> ^ **** ^ •'"• *^r » ^ t * /\«A ***j*&kS yV^&-^ °o. • c* a?* •* ••* *> v % ^J^* <^ w ^ * ^ 5"? G /r- RECEPTION OF M. Y. JOHNSON AND D. SHEEAN, ESQS, -A.t Cralena, Illinois. On their Return, Honorably Discharged, from the Bastiles. Forts LaFayette, and Delaware, THE SPEECHES DELIVERED ON THE OCCASION, AND AN ACCOUNT OF PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS. Galena • Pbixtsd at thk Omcs o» TBfi Dkmocbat. 1868. 9 .Gr/5" .A.vtoitrai'v Arrests RopiicliatodL From tht GVifcaa Duily Dimorrat of JJse. 21 Noble Sentiments' In our last issue we placed before the readers oi the Democrat a letter, written by David Shee.an Esq., just after his re- lease from Fort La Fayette, and addressed to a personal friend of his in this city. — We to-day print a letter written by him on the ViiXx instant and addressed to the Judge Advocate, in reply to an official in- timation that he would be discharged on his parole, by taking an oath similar to the one which had been administered to others in similar circumstances. As will be seen, he indignantly spurned the proposal, fair enough on its face, but evidently intended to entrap an innocent man into that which might be construed to his disadvantage. But Mr. Sheean, conscious of his innocence, and determined to come out of the furn- ace into which he had been cast without the smell of fire upon his garments, re- buked the insolence, of office, and stood firmly and defiantly upon bis integrity, and boldiy vindicated his patriotism and his manhood. From our heart of hearts we thank him for this magnificent display of moral courage; and we put it on record, as an example worthy of being imitated by the youngmen ofourStatoand nation. In a few hours he will be with us, "hon- orably discharged," and spontaneously honored by his friends and fellow citizens.' Let it never be forgotten that he refused to bow the knee to Ban], or worship at the bloody shrine of a political Moloch. If guilty of any crime, let him be fairly tried and justly punished, but until confronted by his accusei s, let him he held as inno- cent as Caesar' a wife — "not only free from guilt, but above suspicion." Oh Liberty ! What crime:? are perpetra- ted in thy name ! Foiit La Fayette, Dbc. 13, 1863. Major L. C. Turner, Judge Adiouttz, WuMn-y- ton City. Sir : — Your order for my release upon cundi- tion that I would give my parole that I would conduct myself as a leva] citizen, aud would not aid the rebellion, was presented to me last night. You well knew, both, from your inter- view with me here on the; 9th ef September last, and from my letters which have been intercept- ed aud sent to Washington since that time, that I would accept no conditions to get out qC Fort Lafayette that could nv implication place me in the wrong. You learn, too, from those letters that I valued my houor more than my life. Why, then, add insult to already accu- mulated injuries, by requring metotuake an admission of consummated and intended crime as the price of my liberty. Is it intended that after au attempt to destroy everything 1 hold dear, I must be degraded, in order that uo- , authorized aud "unwarranted proceedings against me may be palliated; that enemies wno have wickedly aided au exercise of arbitrury power to wrong me, may have an opportunity to justify their infamy by my own admissions ? My liberty has been taken from me— my life can with equal right betaken, but my honor is my own, and I shall keep it e»en at ttie expense of both. I hare heretofore lived true to the best inierests of the Union and Constitu- tion, and expect to die as 1 have lived. If the Government has any charges against me al- ledging the contrary, it is due to itselt and tu me to put me upon trial, and let me sutler the penalty, or permit me to vindicate myself by an acquittal. It is due to itself to punish the guilty and acquit the innocent— to protect and advocate the citizen — not to violate his rights, and then degrade him. Were I in the wrong — had I violated as much of the Constitution oi my country as has been done in my arrest by i» telegram,— spiriting me awav over a thousaud miles from my own State and incarceration for fifteen weeks, with- out condemnation or trial, or a knowledge w'iy 1 was thus treated, I would not hesiUte to pur- chase my liberty at so cheap a sacrifice as the loss of whatever honor was left in me. As I know lam in the right, and have never violated any law, I shall never cringingly ask any lavors —much less admit bv implication or otherwise, any guilt, but insist that my rights as an American citizen shall be dealt out to me. The Government should not demand more, my sense of honor will not allow me to accept less. Tf hi'i/ ru/Jils will not lit. y ranted, then I tun at the further disposal of the powers thai, be, to execute upon me what they see fit and have the potoer to do. Yours Respectfully, Wavid" Sjussak. gM tjl czrxiafl ! ±rtiM.Q /6~i 3 Reception at Chicago. Our friends on their retain from the bistiles, were serenaded in Chicago, and thousands crowded around thetn at tin Sherman House, to take them by the hand, snd greettnem with joyful congratulations. The erowd around the house was immense, while a few of the skulk in g enemies oi freedom, under the cover of darkness, ex- pressed their Venom in hisses. SVe shall hereafter allude to this matter a;;ain, an;! r,nw merely mention it as a lesson of tin times. "While honest men rejoice at tin deliverance of the opr-n .ssed, ami the tri- umph of the innocent, let simpletons, kniives, and . hoddy politicians express their agony in any way they please. Preliminary Proceedings- The friends of Constitutional liberty in the city of Galena, held a meeting at the Council chamber on the eveningof the 1 7th inst., for the purpose of making suitable arrangements for the reception of two c* our citizens, XT. Y. Johnson and I)a\id Shevan, on their return from the Adminis- tration Bastiks, at whi<'h meeting Henry Marfield was called to the chair, and Jos- eph Barry was appointed Secretary. The following committees were then appointed ON riXANCK, II. II. Saritjre, B. C. StCyr, Robert Brand, E. Green, John Galvin. ox KTXKrTrox, Robert Brand. E. A. Collins, H. H. Cear. W. Dickson. Frederick Stahl H. W. Folt;:, - H. F. MeCloskey, Thos. Gooch, & Frazer, l». Shissler, John Adams. K. T. Ureen, Jas. Weldon, G>. Thorntk, Leo fcnoebeL G. Merkle, T. O'Msra, G. B. Melville, 15. C ffltyr John IMlmnn. W- Rahman. L. Schwab, H.Marrield, H. IMifliirr, Thos. O'Leary, M. P. SilTerburjj, A. C. Davis, U. D Howard, Oliver Marble, Michael Goftnuri, Charles E. Ouer, James McNolty, A. la, Cnni- roiB(?6, A. Gladden, C. R. Perkins,' Geo. Ferguson. ON INVITATION, _ E. A. Coilins, Thos. O'bearr J J, F. T.cal. it C. .^•Cvr, Thonirts Berniingham. L YonF.mden, F. Btirkc, J. H. Barggri ( • Klt% t'. Thos. McNnlfy. ON DON PlRi:s AND HRK WoWfciS. John S. Collins, Thomas Gooch. K T Greene, John M Farmer, W Graham, A J CmulfieH, John #oore, John Cary, P Fitapatrick, P Dufly, Jaa Weldon, Mike Caeserlr, Barnv bowling, Win Shea, J Fell. Pen r Da"*, Mntiliew Faueelt, H Bell, T Desmond, ib-nry MniliclJ, jr., Jmnes llrynan, John 1; ■•iiiiiiiL'linni, L VanEniden. L Carrol, J A Bockius, William O'llarn, Janus Lyon. ON Ml 'SIC AN'H CARRIAGES, n W rl%, P Bell, P Bollinger, G Collins, C Rosenthal. ON (il.M.K.U. AKKANm.MCNTS. F. Stahl, R. Brand, 11. W. Foltz, E. A. Collins 1> Shissler. In addition to the names snn\ iniitee ot lecept ion , tbc cflnjrniitee recommend that an invitation be extended lo nli citizens ivho <«*i make it convenient to join the abovf 'ommittee on K°' n )r *>"' ,)U ''"' ears, to meet Messrs. Johnson and Sbceon, ond accompany •hem tothjs city. Eeturn of the Prisoners- The progress of M. Y. Johnson and D. Sheean, Ksqrs., from the I'epuUican Bas- tiles towards their homes in this city, wps such as could not fail to be highly grati- fying to them, and not less £b to their thou- sands of sympathising friends. ■ At Chi cage they were honored by an extempora- neous ovation, which demonstrated tlu> fact that the petty tyranny of our Repub- lican rulers is justly repudiated, while the negro worshippers vented their impotent spleen by efforts to disturb the resistless current which is sweeping away the rot- tenness of the most contemptible dynasty of negro-worshippers. At Freeport, the enthusiasm of the people burst forth m ■ way to convince all but the wilfully Mind, that the game of arbitrary arrests in Illi- nois has been played out, and that, des- pite all the endeavors, on the part of the I'nion-haters, to perpetuate the reign of terror, the people are now sternly trcHftrnfl- in;; the right to think, to speak, and to SPEECH OF MR. JOHNSON. Mr. Speaker, and Yor, my Fhikndp and .Fellow Citizens: — I have no lan- guage that can express to you my feeling*, at so grand and triumphant a reception, as meets our view on this occasion, neither have I the vanity to believe, that any per- sonal popularity, of Mr. Sheean and myself could have induced the multitude that I sec before me to subject themselves to the inconvenience of both rain and mud, to bp present. But let me attribute it, to the real cause : that you are here, to testify your approbation of, and vindicate consti- tutional liberty, and personal security, as the same has been struck down in our persons, Near four months ago, by the arbitrary and despotic acts of one of the chief clerks of the present administration, without authority or any of the forms of law, but in palpable violation of thcConsti- tutions of the United States, and this State, two of your citizens were kidnapped, one in the very presence of the court and with his knowledge, if not with his approbation, and transported beyond the State some twelve hundred miles, and incarcer- ated in a military bastile, where it is a crime in the estimation of this administration, to attempt to avail your- self of the protection of the laws of your country, to get a hearing before any tribunal known to the law. Such however Biy friends, is the enormity of the outra- ges this beneficent administration is daily perpetrating on free American citizens — that it would shame an Austrian despot- ism When its venality and tyranny is ex- posed. I was arrested by order of the Secretary of War, on a telegraph dispatch, while engaged in the defence of a murder case, and have been transported across a half dozen free States, confined in two military Forts of the United States, in the House of Detention in New York, and under the tender care of that estimable protector of female character, the Kennedy, of Mrs Brrnsmade notoriety, and during all this time, I have assiduously tried to find out, what I was charged with, or who was my accuser, by repeated applications, by myself and friends, to the President, the Secretary at War, the Judge Advocate, and every military commander in whose charge I have been placed, and to-day. after nearly four months imprisonment, I am turned out without any trial or exam- ination, without any information as to who was my accuser, or what offense I was charged with— notwithstanding T offered to submit in} r Helf to a trial, before any tri- bunal they might appoint, either civil, military, or a drum-head court, and to de- fend every act of my life against the laws of my country. . « Such is a part of the usurpations and tyranny, that are practiced by this fa- »a(tiofj administaation on free American citizen.