The second issue is involved in the first, but it is one which 

 more immediately concerns ourselves. Our fathers, who came 

 to tliis western world to enjoy religious liberty, soon and natu- 

 rally imbibed in its exercise the idea of political freedom. 

 And when they and their childi'en found the yoke of kingly 

 power oppressive and galling, they declared, and fought for, 

 and established their independence as a nation. And then, 

 ■with calm deliberation, seeking wisdom from the past, planning 

 blessings for the futui'e, and ever while acknowledging still 

 imploring aid fr'om above, they proceeded to fr'ame a constitu- 

 tion and ordain a government, — the Constitution and Govern- 

 ment of the United States of America. Under these the Ke- 

 public has gone on, steadily, rapidly, expanding its borders, 

 developing its resources, increasing its power, the intelligence, 

 moral culture and refinement of its people, keeping pace with 

 its material growth, its manufactures and arts rivaling in skill 

 and beauty the productions of the old world, its agriculture 

 not only sustaining its own vast population, but sending of its 

 abundance to foreign shores, the sails of its commerce whiten- 

 ing every sea, and glistening over waters which the keel of no 

 adventurer ever before ploughed, its navy upon the ocean, its 

 army upon the land, bearing aloft its proud stars and stripes 

 through storm and battle to triumph, — until, by all the world 

 no nation was more respected or admired, until through all the 

 world there was no nation whose people were more prosperous 

 and happy. 



In the midst of this sunshine came the storm. Almost from 

 the clear sky fell the thunderbolt. No foreign foes assailed 

 us, — but in our very midst, led by those who had enjoyed the 

 highest honors and emoluments of the Republic, sustained by 

 those who had been nourished by its bounty and had received 

 its choicest benefits, there sprang up as in a day, matiu'cdj 

 full-groAvn, full-armed treason and rebellion. Their avowed 

 piu'pose was to subvert the government, and to destroy the 

 union of the States. To this end they have violated their 

 oaths, have plundered the public revenues, by cunning and 



