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STATE AGEICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
[Applause.] Were it not for the fact that, though a soldier, I am sometimes 
expected to speak, I would not be unwilling to be outflanked in this city at 
any time. There is one reason why I object to it, and that is, our words, 
uttered for the purposes of conviviality, are published to the world. These 
words are sometimes tortured to mean what was never intended, and, by omis* 
sions noted and commissions exaggerated, are rendered very different from 
what we would wish. I hope you will excuse me, although you could not be 
drawn into a discussion of any subject in which I have any influence now, 
for I look upon ray task in life as done. I do not expect a Avar to arise in 
which I can take a part; and as to politics, on which we all talk so much and 
know so little [laughter], I would cheerfully leave them to men such as now 
sit in my presence. It would be as much out of place for me to discuss poli¬ 
tics in their presence as it would be to speak of religion in the presence of 
its priests. But there is one subject on which I will speak a few words to 
this body, and that is our past history. Korae could not point to such a his¬ 
tory. Greece could not boast of it, nor could Italy, nor even England. The 
beginning of our history was poetic, and as we look back upon such names 
as Lasalle and Hennepin, we cannot but recognize the fact. So you 
may trace the history of our country from its discovery until the time that 
our forefathers formed the Government, with all of which you are more fa¬ 
miliar than I am ; but I simply point to its beautiful workings. They formed 
a Union of States, each supposed to be a State wdthin the Union, compact 
and strongly bound together Avith bonds of love —silken bonds. But this Avar 
has come and taught us these bonds Avere not strong enough, and Ave have 
forged them of steel, and now we have the Union again which our Fathers 
gave us, in letter, spirit, and purpose, save that the bonds formerly uniting 
us have been strengthened, not by a new compact, but ncAv sanctions. Our 
ncAY Union is the same to-day as that of ’81, its new sanctions properly ac* 
quired, and its character the same ; and Avhen Congress gives additional sanc¬ 
tions, I would fight for them just as strongly as I do for the present. [Ap¬ 
plause.] Never should a soldier, or a man who claims to be one, set up his 
opinion in the face of the constituted authorities. I refer to the past history 
of the predecessor of Gen. Grant and myself to shoAv Ave loved peace, but Ave 
enforced it by laAv, and all we have asked or ever will ask is, tell us what is 
the law—what is the Constitution—and Ave Avill obey it or die. [Applause.] 
That is politics enough for me and it is all I ever want to learn, and if poli¬ 
tics lead me far from that, I will go to some other country, for I look on this 
as the Republic of law, and we should reverence and bow doAvn before its 
majesty as the citizens of other lands do to their sovereign. There is no merit, 
however, in obeying the law we love, but there is in obeying that we do not 
love. I obey with the same respect the law I do not love and claim the more 
respect for it [Applause.] I beg these gentlemen to remember that when 
the laws of Congress are declared thus and so, I will enforce them by my oavii 
physical strength and that of every arm the government places subject to my 
command. Again thanking you for your kind welcome, I hope many a time 
to be outflanked by you in any of your toAvns in Wisconsin. [Applause.] 