-, i want to call their attention to ft portion of French history — it may be Mjggestfjve to them, as an episode, in the management of Bastiles in America. It is said,, when the heads of Robespierre, Ihtn- toii, Marat, and the chief actors in the reign of terror, came to the guillotine, the Ba stiles wore open, and the people regain- ed some <>f the liberties they had lost. I have no time to teach history, 1 only al- lude to it in passing. But then-, is a oviestion of vital interest to 1',.,, one thai both duty and patriotism requires v.e should meet fearlessly, if we cxpuctto leave behind us, the free insti- tutions bequeathed by our fathers — 1 allude to the war now devastating our once happy land. It was ina ununited by the patriotic for the purpos- of maintaining the Consti- tution and perpetuating the Union. But unhappily it has degenerated into a crusade against slaver\,and to-uay, if we were to crush out tho South, prosecute the war on the principle, and for the end aim- ed at, would more effectually destroy the institutions of this country, than to admit the doctrines of seccession a thousand times. It is lime earnest honest men were taking this matter in hand and speaking Out. Already almost every house in our j not only to the laws of the country, but Union as it was, but we are not engaged in subjugating our sister State?, or making war to destroy slavery or the blacks, at the expense ol freedom of the whites.'' And ihe sooner this fact is understood', the better, both in "Washington and else- where. It is time every honest man was placing himself in opposition to all these violations of constitutional liberty. I know there are some, who justify eyerv act this corrupt administration may do. t have no word for such. God made them slaves, and it would be an impiety to effect a liberation of suuh. I will give way to my friend Mr Shcean, thanking you again and again for this demonstration in favor of civil liberty and personal security. We may now say tho padlock is taken off our mouths. The back bone of arbitrary arrests is bro- ken, civil and constitutional liberty once more proclaimed, and may the infa- mous scoundrel be paralizcd, when he seeks to introduce again a rci.^n of ter- ror, or hold the. rights and liberties of any ot our citizens by despotic power. 1 will take an early occasion to address you fully, giving you my experience. In conclusion ; stand by the Constitution ! Any man high or low, in office, or out of office, that would violate it, on any pre- text, or tor any purpose, is a traitor. land is in mourning for some brave hiend or relation, who has perished in this fratri- cidal war, we are devastating the South bankrupting the North and destroying a'l constitutional liberty North and South. T iVe are given over to moon struck fanati- cism and tho attempt now is to adminis- tcr this government on the principle of freedom to the Negro, and Slavery to the white mpn. I am in opporition to all suhwar, and for one, will insist it is the duty, and our Legislature should call back our brave troops, until this war is prosecuted within the Constitution and for tho purport of tho restoration of the Union, with all its rights as they were, ■■ ■ i ! »y the masses. A dozen bonfires crowned the high places by which the city is surround- ed. The murky darkness of the night was dispelled by numberless rockets, and the city was adorned by brilliant illumin- ations, and elegant transparencies. At the Depot thousands were in waiting to welcome to their homes the now "hon- orably discharged" victims of lawless pow- er, and on the ai rival of the train which brought Messrs. Johnson and Sheean from Chicago, shout after shout, and cheer af- ter cheer, went up in testimony of the jo that was felt by every heart, while the ve- ry heavens were lit up by a [grand display of fire-works, and by innumerable tore ht is borne by the joyful and deeply excited crowd. A short but eloquent speech of welcome was delivered by Mr. Shisslcr, at the house of Mr. Johnson, which was feel- ingly responded to by Mr. Johnson and Mr. Sheean. They were then escorted through the principal streets, to the cit\' hall. On the arrival of the procession, the display of fire-works was magnificent beyond description, and the exultant cheers of the multitude were sufficiently powerful to "create a soul under the ribs of death." Here the large assemblage was addressed by Messrs Johnson, Sheean, Mahony, Richards, Samuels, Hutchins, and Baggs, after which the crowd adjourned—. but only for a time ; for nearly the entire night was spent in rejoicings over thi* sig- nificant event of the day. ltwas observed, that, while the houses *nd stores of the friends of constitutional liberty were splendidly illuminated, and adorned with appropriate transparencies, those under the control of the devotees and instigators of arbitrary arrests were in darkness — a condition in keeping with that into which they have plunged our country by their unlawful and unconstitu- tional acts. While we exult in the con- templation of the result which has called forth this triumphant demonstration,we can do no less than to sympathise with those> who, blind to the great facts embodied in our politicel institutions, and intoxicated by the accidental possession of "a little brief authority," have lent themselves to the perpetration of abuses and insults which will be long remembered to their disadvantage. The solemn farce of Black RepublicanAbolitionism is about played out- The people — the intelligent and truly patriotic masses have taken the matter in hand, and are saying to all violators of law, and all who have trampled under foot the sacred guarantees of the Constitu- tion, "thus far you may go, but no further.' The patient ' endurance of the people has been truly amazing. As the Lord liveth, a better and brighter day. is dawning upon us. Let this great demonstration stand as a truthful exposition of the sentiments and feelings of a vast majority of the peo- ple. r J?lio Sastilecl Democrat. BY P. G. FERGUSON. They bore h>ra to a gloomy cell, They barred him from the light, Because he boldly dared to tell The people what was- right. He dared his single voice to '.•ai3^, Agaiust oppression's power. To show by truth's unerring rays The dangers of the hour. They called him bv a traitor's name, And with a fiendish hate Heaped on his head a load of shame, Such as on felons wait. 'They dragged him from his peaceful hearth Upon a tyrant's word, Although the vilest man on earth, Should by the law be heard. They shut him up, but could not chain His free and fearless soul ; The sacred chamber of his braio Was ftee from their control. They could not bind the eagle thought That from his mind took flight, Efface the lesson he hud taught, Or bar the truth from light. For though within a dungeon damp They shut him from the day, They could not quench truth s airy lamp, Tli at burns with fadeless ray. But haik ! upon the sea of life, What sound comes from afar » It is the harbinger of strife, Of red, ensanguined war. ■ It is the people's voice that breaks Like wild waves on the ear ; It is tlie people, w trump that shakes The earth both far and near. Lift up thy head, 0, Martyr brave, Thy chains will brokeu be ; The people come their friend to sav« — Look up thou wilt bo tree 1 ,' i DIHCLON CTXtl^S) I OF THE SECRETS OF AMERICAN BASTILES. in Tin; Speeches of M, Y, Johnson and David Sheeaii, Esqs,, DELIVERED IN GALENA, ILLINOIS, J-j&.JSTTJ^Tl'^Z- S 3 1863. And Published by Request of their Fellow-Citizens. c An Invitation Accepted- Galena January 2d lxr,:'. JA-ws, Mddiion Y. Jo/inson, ami David Gentlemen : — The undersigned solicit you to address the friends of Constitutional Liberty, in the city of Galena, nt Davis' .Hall, on the evening of the 8th day of January, if suited to your convenience, on the subject of your arrest and incarcer- ation in the administration Bastiles : Robert Brand, Fred. Staul, (iiiis. O. Collins, T. S. Parks, "W. Kuhman, F. A. Collins, H. 11. Ckak. Loiis SlllSSLER, B. C. St. Cvk, P. Byrne, J. H. Barry. Callna, January 2d, 1863. 2li'gsrs. Brand, Collins, Staid, Gear 1 , and \ others : Gkntlf.ilex:— It is with pleasure we accept your invitation to address the friends | of constitutional liberty, in the city of ! Galena, at the time and place designated ' by you. M. Y. Johnson, David Siieean. .Introductory Remarks. On being called to- preside over the immenBO gathering of the people at ■ ■ ■ Davis Hall, on the evening of January 8, assembled to listen to the speeches of Messrs. M. Y. Johnson and D. Sheean Esquires, L. S. Everett submitted the following remarks. Friends and Fellow Citizens : — 1 sincerely thank you for the unmerited honor which you have conferred upon me, by calling upon one who is comparatively a stranger among you, to preside over the solemn deliberations of this meeting. Wo have assembled here to-night, to listen to the recitals of two of our fellow citizens,, who in flagrant violation of the oncstitntion of the United States andof the State of Illinois, in open disregard of law, and in obedience only to the criminal behests of a weak and wicked adminis- ration, were, some months ago, seized and dragged away from their homes, and incarcerated in dark and dreary Bastilos. On a contemplation of the objects of this meeting, I confess to you that it seems like being suddenly awakened from a troubled sleep to a realization of a horrid dream. With profound earnestness we inquire if these things can be so V Ac- customed as we have been, to the un- disturbed enjoyment of peace and free- dom, under the protection of wise and beneficent laws, and well understood constitutional guarantees, we are amazed at the rocklessness and folly of those who have, in the exersise of " a little brief au- thority" thus rudely trampled upon the sacred rights of American citizens. But 10 we have the highest authority for saying that those friends of ours who have Wen subjected to the indignities which will be related in your hearing this evening, are not the only ones against whom those great wrongs have been committed. When the divine Master was on earth, he bestowed his blessing upon those who had •ympathitically Bhared the sufferings and ministered to the necessities of his friends and co-laborers. And when his wondering hearers asked, "When saw we thee an hungered and fed thee, naked and clothed thee, sick and in prison and visited thee ?" he replied that inas- much as they had done it unto the least of his friends, they had done it unto him. And so every wrong done to a friend or fellow citizen, is an outrage up- gn the personal rightB of all. We are here, therefore, to listen to the recitals of Mr. Johnson and Mr. Shoean, that we may know the extent of the injuries done to ourselves. They have been taken away from our city without the sanction of law, they have been imprisoned with- out the shadow of an excuse, they have been "honorably discharged" without the poor apology of a trial or even an examination, and they are now here with fnll liberty and ample ability to speak L>r themselves. MR. SHEEAN'S SPEECH. Dtllceied hefore an immense concourse of ■people, assembled in JJai.