" From the slaves in Missouri flocking to our standard, I received more correer. information of the movements of the enemy than from all ^ources bcMilv. ,(()heers.) Yet this new General, as soon as he arrives in the 11 State, Dot content with kicking out the fugitives and repelling all slaves who want to come, must tell us that which is contrad cted by my whole march through Missouri, that the hunted slaves betray their liberators! Grateful to theh* liberators, r.nd faithful to us and to the Government that sent us, with 500 fugitives, of both sexes and all ages, marching wi'li us, (cheers,) there was not one willing to return to slavery, and so not one ever betrayed a secret that was important to those who had opened to them the new life of freedom. (Loud and long cheers ) I do not be- lieve either ihreats or bribes could have induced them io act as spies while wo were their guardians. We cannot figh^ this war vigorously without an issue. Where is the pot-house politician but knows that a live issue is necessary, even in a ward election? Well, now, where is our issue? The rebfls are fighting fas, and ihe campaigns of the last spring and summer in Missouri, have given me a praciical kaowledge on this subject entitled to consid- ei'aion. The regiments that fought and won the battle of Buena Vista, were not as well provided as the army of the Potomac, and no better drilleps cheeked and drove back ten thousand r.bels. And of these fa.us the Co ifederates are ihem>eives fully aware. Re- ceutiy, at Spring lliver, eight hundred Kansas troops enco.nti-red ^ix thousand rebels covered by that stream and six miles of timber. This handl'ul of heroic men offered a fight on the open prtirie, which was de- clined by the enemy, either because they expected us to repent the folly of attacking th. m in their tiinber stronghold, or feared a defeat without its protection. It will require, on our parr, rapiJry of movement and boldness of strategy to force them into a batrle on the open field. So much for efficiency. That heroic veteran, the late Lieutenant Gen- eral of the army, now foiced by age and infirmity into a retirement made glorious by the memories of a long life of patriotism and triumph, an- nounced the fact that the ides of October would see his columns prepared to move. Hence, it is impossible U' t to believe that they are by this time complete in arms, equipment, means of transportation, and every other physical appbance of service. Why, then, do they tarry ? If Napoleon, with sixty thousand undis- ciplined recruits, scaling the frozen fasines^es of the Alps, and avoiding their hostile fortifications, Cfiuld, in five weeks, reach the plains of Lom- bardy, pierce the Austrian lines, and annihilate the army of Melas, a bun- dled and twenty thousand strong, on the field of Marengo, thereby eman-^ cipating the while of Iialy, shall it be said that we cannot surmount4;he hills of Virginia and Kentucky, in spite of their defences, and, penetra- ting to the heart of the rebellion, strike in detail their armies, inferior to our owm in numbers, arms, equipment, discipline, and all that constitutes the true soldier, and stretched along a line of over two thousand miles in extent — des'ro}ing the heterogeneous hosts as we go, or f-cattering them in consternanon, and restore to the rule of the Republic those fair regit^us now cursed by a usurpation more intolerable than that of the Austrian, and which hcdds in bonds of terror e\en those wretched men who are comnii'tod to its t-upport? ^Ir. I^resident, to doubt i ur abdity is dis- gri;C(ful ! Let it not be said that the snows of winter are upon us. If Washing- If) ton could march his barefooted soldiers over the frozen roads of New Jer- sey, lliMr foot>tt^ps marked with blood, aud, in the middle of wiri-er, cross the Delaware, tilled with floiting ice, can we not, at the same sea>on, mo'.e our well-clad legions towaids ihe mild val eys of the South, to re establish that freedom Vvhich tlieir .sufferings secured ? Will you wait till hpring-, when the roads, if ever, will become impassa- ble? or till our troops shall have been decimated by the diseases of sum- mer ? No. Clear this war of the doubts that surround iis purpose ; give to the volunteer a baitle cry ; cherish that enthusiasm which is indispens- able to success, and which nerved the conscripts of Napoleon to the achievement of victory without reference to the disparity of numbers. See that jour volunteers are not thrown upon artillery without prepara- tion ; they must, see the guns, count them, hear the whistle of their balls, and thus