-is' Hall, on Thursday Evening Jan. 8, 186b. [Published by Kcijuest.! "We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth," said the patriot, in no less eventful times than these. The people of these United States h;ive baeh shutting their «yes to many painful truths, for the lust t\>o years, and more. They have shut thein to the fact that the party notoriously hostile to the Union, Constitution and laws of those States, had obtained control of the foremment, both Sbtti> and National. — hat the man, who but a short time before proclaimed that this Union could not per- manently endure hall' slave and half frefi — - that it must become all one thing or all the other, became the President of the Uni- ted States, and called around him as advi- sers, to the most prominent places in tho Cabinet, Wm. II. Seward, and Salmon P. Chase, two of the three Senators who in I*W voted to rcorivo in the Senate of the United States, a petition to dissolve the Union. They have shut them to the fact that these men once had it in their power to allay the angry storm that was brewing in our land, which burst forth in blood and strife. That under the pretence of patriot- ism they have sought to make their proph- ecy good, and their dogmas paramount to the good of their country. That our im- becile, reckless rulers and their fanatical partisans, sought the war as the best means of accomplishing their "irrepressible con- flict." They have shut them to the fact "that history furnishes no instance where ten millions of people, earnestly believing in the justice of their cause, were ever subdued by war." They have shut them to the fact that "war is disunion, certain, inevitable/' And, blind to all this and much moro, they have offered themselves up to slaughter under the lead of imbeciles, until nearly every child in the land is fath- erless, and every wife a widow ; until ev- ery household is beggared and every com- munity bankrupt, until the clothes we wear — the food we eat; the business we follow, the wages we earn, the air we breathe and the thoughts we utter are pol- luted with the presence of the hungry ex- ciseman , until vice and corruption in the government has become a virtue — until the Constitution which our fathers gave us has been trampled in the dust, and the land consecrated by their heroic deeds is del- uged in blood — its people enslaved — their rights violated, and outraged, while the ne^r i is elevated and the white man de- graded. Is it not time that we open our eyes to the truth ; that we shake off that spell that bound us through a whirlwind of excite- ment, and look our dangers full in the face, and seeing them grasp them like bold and brave men, and thunder it in the ears of the tyrants at Washington that by the eternal the people's voice shall be heeded. [Cheers] It is the bounden duty of the patriot to criticise and condemn the wrongful acts of his rulers ; and he who refuses to do so is a slave to power, or a cringing sycophant unworthy, the name of freeman. It is the part of despotism to crush out all free dis- cussion, to muzzle and intimidate the press, to silence the timid, to imprison and get rid of the fearless, and enforce an abject submission to the will of the would be des- pot. To prevent such acts a free people must be ready to die in defenso of their rights, and meet every usurpation with such firm rwisturo that lynuay wiU 11 quail before the barrier presented. In all ages every infamous and corrupt despot has had his advocates and apologists a nong the people. Office 1 — power — gold, always gains friends without regard to merit. So with this infamous administra- tion, it has its apologists aud upholders in every community, and so numerous are the jobbers, contractors, office holders, money makers and political Charlatans, infecting where they fly and poisoning where they { repose, [cheers] that it is no wonder the! yoica of an honest people is well nigh sti- J tied, and personal liberty well nigh crushed f out. If we mean not to be enslaved — if wc mean to save what is not already de- j atroyed — if we do not intend to have blot- \ ted out entirely the institutions bequeath- f ed to us by revolutionary sires, and come- < crated by the blood of patriots and the pn- \ ticnt sufferings of generations of oppressed j freemen, we must fearlessly, boldly speak . ont that which the people have desired for several months. I repeat, the people must proclaim that we shall have peace. [Tre- mendous cheers. ] That a dishonorable ' warfare, made so by this administration, ! shall give way to an honorable peace. The soldiery desire it, the patriot desires it and } the people will have it ! The corrupt Cab- inet and office holders in Washington will t never make it. They do not desire to sec t the war stop, until every negro is free, and ; ever} - white man a slave; until the. politi- i eal leeches that cling to the nation shall have sucked its life blood out, and filled! their debauched carcasses with the ill got- ten price of their country's ruin — until the Constitution nn( i government which they ; swore to support and uphold, shall have been destroyed. Freemen, you should awake before all is j lost. The administration is fast destroying j the last vestige of liberty — the government | you love—your all. Shall they finish their work ? [Cries of no ! no !] No, no ; let liberty live — let our government survive — let us be free at the cost of everything else. Hurl your condemnation of these lawless acts of our rulers at their heads. — Speak your will to them and then if they heed not — let them take warning from j history. No time can be lost— remember I that "Eternal vigilance is the price of liber- i ty." Do you doubt that they are ruining us V Their history of the last two years J proves it. Besides see how, step by step, '. they have encroached upon our constitu- j tional rights. Time, after time they have deceived you— caught you with the sweet cry of "the flag and the Union," and then when they had their clutches on you,poured on your heads their abolition vinegar. | That's so] The evidences of it are too numerous to he all attended to to-night — The system of arbitrary arrests is perhaps one of the most unwarranted, dangeroos and high handed of them all. Being a fresh victim of that system, I propose, at the risk of being tedious, to give you n little of its secret history, and that of the Bustile, Fort La Fayette. In the fore part of August last that in- estimable piece of corruption, K. B. "W ash- bin ne, with others, held a private consult- ation in the city of Chicago, at which it was determined that myself and Mr. John- son should be arrested and sent away from our homes. Towards the last of the month, after conspiring with his tools here, he left for Washington, and on his arrival there a telegraphic dispatch by order of the Sec- retary of War was sent over the wires, di- recting that we be conveyed to Fort 1* Fayette On the evening of the 38th of the same month I was taken out of my of. fice, upon this dispatch— denied the privi- lege of leaving a letter te tell what bad happened — my carpet sack taken around a back street sous not to attract attention, and myself conducted along another, a prisoner, to the cars, and whirled off to New York city, thence by Kennedy's drtec- tive taken to Fort Hamilton, a receipt given for us by Lt. Col. Burke, who summoned a guard of eight men — put four in front and four behind, and marched us to the wharf ami into a boat to cro*s into the middle of the channel to our prison, Fort La Fayette. While we crossed we could observe the dark, dungeon like walls of the octagon shaped prison, black, frowning and solita- ry, rising out of the fofiinmg sua. The thought came hurriedly to our mind -is this republican America, or have the em- blems of French and Austrian despotism come to us ? We were taken to the pres- ence of the Lieutenant commanding, our watches and money demanded, and taken by him with as much audacity as though he was performing an honorable duty. — After our persons and baggage were search- ed we were then put into a battery with f< rty -seven others, furnished an iron stretcher and a muttrass, a blanket, and a single sheet for our bed*. This battery, bum which 1 and others were transferred to cell No. 2, has a brick floor, and five cannon mounted on carriages. The- place was filthy, damp and dark — the air fueted. This is the place so truthfully and graphic- ally described by Gov. Morehead. Heie I waii the place where, but a few months be* 12 fore, b dying prisoner was denied a light, to let his companions witness his death .struggles, to administer to him comfort in his last hours, or close his.eycs •when dead. And here we found ourselves prisoners of State, shut in from home and kindrued, no titled that the employment of co nsel to assist us would he an aggravation of our offence, and the process of the co urts to reach ns, defied and prevented, by an armed somfery and a brass six pounder, de- risively called the "Habeas Corpus," to guard the entrance and sweep out of exist- ence the Sheriff and his posse, should thej- dare to enter for our relief. And here we were subjected to the rigor and petty tyranny of a shoulder strapped turnkey, who compelled us to submit to the .taunts and insults of his sentinels, put over us night and day, and reprimanded or punished us if wo retorted, or resented them. Some of these took every occasion to insult us, others sympathized with us. We were compelled to goto the sally port, and ask permission of the Sergeant to go to other prisoners' quarters, or to draw a bucket of water out of the cistern at our (iwn doors. The same permission was re- quired to get coal or wood. We were com- pelled, also, to stay in our apartments or within a space of fifteen feet square in front if them, except for a few moments morn- ing and evening, when all the prisoners but Soule, Mazzarau and Thomas, were allowed to mingle together in the open . o-.irt, about thirty yards square, within the walls of the fort. This was all the exercise we were allowed. The wives and friends of those who came to visit the inmates after going to Washington and as a great favor obtain- ing a pass from Sec. Stanton to enter, were required to hold their conversations in hearng of the commandant, and their interview was limited to one hour. Such letters as we were prcmittcd to receive wero deliverd to us already open and rend, and those we sent out delivered open to be examined and disposed of as the commandant paw proper. If thoy contained anything of complaint or cen- nure against him, they were returned to ih« writer for alteration, if ther" was any- thing in them against tho Moguls at Washington they were sent to that city ns "treasonable." (laughter.) Thus was our keeper a spy upon the prisoner and all his correspondents outside. At sun- down we were compelled to "get into our holep," and tho doors wero locked upon ub while the window upon tho same Bid e and large enough to get a man through was led open— were not allowed to talk or .have a light after 9 o'clock, and on one occasion before my arrival there, I was informed, that the prisoners were fired upon through the port hole, by the sentinel outside, who heard them talking after that hour, and he was promoted for gallant conduct, (cries of shame.) The soldiers were not permitted to converse with us, or we with them ; and when one of them fixed our windows and fire grate, an oflicer and armed sentinel stood by for houry, while it was being done to prevent communication. If a ship had to be fired upon to make her return and report to the revenue cutter, we were locked up while it was being done, and on one oc- casion when the British ship Dispatch refused to return, but anchored under the guns of the fort, we were thus kept for forty-eight hours. Were also locked up whenever those in solitary confinement were taken to the commandant's presence. Those who did not have the means to furnish their own provisions, and cook them, were compellcdjto eat 6alt pork, bread and poor coffee for breakfast, — the same for dim-er, substituting water for coffee, and the same for supper minus the pork- Every Friday they were supplied with a raw onion (prolonged laughter,) the whole served out upon old rusty tins, placed on each sido of a greasy pine board on "horses" and guarded while it was being eaten with a sentinel armed with a musket and fixed bayonet. After diseaso began its work thisfood was varied by an occasional piece of beef and vegetables by order of the Physician to preserve health- In addition to all this barbarism and much more that I have not time to des- cribe, one of our number, John Hipkins was put in the guard house a darkened place six feet long by two wide, and there compelled to stay and sleep upon tho bruk floor without bedding or covering for twelve days and nights. This punish- ment was inflicted because he jerked a chair out of another prisoner's handwhich was in dispute between them. (Oh! oh! and cheers.) And 1 was iuformed by three of my messmates who experienced it, that at one time last winter, they were compelled to draw, and even to go down and dip water out of" a cistern, in which the washings from tho kitchen flowed in consequenco of the ice filling the gutter through which it usually ran. Thia water they had to boil and skim before 1 13 using, nrid would gel a tea-crip full of filth out of a gallon of it. (erios of shame) Ne- cessity ' did not compel the use of this water— no not even "military necessity," for at (he same time there were two other Cisterns in the fort full of ch an water. It was done as we used to ss^y, out of "pore cussedness." Such galling acts of petty despotism and barbarity, are un- paralleled in the annals of history — would he incredible if not actually witnessed and felt, and coulju havo no ether ohject than to attempt to degrade and humiliate those upon whom they are practiced. The commandant Lieut. Wood excuses hurt- s' If by saying these are his orders. Con- victed felons could no:, bo treated worse; yet very few have ever been able to guess why they were so treated — none have haen informed of it or of whom Ins accu- sers were, and out of ail the numerous political prisoners incarcerated, not one Fnis been allowed a trial; but were turned Ooi as arbitrarily as they were put in. On l,ho 2!)th, of August I wrote to Judge Advocate Turner, whose name was signed to the dispatch for my arrest, re- questing him to inform me what were the charges against mc, and who were my accusers; and although he acknowledged its receipt, at a personal interview after- wards, he never answered it, and never did inform \w. On the 4th, of December J wrote to the Secretary of War, renew- ing to hiin my request for information, and demanding if he had any charges against me or any to make to give me a trial, and an opportunity Id refute them, Yet he has been as silent as the grave. And the petition of of i(H>0, of my fellow citizens, copies of which were sent to Tur- ner and the Secretary of War, asking for a trial, has bteen treated with contemp- tuous silence. On the 12th, of December an order for my release upon parole, was road to me and my answer request d. J refused to submit to any conditions for my liberty, (prolonged cheers. ) The next evening I was released uncondition- ally. Thus after being kidnapped from home without process of law, condemned without, trial, and imprisoned without crime, I was released without being in- formed of even a pretended charge or an apology made for the wrong committed upon me. And not only all this, hut they undertook to enforce upon mo with as much right to do so, as the robber has to take your money, an infamous condition, to palliate their wrong. 1 was in a differ- ent situation from the noble patriot and fearless defender of truth, D.A. Mahoney, and therefore refused to accept it. I was ybuhg : and healthy — hed no family reques- ting my presence and attention. He was aged and broken in health, and although he might sacrifice bis own life to get his rights— he would have no right to sacri- fice his family. He was their protector and preserver, and it would have been criminal in him to withhold that protec- tion, even at the expense of a conditional releas. (Cheers. 1 But to thoso who knew his situation and advantage of it, the world would have nought hut scorn and indigna- tion. His name will bo honored while theirs will be held in execration, and handed down through nil time as tides of infamy for them and their posterity. (Re- newed cheers. | I must now give you a brief sketch of some of my fellow-prisoners. Among the first brought in after our arrival, was an Irishman from Penn. Dennis Dickey, a man that would not set a river on fire, much less overthrow this government, (daughter) taken out of his potatoo patch dirty and ragged, from a family of six little helpless children, he was not allowed to change his clothes or see his wife, who knew not where he had gone, until a week afterwards. On his way to the Bastile he was offered his liberty if he would give information against bis democratic neigh- bors, (sensation) hut coming from a country where the informer is justly des- pised, in the manliness of his heart lie indignantly replied, he had nono to give, and if ho had he "did not come to this country to turn informer." He was re- leased after six weeks imprisonment npon taking an oath to obey King Abra- ham. (Laughter.) Another, was Mr. Herkimer from Otsego Co, N. Y. a farmer fifty years of age kept three weeks, and .released upon giving bond that his son 22 years old would respond if drafted. The son was doing business for himself, but was living with his father, and had left of his own accord. Another, David Bendann, of Baltimore, a tlagucrrcan, supposed to be imprisoned for putting out of his office a IT. S. officer who abused and insulted him — kept several months and released without trinl. Another, («. W. Porter a "loyal'' man of the same place, an editor of a c"inm»r- cial paper, supposed to be put in for pub- lishing news that depreciated U. S. stocks in New York city. The 'Herald, publish- ed the same news two days afterwards — 14 Kept four months, and released without apology. He says he never hears any news now a days. Fort Lafayette has cured him of the desire to get news. (Laughter. ) Another, Wm. II. Childs, a Vormon- ter, who had made his home in Alabama, married in Ohio, where his wife died in 1801. after which he attempted to return. home for which he was arretted by Gen- Grant, put in irons, sent to Camp Butler, there kept a week in winter, in a board house, tbon sent to Fort Lafayette, kent there thirteen months without a charge against him,and now uncondition- ally released. Ex-Congressman Ed.son B. Olds, of Ohio, a firm unflinching patriot, and a terror to tyrants, whose name and treatment you are already familiar with — his room bro- ken into at night — taken out of a sick bed. hurried off to the Castile— stripped ot his clothing, his money, watch, spectacles, medicine and other valuables; all the other prisoners locked up so that they could not see him, and he placed in a soli- tary dungeon, with double guard over him, denied a light, books or paper, and even the bible, which he asked for. And in his sick condition, this sufferer of sixty years of age, was compelled for twenty-two days to eat salt pork and bread, and 'rest his aged limbs upon an iron stretcher, with a single muttrass, — his only pastime to keep his almanac upon the wall of his dungeon with a rusty nail. No wonder that the Herjreant who handed his nork and broad to him, exclaimed, in the bitterness of his heart, " It is a shame to treat him so." He was thus treated, for making a democratic speech at his home, a little in advance of the time when democrats did speak out. And after four months of imprisonment ho waB turned out, unconditionally, without examination, but not until after it, was tried to make him bend the knee to the corrupt Moguls at Washington. May he yet make the ears of Gov. Tod and Lincoln feel the sting of an honest injured man's lasb. (We hope so and cheers.) Another, , lames R. Butts, a private cit- izen from Macon, Georgia, sixty years old, a cotton planter and dealer, who voted for Douglas for President in I860. He was taking a pleasure ride in a boat,which upset and ho was picked up by a man of war, lying off the coast of his State, and in Audi last he was sent to Ft. Lafayette and kept there until the 20th ol Novetn her. Jn addition to his other afflictions while there his wife died, leaviDg a8 his only consolation, a beloved daughter, then going to school in Ponnflylvania. — When she found out her father's condi- tion, she wished to see him, but the old gentleman could not bear to sec his child in such a place. He had a prospect of getting out, and sent for his daughter to come and stay in New York until he should be released. She enme, but he was not free. She longed to see her lather, and proposed that she would go to the wharf, at Ft. Hamilton, with glass in hand, and he should stand at Ft. Lafayette wharf, with a glass, and each look at the ether— a day was appointed but the weather was bad — another day was anxiously fixed — it came, and the father and daughter wer« separated only by four hundred yards of rolling sea — ■the glasses were raised, and the choked utterances of " my father"' — " my daughter," were born upon the breeze. Three sweet hours were thus spent in realizing " how near and yet how far apart they were.'' But when he returned to his cell and for a week after- wards, my heart was filled with sorrow and compassion, as I heard him say, with tears in his eyes— ^" I wish I had not seen her- I feel worse than I did before." — Another, Samuel Barry, called the Com modore because, he was a seafaring man,- was sent to the Fort in July last— no charge whatever preferred against him. In September he was offered his release upon taking the "oath" but being sensi- tive of bis honor he refused — his impris- onment constantly preyed upon his mind, and after much mental struggle, he fold the commander in November that be would take the oath. No attention how- ever seemed to be paid to his offer. His mind became more troubled. until j it began to loose its balance, and finally I tumbled from its seat, and he became a raving maniac, and in this condition he was released on the LUh of December upon taking the oath of allegiancs. — (Shame, shame.) O what a contemptible administration wc have, that requires an oath even from a maniac, to excuse and cover up its hide- ous outrages. If you, Abraham Lincoln, and Secretary Stanton, have souls as large as a mustard seed, you should tromhlo be- fore, your God at this iniquity alone. — Commandant Wood was professionally no- tified that Barry was boconting insane, by Dr. Olds, a week before ho became entire- ly so; and two weeks beforo he was re- leased, Wood said he reported the case to Washington, yet thus waa he continued in JT 15 prison and thus released. I might enumerate other cases which my i friend and and co-partner in prison wiil relate, and still others.of boys, deprived of the guidance of parents anJ iho correc- tion necessary to youth — of old men, whose silver hairs and tottering g;dt show that the grave is near, and that death will soon relieve them from the walls of Lafayett ; and the troubles of the world, hut I will pass them, and finish with Stephenson the negro, a regular South Carolina rebel [laughter] who would always put " Stone- wall'' Jackson against the best Northern general his companions, the cooks could startup. He &nd his "massa," were tak en in rnning the blockade, and consigned to Ft. Lafayette,— " Steve'' to the cook house, his "massa" to the