prepared, no strength of fortifications can resist them; they are the most effective troops on earth. He who doubts this, or underrates them in comparison wirh others, knows buti litile of their energy of pur- pose, and ttieir devotion to their country and their fliig. Where such au- Qfher victory ever gained upon the open field as that of liuena Vista'/ "iVenty thou and wcll-di cipliued troops, amply supplied with artilh ry, overthrown by foriy-six hundred ragged American volunteers. Tho-e T7ho wi nessed that cuff ct, well know how to appreciate ihe indomitable fighting qualiries of troops like ours. The occupation of the rebel Stales by our army is a military necessity. I laugh to scorn the policy of wooing back the tiaitors to their ailegian e by seizing and holding uuimporiant points in those States. Every invi- tation extended to thein in kindness is an encouragement to stronger re- sistance. The exhauctiiig pi)licy is a failure. So lung i.s they have f ur million of slaves to feed them, so long will this rebellion be sustained. My word for it, sir, long before they reach the point of exhausiiou the people of this countiy w^iil lose confidence in the r rulers. And it is un- reasonable to expect the loyal citizens of the rebvi States to manliest their desire to return to their allegiance, while their homes and families are in the power of their oppressors. Did the Italians welcome Napoleon till he had expelled their tyrants, and thereby proved his ability to protect them ? So with the people of the disloyal Stales : march your armies there ; engage and scatter the forces of the enemy ; whip somebody y evidence your ability to protect the loyal citizens, their homes, and fami- lies ; and then, and not till then, will they rally to }Our standard by thousands and tens of thousands. I have alluded, Mr. President, to the slave population of the rebel States. It is claimed by the friend.s of slavery that the institution is a source of military strength. The slaves are made not only to feed iiud clo;he their oppressors, but to build fortifications for their defence ; and even in some cases to bear arms in their service. The slaveholders are right — and they are wrong; the institution is an element of streug h, but only while it exists. Withdraw that element, and this rebellion tails of its own weight. The masters will not work, and they must eat. Now, they are fighting to retain their slaves, exposing their lives and the lives of their sons. Suppose we had their slaves; to what lengths would they not go in an opposite direction, in the hope to recover them ? They would bow down in dutitul submission, even to Abraham Lincoin himself. Iti my opinion, the obtaining possession of these slaves by the. Government U3 would be more effective in crushing out rebellion, than the seizure, if it could be made, of every ounce of ammunition they possess. As the fear of losing their slaves is now the incentive to war, so would then the desire for iheir recovery be the inducement for peace. March your armies into the heart of their Confederacy; win one victory; oppose kindness to cruelty; and as the peasantry of France rallied to the standard of Na- poleon on his return from Elba, so will the slaves, with one impulse, flock to ours. The general who commands that army will be received with the same acclaim as was Bonaparte ; they will hail him as their liberator and friend, and by their very numbers will secure safety to his army. No trouble, then, in obtaining information of the enemy's operations. In- terested in our success — grateful as they will be faithful — every move- ment will instantly be reported endangering their champions and pro- tectors. Peace will be restored, and the ca^ise of the war removed; and t'jen, in these halls, in the interests of humanity and a united country, we can deliberate and do justice. Mr. President, in my opinion the policy of fortifications should be dis- carded. A Capital dependent on such protection is not worth preserving ; th« only sufficient bulwark for its defence is formed by the loyal breasts of our citizen soldiery. Think no more of barracks for winter quarters; our tr'^ops do not desire them. Cheat yourself no longer with the delu- sive idea ihat your camps are still schools ot instruction; henceforward your lessons must be taught in the field. Advance rapidly, and strike boldly. The country is favorable ; the climate invites ; the cause de- mands. Advance, and allis accomplished; the Government is saved, and freedom is triumphant, MCOILL i ■WITHEROW, STEAM PRINTERS, No, 271 Fenna. Avenue, VVasaington, D. C.