battery. Steve was told one Gay that "massa" was going to take the oath; he said it wasn't so — "massa" was as good a Southern man as he was." [Gnatlaughier.] The prisoners, and among them Steve, had frequently written to Washington in relation to their cases, but could get no answer. One of them told Steve to write and tell them that he was a colored man. [Laughter | He did so, and in a few dtys after he got an answer, and a discharge. (Tremend- ous cheers and laughter. | The negro alone could get an official answer from Washington, and have attention to his case. Turning from these it is with pleasure that I mention the names of Francis Hop- kins, the prisoner's friend, living near P't. Hamilton who contributed in various ways to the comfort and convenience of the un- fortunates. And Mrs. Gelston, also, liv- ing close there, whose many kind and gen- erous contributions made us feel that an angel's hand administered unto us. May God bleBu them and give them in theii heart, that sweet consolation of having doue good, which alone can make earthly recompense for such noble acts. Had this system of arbitrary arrests the semblance of law, the manner in which it is conducted, and th victims would be sufficient to condemn it. But when wo lind that it is in palpable vio- lation of law, and the oaths of its conduc- tors, it is most aecursed, most damnable. The colonists, in the Declaration of Inde- pendence, complained of George the III for "atfecting to make the military inde- pendent of, and superior to the civil pow- ers" — "for depriving them, in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury" and " for transporting them beyond the seas for pretended offences." All these usurpa- tions have been re-enacted in America, by Abraham the 1st and his Cabinet. Yet the people have not rebelled. They have sent the citizens of these States, for pre- tended offences, beyond the jurisdiction of the courts denied them a trial by jury, and justified it on the tyrant's plea of "mil- itary necessity." claiming that the mili- tary was superior to the eivil power, and making it. so by frequent open defiances ot the process of the Courts. And that, too, in States where the judges of courts and public opinion thirsted with the desire to punish, severely, even a symptom of dis- loyalty, or the least infraction of law by thes? who were made the victim of this ar- bitrary power. Abraham Lincoln on the 4th of March 1861, in pi esence of high Heaven and the people of the nation, took tho following oath. " I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the United States." Secretary Stanton and all the President's Cabinet, took an oath to sup- port that constitution. That constitution provides, that •' The trial ofall crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by Jury, and such trial shall be held in the State where the said crimes have been committed." (Art. 3, Sec. 2, cl. 3.) Yet in violation thereof and their oaths to support it, Secretary Stanton with the knowledge and approval of President Lincoln, transported us and hundreds of others cut of our own States upon pre- tended offences, they announced their in- tention of trying us not by jury, but by a militar)' inquisition. That constitution further provides that " In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime bo in- of the the the shall h avo been committed formed of the. nature and treatment of its j accusation ; to be confronted with witness against him ; and to have and cause assistance of counsel for his defence" (Amend. Art. C.) Yet in violation thereof, and their oaths to support and preserve it, Secretary Stanton with the knowledge and approval of President Lincoln, took us nr-'.d hundreds of others, out of the State and district where they pretended an offense was committed, denied us a rial by jury, refused to inform us of tho cause or nature of tho accusation againj 16 ue, refused to confront us with the wit- nesses against us, or inform us who thoy were, refused to let us have counsel, and notified us that the employment ol such would he an aggravation of our offense. • That constitution further provides that " The freedom of speech and of the press shall not be abridged. That no person Bhall be deprived of lile, liberty, or property, without due process of law,, [Amend, art 1 and 5 . ] Yet in violation thereof and their oaths to sup port and preserve it, Sec. Stanton with the knowledge and approval of Pre siden Lincoln, has imprisoned hundreds of honest men, for exercising the freedom of Bpeech, and differing in opinion, with them and dissapproving of their law less acts. They have abridged the freedom of the press and denied its issues circula- tion through the mails. They deprived us and hundreds more ofonr liberty without any due process of law, war- rant or authority, whatever, known to the laws of the land. The constitution of our own State pro- vides that no "freeman shall be imprisoned or in any manner deprived of his life liberty or property, but by judgment of his peers or the law of the land"(Art, 13, Sec. 8.)"That no person shall be liable to be transported out of this State for any offences committed witbin the same" (Art 13 Seo. 18.) Richard Yates, before he entered upon the duties of his office as Governor, took a solemn oath to preserve and protect that Constitution. Yet for the last year he has witnessed the trans- portation of the citizens of Illinois out of this State for alleged pretended offences committed within this State, and imprison- ed in foreign Bastiles, without "the judgment of their peers" and ugainst "the law of the land." And he has not only quietly set by and permitted these outrages to be perpetrated, but actually approved of it, and refused to demand a return of the citizens of this State for examination, to answer any charges that might be brought against them. Shame I on the curupt imbecile at the bead of our State Government. May the glorious \ State of Illinois ne ver be disgraced by Much another.(Applause) How he sinks into insignificance when compared with his Republican compeer, Gov. Oldan of New Jersev, who protected the citizens of that State" from arbitary arrest by his firmness in meeting the usurpations of the Washington dynasty with a determin- ation to resist all such villianous exeraiso of power. These violations a!ot>e of constitutions and oaths would be enough, in any other country, to consign their violaters to the block, and their apologists to infamy. — ■ But tbey shall not in this country escape their justpunishment. Eternal truth shall triumph over vvroug, and the guilty shall meet their doom, lie who subverts the constitution and laws ofhia country, be. be high or low, President, Governor or cit'zen is a traitor. He who violates his oath is a perjurer, and those who abet and justify it are accessories to the crime, and must all meet a common fate. (Give it to them.) Already the United States marshal and the affidavit makers concerned in these violations of law are in jail for their acts in Trenton Xew Jersey upon the indict- ment of a grand jury, (applause.) And from the indications Sec Stanton will be indict- ed in New York, for kidnapping, by au honest law abiding jury under the charge of the upright and fearless judge Hoffman. (Applause.) And the fool of Lincoln, Stoughton Bliss, who arrested Hr. Olds of Ohio, and conveyed him to the Bastile, has been held to bail in the sum of $1000, to answer an indictment that will send him to the penitentiary for this lawless act. (Immense applause.) — Our own State laws provide for confin- ment in the penitentiary of persons guilty of similar offences. And when this Jaw shall be vindicated in this State as it surly will, we shall see those who were laugh- ing in their sleeves at the temporary triumph they had achieved over Mr. Johnson, myself and others, wearing the. uniform of a convict at the public expense, (tremendous and continued applause.) This Administration and its minions may, now as heretofore, proclaim, like Shakespeare's Richard III, "Our .strong arms be our conscience and the sword our law,'' and set at defiance the man- date of the courts and the penalties of the law. But let thorn remember that like Shakespeare's Richard, their course of infamy though flourishing for a time, will have an end. and the good and noble of the land will shout Hqsannft when "The bloody dog is dead," and honost men are left to " enrich the time to come with smooth faced peace" (Cheers.) Had one of the thousands of political prisoners, arrested and imprisoned in Dungeons by the executives of this nation, violated a tithe as much of the law and constitution of their country as has been done in 'their treatment, tho people IT would not complain, but say be was rightly served. How, then, Bball they who are the sworn custoaians of the con- stitution and law, escape the just punish- ment meeted out to the faithless and perfidious servants ot the people who have become the destroyers of constitu- ions and assassins of liberty. "Military necessity" wiJl not save them when justice with her uplifted sword demands the forfeiture. The forfeit of their crimes will be demanded and rendered up. (Cheers.) There are around us too, and in our midst, a set of base and servile tools, informers and spies, for this most cor- rupt and infamous administration. Post- Masters 10 break open and read your letters, judges who deny the great writ of liberty the "Habeas Corpus," a set of affidavit makers,ready to swear by whole- sale, a puck of street-hounds, smelling at the heels of every democrat, and bark- ing at their every honest expression. A class of scurvy sneaks and cowardly detainers— stabbing us in the back, and •milin^in our faces. The whole the corrupt offspring of a disgraceful and detestable system, established by this Puritan Abolition .Republican Adminis- tration. Can these escape punishment? tome of them have taken rope enough to hang themselves, and the rope shall be pulled upon them. The rest will be shunned as fiends whose presence is a pest and whose touch is pollution. (Loud applause.) You have, too, a home guard here. ' (Laughter) What is it for? to uphold the law ? Who else has violated law but its friends? Have not democrats the upon the blood of their sister sects, and now, in the name ot liberty, they are hurling from its foundations every stone in that temple, and putting their heels on the necks of every freeman. We have been saddled with their schoolmasters, to poison the youth, their preachers do dis- grace the pulpit (that's so) mingling the purity ot heaven with the abolitionism ot earth and hanging the tatters of a political : piety upon the cross of an insulted Savio'. uet be | Tbeir politicians to curse the land with j their intrigues, and blight it with their j doctrines. And we have been saddled ; with their yankee Washburnes, to 'Strike lusty blows for freedom (laughter) ten feet from hi? shoulder; to skedaddlo from Bull Run battle field (derisive laughter; i and to imprison democrats. Through ! these the people were deceived -demora- | iized — abohtionized. For thirty yesrs : this school has made its onslaughts upon the Constitution of the United States, and institutions of the Union, stamping the former as a "league with death, and a covenant with hell" — laboring' and pray- ing, petitioning and threatuing the disso- lution of the Union — resisting the law, and casting odium upon honest and faith- ful judges — making odious and untruth i'ul comparisons between the two sectious of the country — teaching the "higher law' ; and "irrepressible conflict'' doctrines, until, finally, these demons in the disguise of virtue succeeded in getting control of the general government, and a majority of the State Governments ! Then came hovering over us the threatning cloud of war, disunion, blood, and strife: then was a lime for Abraham Lincoln to make him- self a more than Washington, and his sup- friends of liberty been the only sufferers ! porters to gather more than revolutionary from a violation oflaw; Is it intended to • fame. It required but compromise to protect there victims from arbitrary ar- ,' prevent the coming strife; statesmen rest, from illegal imprisonment, from i urged it, patriots hoped for it, and chris- mob violence? No, my friends, it is in- tiana prayed for it. But the abolition tended to stifle free speech, to put down demigod pointed to the Chicago Platform the friends of liberty, nd silence ! as his guide, and his followers cried out opposition to the galling despotism at- tempted to be fastened upon us. They have insulted the citizens of this city by their presence too long already. I have only to say to this guard let them beware how they tread on freemen. (Loud cheers; The people of this nation have already paid the penalty of entrusting the lights of Government to the New England school of fanatics. That Puritan school has been for years sapping the foundation of civil liberty. In the name of religious freedom they fed their bigoted cannibal appetite this Union is not worth a rush without a little bloodshed/' The hearts of patriots sunk within them. The treateniug storm burst upon ns like a tornado. Sixty days | after sixty days, ana ninety days after ninety days was it promised, that peace J should come, and we be again a united i and happy people. Millions upon millions of dollars were called for and expended. Five hundred thousand upon five hundred thousand men were called for, until a million and a half of Northern soldiers were under arms. — is Thousands upon thousands perished in theeanip, or were slaughtered upon the battle held, until mourning millions sent up a wail of sorrow from every house- hold in the land. Still we were cunningly promised that all shia waa for the Union, its peace and prosperity, until the execu- tive unable any longer to conceal what his acts always" foretold, openly proclaim- ed that it was all for the emancipation of the ne^ro ! A nation bankrupt for the r.egro. *[Say it again.] The Union of these States destroyed for the negro. The Constitution subverted for the negro — Three hundred thousand Northern lives lost for the uesro. Southern cities burn- the bayonet. You know this must be done even if you succoed. "What, then, becomes of our free government, "deriving its just powers from the consent of the governed"? Is it not destroyed and a military despot- ism erected in its stead. [Yes ! Yes !] — \V hat noes it profit you to save the Union, if you destroy liberty, to do it ? "When you lose your liberty you lose everything. 1 know not what may be your choice, but for toe I would rather die a freeman, than live a slave. I would be free in the whole Union if I could, for I love it all. But 1 would prefer to live under a tree govern- ment having far its territory the single State of Illinois, than to live under a des: ed sacked, andSouthern homes desolated, J potism encircling the whole of ^orth their people threatened with estei mina- j America. [Continued applause.] 1 am tion and attempted to be subjugated, that i therefore for peace and liberty, and against the negro might revel on the ,ioil drenched '■ -i. ->»«n,i A aon ^;* m x^a t «-mrlH at .nri tH:> with the blood o*' their masters. Oh what a horrible picture to contem- plate. What a terrible punishment awaits that murderous, bloodstained, law-ubus- ing.abolition Republican party. [Cheers.] The world will condemn them, man- kind will despise them, and history will brand them with an infamy bo dark, so deep, so damning* that the cheeks of a future generation will tingle with burn- ing shame when they hear their father's name coupled with that hideous word, ab- olitionists. [Loud applause.] I have bat little more to say. In my judgment there has been blood letting enough to satisfy even the .Michigan Chan- dler, "and his blood thirsty followers. — Those men who are constantly crying out for war and vengeance, urging everyoody else to peril their lives, but dare not risk their own — those summer soldiers and sunshine patriots brave in their tongues but cowardly at heart. My Republican patriot, I would ask you in all candor, what have you gained by this war '? Cod knows vou have made us ail lose el tough, but what have you gained ': You have sot a few Hundred »egWW>e tree, bin see the cost o: it. Alter eighteen months C jf blood and ■trifo, you are farther to-day hv-m subdu- ing the South, than v» hen you began* and every day of hs continuance widens the breach between the two sections of the country. .Are (here those amOKg you whohonestlj believe yet, that this pniqn can be preserved by war ; Let me ask war and despotism. And I would send th i tidings round the world, and rumbling ! through the tottering thrones of Europe, ] that amid national death and disunion me 1 spirit of liberty triumphantly rode the ! stormy wave of passion and disorder, and i found a resting place in the. heart of every I American. [Applause]. We owe allegi- j anee to the Constitution and laws of our • country, but we owe no allegiance to any j man or set of men. [Cheers, j We owe i none to the lawless acts of this administra- tion — we owe none to its system of arbi- j trary arrests — to its subversion of State j sovereignty — to its emancipation policy — I to its violations of oath and Constitution. j And to submit to them longer is not patri- ! otism, but cowardice. [Appiause.j If they are attempted to be forced upon us at the point of the baj'Onet, I for one am ready to shed my blood in defence of lib- erty and Constitutional lights. [Long confined applause.) MR. JOHNSoS'S SPEECH. Delicered In/orr, an ii/ttiunst eoncdiwat i>j people, asptntyfd in. Jhuix' Roll, o;» Tharsda;/ Kci -iiiinj Jan, 3, ISGii. Mi: [Published »«y Hrijuest.] Cu.V1K.V1.IlN AM) VOl MY I'KLLOW Clf- rzi\s : --It rejoices my heart, to be again to address Vou in this Hall. abh My (Jietne is not politics or party, on this pa- you, blind and misiak.-u as you are, sup- ; jj^U s _ ; :,, .>..,./, .. ..<■;..,, tin. unnth I . pose you snoveu in conquering the south, i , and place au aim} hi every town, and a soldier at the uoo'r en every rcl.^i, to exU'j force abedienee to the law at the point of casion. I am here by your request, to some little part of the Lnliimy, ami — -iy, and 'despotism of this, tie.- most imbecile, wicked, and corrupt administra- tion that" has -'over oTsgraceu a free people or imperilled civil liberty. I* I need make no a polog y or excuse to you for using strong language, when you take into consideration the ftfct that I am «.Deahinp of the Usurpations and violations of nil the sacred guarantees'thrown around us by our fathers. When tin: fair fabric of freedom is assailed, a reign of terror attempted on the part of those in power, free speech avid a free press suppressed, sndthe v.-ry palladium of our liberty, the '■on.st.itution of our country, is violated and lies bleeding at every pore, and that, at the hands of those who had sworn to pro- tect it, making the double crime of perjury and destroying the birthright of your children and mine, by the aets of the peo- plb',9 servants. lam aware it is regarded by those in power, as a crime, to speak of the tyranny and violations of personal rights, by the present administration, but, '.hat rule does not apply tome. T have paSB the penalty, and 1 propose to talk as b moecddli an ArtlGrtetn citi/.en and take t!ie reiiKequcni.T . I intend on this evening to recount to you some of the usurpations and despot- isms of this administration. And allow mr here to remark, there is something in the doctrines of this abolition party, not only destructive to all constitutional gov- ernment* hilt ih our social and political as- Boo&tions it is equally blighting. Not even docs the judicial ermine escape its polluting influence, Wherever the demon of abolitionism fixes its fangs, fanaticism takes the place of law and order, and the judge on the bench, partaking of its influ- en&t yields to the mad fanaticism, "there is no safety anywhere. It reduces the whole community to the degradation of! b' ing subject to -pies and informers. — The most sacred domestic relationship is invaded, your hind girls are examined to km>w where you go, who you associate with, and what your eon vev;..;itb ;n in your family is about, and all this, with perjury addbd — to keep a man imprisoned that they dare not even acedse of a crime. I was arrested in the presence of the Court, while defending a murder case, not only without any authority, but without any of the forms of law, and transported, in violation of all constitutional guarantees across six free states to a military prison. No court raised its voice even to say in the mildest terms.this is a violation of law. But, on the contrary, when ihe Joffieer stands ready to kidnap me, to expedite bis illegal act, as I could attribute it to no other object, I am forced to conclude, at a night esesion, a defence, where a man ts being lru)d for his life. It" I had no right to complain for myself, of the 'in- warrantable violation of all law in my ar- rest, yet in the name of humanity, I M against bUcii *u> administration of the Criminal Laws of our State. It is true, T was allowed, by permiesion of the officer, to finish the case, by getting the pri-oner sentenced to the penitentiary for his natural life. But I have found out by sa 1 experience, it is not a good plan, to *ry a murder ease, when the attorney is himself being kidnapped in open Court. This. was the include to a darker chap- ter in the history of this infamous outrage, ! overtook Mr. Sheean in Chicago; and we went to Fort Lafayette together. IJa has described p. with our treatment gen- erally. There are some incidents, how ever, which he has not described, and a? the American people have an interest in knowing how this benign government treats free American citizens, they dare not charge, much less try, on any charge of an offence. 1 will call your attention to a few. The first is that of the la' e Minister of me, 1 dared not speak to him unless when the back of the guard happened to be turned to us. There was the Ten crated and distin- guished iludge Carrmchael, a man wbe adorned the Beach,, n fit associate and bosom friend cf the chief Justice, of tbe Supreme Court of the United States — a man in every relation in life, without a peer, 'fids incorruptible Judge, for hon- estly dechriog,on the Bench, that all these ''arbitrary arrest" were in violation of law. arid the persons ordering, and those makn itig the nrrests, wer, 'isblo m indictment, and on conviction to bo confined in tho penitentiary — For this offence, in the es- timation of this corrupt administration, ha was assaulted by the minions of power, while, on the Bench in th > Court, beaten until be was insensible, and dragged to Lincoln's Basiile, where, in its damp and mouldy casemat* -s he suffered a thousand d| aths, from iufiamatorY rheumatism — Yet, like a noble old Roman, he bore it all without complaint. For more than six r 20 long, weary months, was he subjected to outrage and imprisonment for discharging his sworn duty as a Judge ! And to show that their perfidy is only equalled by their cruelty, the Secretary of War gives a release and hands it to Revcrdy Johnson, to mail to him, and ♦hen telegraphs to the officer that it is to be disregarded and not obeyed. Then to taunt r he prisoners, he issues a general order, discharging all political prisoners, and publishes it to the world, and sends a secret order to the officers of the Forts, directing them to disobey the order, and not to discharge any of the prisoners under it, and without discharging anyone, reports toCongress that theyare alldiechar- ged, knowing that as all communications with them must be by his special permis- sion, his perfidy could not be exposed. What must the world think of our free, government, with such a lying caitiff, as this Secretary of war at its head. There was Mr. Powell of Maryland, a distinguished lawyer, and a member of the Legislature, after six months weary im- prisonment, the Secretary of War tele- graphed to the commander," to release Mr. Powell, who is said to have been arrested about the time of Judge Carmicbael, and is supposed to be in Fort Delaware." flow tenderly is personal liberty protected by them. How jealous they must be of the liberty of the citizen, to forget there was such a man in their Bnstiles. There is Col. Zarvouney, who has been in solitary confinement since last Feb- ruary, who is said to have gone crazy, when his aged mother got permission from Stanton to see him, she hnd to see him in the presence of the officers, and before that could be done, every prisoner had to be locked up, and he was then marched out of his gloomy walls under guard of a file of soldiers. There is Lieut. Hipkins, for disputing with a deserter from the Confederacy about a chair, was put into a cell about three feet wide by six feet long, on the bare brick, without even a blanket, and for ten days before 1 left was kept on bread and water. Just before I arrived, one of the priso- ners died. When he was sinfcing^aud it was nn parent lo toe other prisoners he would ■ die before morning, they informed the officer, and begged, for that, night only. i that they might be permitted to have a •- candle, which was refused, and there they i sat in the dark, around his cot marking J the ebbing of life, as they felt the ohunmy sweat on his foreheai, and heard the death- rattle in his throat — when it ceased, his spirit had taken its flight, his body only was the tenant of a bastile. Tyranny had done its worst. Out of 1,500 who have been confined in these forts, every one has a history, and no one h^s ever been tried or convicted. My republican friends, should we not be proud of our Govern- ment, as administered under your Presi- dent, "honest old Abe ?/' I know you will justify it all, because the victims were only Democrats, and they have no rights that this administration is bound to respect. But suppose it was a "free American citizen of African descent." that was treated in that manner, then you would howl indeed, for it is your vo- cation. You may talk of the despotisms of France and Austria during the reign of terror — they can be justified. There it was an outraged people who had been crashed by power, who freed themselves by sangu nary slaughter, with a full knowl- edge of all the crimes that had been per- petrated against them. No wonder they were bloodthirsty. But these are tho crimes and usurpations of the people's servants, without parallel or excess, in the best government the world has ever seen. To make it a parallel case with French history, we must wait until the people determine to restore this govern- ment to its constitutional limits. Then the guillotines, said to be ordered by "Old Abe.*' will be. useful. How Ions; this thing may be tolerated is merely a question of temper, with those Avho love their country. If you but feel the pulse of th<» loyal, you will find the time has already passed, when to oppose, tyranny and usur- pation is treason to the government. The blatant cry that opposition to the adminis- tration is treason, is "plaj'ed out." Tho people can draw the. distinction between the government based on constitutional liberty, and personal security and the wicked usurpations, tyranny and violations of all law, by a Ret of fanatics who happen, as a judgment on us, to get into power. The people are asking themselves who are the the traitors to this government? The men who would preserve and pro- tect it, as our Fathers made it, or the cor- rupt scoundrels, who would justify the acts of an administration, in violatingjevc- ry provision of the Constitution, de- stroying freedom, and rearing a military despotism in its stead, on the plea of ne- cessity. Aye — yes, that 6ame plea of ne- cessity to-day has butchered 300,000 of 21 out btaVte citizens, placed .*>bwiy;guard of I were getting delsperate. Nobody bad armed soldiers around an American Prj r d "thi desperate man" with any ider.f, and at the door of the Secretary of ff e , and a 5 [ would not swear ©ul of War. When history cones to record the jruilt of tho administration of .Abraham Lineoln it will say that tho people stood by in amasement and saw themselves en- slaved for the negro. Their liberties lost to achieve tho freedom ofthe slave. Then indeed our children will answer — who is most to blame, we for standing by and seeing our (JoveThment overthrown, or those wbo committed the deed ? the fort, they found debased tools, who- did swear to alleged private conversation, when no one wa p ■> • the price of on as Sheriff. If any man who knows me, thinks I would take uoh« (Jrear tiffe into my confidence, he is, mistaken; parti ulariy when 1 was arri sted and did on what charge* it is enough for me to say, the '- ; rte thing as stated, is an unmitigated falsehood. But 1 must be guilty of some offense, There are a few matters personal to my- making it n< cessary to prejudice ; self, which I deem it proper to allude to- your eyes, so affidavits axe mads aa i I was incarcerated tor four months, not am,to]d, as I never have seen thorn, rcha*'"^ only without an offence, but, without even i | n g r>r . w jth being aKnow-Nothing is the charge of an ofi'enoe, and turned out as I You will all remember that the same I was anvsted, without, any oath. The charge was made, by Washburne foxfr villains who caused my arrest had not 1 Tears ago, arid said to be on the authority even the courage to make a charge against f these same affidavit-makers. I then mo, and yet these are honorable m n, but assassin-like, when they had got mc confined and knew I could not defend my- self, they commenced a system of perjury, to destroy me if possible. First comes the Ballard affidavit; that charged that it was lie, at a large meet- ing at the Court House, when they were all" present, and called for his witnesses. Iwcsiiot then in a bastjle, whera I conl I not be heard, that makes the differ: enco with the affidavit-makers. I leavo first makes its appearance in the Chicago it to the community to judge, on their own Tribune, on the arrival of E. B. Wash- showing, what credit they are entitled to hurne. With it the charge that I was a j n swearing against me while in a hostile, Knight of the Golden Circle, accompanied 1 when the affidavit-makers, themeelvef with the declaration that Ballard was a dishonored perjurers, in exposing the truthful man, and said they found tho evi- matter, if true, when they proclaim their dence on me of my being a member of the own infamy and falsehood, and then a=k order. What are the facts? I never I you to believe them. Comment is unneces- talked with Ballard in my life on any < srry. subject, and 1 hold in my hand a state- | There is one other matter, and I am ment signed by 19 gentlemen, made after j done in behalf of myself. I allude to that I left the Fort", charging the whole affida- i exemplary ebristain, iu professions, Elder vit to be a wicked, base and ridiculous Houghton of the Advertiser. It could not iileehood; and that Ballard was regarded have es aped your notice, that, that de- bv them and the officers of the post as de lectable sheet, was run some months for ranged, or crazy. They di(/ find on re: my especial benefit. There was nojfe'e what they preiended was evidence of too monstrous for its capacity, no insin- of my beinga Knight of the Golden Cir- nation too base lor its comment and a p- cle, and what do you think if wasl As! proval, not even the Bacred domestic was about leaving, Capt. (-ear handed me relationship Of husband and wife, but he one of his regimental orders No. 2 to or must outrage by falsehood. One would ganize the militia of this State, which was think, when he had contributed so much found in my pocket when they searched Kto outrage me by pablishing every bo me. ThV order waa. the t^e evidence that that malice could invent, on my Ming I was about t* precipiuite you all into the . turned out, without even a charge bejb" bosom ofthe Southern Confederacj . j made against me, somo reparation si Then came tho examination ofthe [girls ■■>■ ve be in made. But no, his littleness of who had livert in my family. , soul is as incapable of, an act of justice, n* If it. were possible for me to talk treason . it is void of truth or a manly impulse. I t^as or hold any intercourse with traitors, they j been a matter of profound study with me were not invited to be present, consequent- | to determine, which element prevails in ly, they did not find out anything worthy ! conducting that paper,malice,hypoericy or of being recorded in an affidavit. Things stupidity. With all his enterprise he has 22 not learned we arc released, and had a grand reception here. He may yet discov- er something — the end is not y.^t. " If we bat watch the hour " There nev'eryet was mortal power " That c6uld evade, if unforgiven " The patient search, and vigii lonjr. " OJ him who treasures up a wrong/' I now solemnly declare to you that 1 have never violated any law of my country and I would he willing to have every of- fence of my Iffe, written on my forehead. Nor would I pull down ray hat to conceal it. But these cowardly miscreants will wear their shame and infamy, like the mark of Cain, iudellihly stamped upon them, to excite the. se>rn and contempt of every honest man. If I could perpetuate the supremo contempt I feel, my glance would wither and petrify thorn, like Lot's wife, to exist an eternal monument of dis- honor and disL'raes Let me give you an incident of how matters of State are conducted. For some great Military reason, it, was found necessary to separate Mr She?an and myself. I was taken to the House of De- tention in New York <~^ity, and put in with negro, slaverF, £e. The Marshal was advised that 1 was "a dangerous man," and had better be ironed, in remov- ing me to Fort delewaro This was the petty malice resorted to, in tin Vain hopo of humiliating mo. But the Millitary reason was explained by <4 QM Abe" to a friend of mine. It ^ne that Sheean and myself had given him more trouble than all the other political prisoners, and he Found it neccessary to separate us, because we were 60 stubborn that he could do nothing with ub, and we were corrupting the other persons in the Fort. That is, in plain English we would not swear out, and our Rt'ybborncss induced others perhaps, to refuse his proffered oaths- — Hence in his statesntaitllike Strategy, he no doubt, supposed that if we were separated, and humiliated by outrage, he could overcome our objections to taking the oath.' Such conduot on the part of tho head of a great Nation, is too degrading to excite even contempt. But. I propose to direct your attention for a few rnomeuts to a question ot mora importance than all others — one involv- ing the dearest interests of mankind. It is not simply your and my interest, and the interest of our children, but it affects civil liberty, the very existance and por- petuity of our present form of Government; j and when such interests are involved, a | man must be a base slave and coward, if i he would not speak out. Our beloved country is in peril! The l temple of liberty is assailed hv fanatics j aud miscreant*. Constitutional Govern- j ment is on trial, and it is the duty of eve.rr ! patriot to peril all to preserve it. I al- - hide to the war now devastating our once 'happy land, without discussing the ques- tion, as to the right of the Government to i coerce a refractory State, under our Gon- i stitution, which the framers of it utterly • ignored, or the other question, admitting j the right to coerce, or who is responsible ! for this war with, all its ruin, deso'ation, J physically and morally: while I have a i distinct conviction, and believe history will show that it was a ba?e conspiracy between fanatics and traitors in New Eng- land, to give freedom to the blacks at the • expenss of the whites. I do not now pro- t pose to discus* that question. But I do j propose to raise my voice against this 1 fratricidal butchiry of our American citi- i aens. to satisfy the cupidity of contractors. ! or the worse than d"mon fanaticism of ! sentimental abolitionists. Let ue come up to the importance of the question. The interests involved are of mure importance than personal liberty, or life itself. It is a question of Constitutional liber- ty, whether we will preserve our Re- I publicati form of Government, as our I Fathers made it. or tamely standby and see the govertomeni destroyed — our broth- ers and friends slaughtered— the South subjugated, and worse than '" Sepoy'' brutality inaugurated ; the North utterly bankrupted, liberty strau^led and a mili- tary de t; v>otifttJ in its stead. That is the question. No. my friends, I am for peace. The bloodthirsty fanatics and government con- tractors may call this treason. If it is, they will soon find it generally adopted. Already the people see the fraud, on the part of those who are resposiblo for this war, and I tell you in the languge of prophecy, i< this war goes on, whether the South achieves their independence or not, The Worth, icillhavt lost hefp!. What is to be accomplished by it, what is it for ? If wc wero to succeed and subjugate the South, as the most crazy fanatic could wish, do we not destroy, not only the Uuion, but our present form of Govern- ment North and South, and in its place Introduce a military despotism more ab- ject than slavery itself. Then, indeed, you would hare Military Governors all 3S over the laud, like Ben. Butler <\nd Hun- ter. No, my friends, thia is an abolition war, conducted lor the benelit ot contractors and negroes, and not to preserve the Gov- ernment. It is a war in which white men have all to lose life, liberty, property, honor and free institutions, lor what ? That the " Free American citizen* of Aiii- can decent" may have, freedom and squalled poverty, and the • white- man slavery, a despotic Government, and taxa- tion. Let me ask my Republican friends.wheu you conquer the South aud free all the pegroea, what are you goin» to do with thtm? Our laws will not allow them to oome to thie State : but .Mr. Lincoln has given us their status. They will be hired out to their old masters for reasonable wages. Cut wnen the Union is restored these will be slave States. My Repub- lican friends say we have destroyed slave- ry — then your whole pretence in fighting for the restoration of the Government 16 a lie, and you prove yourself both a traitor and a hypocrite. Ours, as a Constitutional Government has ceased to exist. The Constitution with the present administration, is uo more regarded than a last year's almanac. Yet you find men sustaining this administra- tion, in all its violations and usurpations, and ready to call you traitor if you insist on constitutional guarantees. Look at our case. Wo were arrested in violation of all law. The sovereignty of the State was invaded; the Constitution of the State was set aside. We were transported be- yond the Stite, and detainta for four months, without even the charge of an oi- ienee, and turned out without ;.ny trial or examination, Or as much as informing us who charged us, or what the pretended charges were, if any, aud yet this great Re- publican patty, both here and in Congress, justify the act, to screen a wicked and corrupt administration. It eeems to eve that this love for the negro, makes men lose all feeling of patriorir'm and regard for justice, law, humanity aud common decency. If a Democrat would eouDtenan.ee, much less justify, such Tyranny, his ehesk would burn with shame. But "it is left for Republicans to show what degradation party is capable of. I turn from the picture in disgust— men become brutish beasts in the tilth and slime of such a f arty, My friends this war should cease. Already the hones of Three Hundred Thousand of our brave fellew-eitizeui lie bleaching on many a well oontested battle field, almost every house in our land is in mourning for the death of some relativivo or friend. How many widows and orphans are thrown on the* cold ohar.tv of the world, our land hroneht to ruin and desolation I Enough blood has been epilt in this causeless and uiiatural war, to satisfy the most blood- thirsty. None but contractors and demo» ffogues, who are fattening on the ruin. of their Country, are in favor of it Let us then, with one voice, demand,, through onr Legislature, that an armis-i ties bo had, that our Troops bo called, home, and we cultivate Peace as zealous- ly as we have cultivated war. If it be Treason to favor Peace, to love my whole Country, its constitutioa and Laws, then indeed am I guilty. In conclusion, my friends, let ma entreat you. to guard, with jealous care Constitutional Liberty, and personal security. Preserve this Government as our Fathers made it, with all its check? and compromises. Resist to the bitter end, all ^violations of Law, and usurpations oi Power, whether it he on the part ot the President or any of his minion?. Dl* charge vour duty faithfully , and a happiej ■ day of Peace over a united Country wil i yet dawn on our once happy land. Tiie Ureat Gathering of th< s People. The Mends of Constitutional Libert? j in the city of Galena, assembled at Davit i' Hall on Thursday evening, January ! 1803. L. S. Everett was appointed Ch&i r- M it ill jd of in ■y, man, John S. Collins Secretary of tl meeting. After a brief and eloquei speech from the Chairman, David Sheoi addressed tli3 meeting, and was follow* ! by M. Y. Johnson. The speeches Messrs, Sheean and Johnson portrayed vivid and burning language, the cruel! injustice and wrong which American ai ti- zens had endured in the abolition basti ies of the present administration, deseril jed the tyranny and corruption of the i nee who administer this government, andl ield them up as objects of public scorn and execration. Their narrative of the sU ffer- ings and privations of our citizens, s iade the tears glisten on many a manly ct leek, jwkil* their eloquent appeals in behs; If of 94 •a violated and dishonored Constitution kindled to wildest enthusiasm, the Strong, deep and profound feeling df patriotism which inspired the hearts of that vast au- dience. • On motion of L; ShissW, a committee • of five were appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting. '- -The Chair appointed L. Shissler, E. A. 4'ollms, T. S. Parks, Andrew Cannon, u^.-l Win. Dickson as said Committee. The following resolutions were reported by the Committee, through Louis Shissleri tl ieir Chairman : THE RESOLUTIONS. Mesoheet. That as law-abiding citizens vr« i are attached to the Constitution and th e laws, and insist that they shall be rei peered and enforced in this State ; thai thi furotection of the liberty of the citizen is the highest and most sacred guarantee of' the Constitution, and any attempt at arb itvary arrests should be promptly met by all good, loyal citizens, and resisted by fort -e to the bitter end. ■ t mlhed, That wo earnestly request the Le" islature of this State to demand ot the Pre! ident, the papers, affidavit s and ehar- if any, which may have been made vstM.Y. Johnson and David Sheean other bastiled citizens of this State, hom, and at .whose instance they arrested, the names of their accusers, dl parties connected therewith and hat authority the President or his taries have dared to trample on the '.cs of the citizens and to violate the sightyof'this State, and that such be taaen by the Legislature as will it a renetition of such outrages.^ ■Amf/That we cherish the Union; deep and undying devotion, and ...ur matchless Constitution as £h< Charta of our liberties, that we Be- lie abolition fanaticism and pu- hypocricy pf New England has e source of all our national misery fttdatibri, and that peace and hap- ■annot be permanent so long ^ as jments of discord and destruction / inlluence in the councils of the therefore to save, our country from ge* agax and by tf wer* and ; by * SfCllE libertj Soveri action prever. with a revere Magna lieve t ritanic been th and 'deg piticSS I those ei have an nation ; utU-r vrr eck and ruin, we call on all patri- otic conservative citizens to stand by thar Constitution and oppose this abolition fa- naticism, wherever it prevails. • Resolved, That this war, brought on by the abolitionists to destroy slavery ,but held out to the loyal people of the Union as be- ing wagvj for the maintenance of the Con- stitution and the laws, i.s an unnatural and fratricidal war, and ought to cease. And we declare the President's proclamation of the 1st of January, openly and directly converting it into a war for the freedom of the negro, to be a wilful and corrupt vio- laciou of the Constitution ; that fraud and perfidy have been practiced on the people, i and on the gallant soldiers from this State I — and we respectfully request our Legist I lature to recall the Illinois troops from the field, until the President shall return to his 'allegiance and show his loyalty to the ! Constitution. ! Iiesolad, That in order to terminate' the I present unhappy civil war, which is de- j straying the lives of our noble and gallant soldiers, entailing misery, woe and desola ! tion throughout the land, which is alike de,- [ structivc- of the vitality and best interest, of the North, as well as of theSouth,and if continued threatens to bring upon us anar- ' chy and ruin ; therefore we request the legislature of this State to pass a resolution calling on the President to declare an ar- mistice- of 9U days for the purpose of A fair and. honorable settlement of our present difficulties. Resolved, That the Chairman of this • meeting be requested to transmit a copy of j these resolutions to the Legislature of the j State. The resolutions were adopted without a j dissenting voice, and greeted with a tempest i of applause. On motion of M. Y, Johnson, a comrnit- tee was appointed to draft a Constitution for a Democratic Central Association, to be j organized in this County, and that said committee report to-morrow evening. — [The following named persons were appoin- ted as said committee : M. Y. Johnson, |D. Sheeari, L. Shissler, F. Stahl and E. T. 'Green. With three hearty cheers for the Con*. stitution, the meeting adjourned. John S. Collins Sec'y. 54 W \ V / V^*> °°*^v V^V ¥; £°* 'WIS!'! >?•%, VSM&: ^°* '-JaM&i W ;• y\ \sk-- /\ i9 .•!••». *> V -•' *+? >y > .i« lu *•••'