Speech Against the Conscript Act (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Speech Against the Conscript Act

Fellow-Citizens:

As perhaps most of you know, I have had less to do in the calling together of this assemblage, than with any other meeting here in Thomson, that I ever addressed.

Neither in The Jeffersonian, nor in any other paper, within my knowledge, has my name been mentioned - and no one has been authorized to state that I would appear here, as one of the speakers.

The extent of my personal connection with it, was the assurance given by me to a committee of my Dearing friends, that, if the people saw fit to hold such a meeting, I, as a citizen, a taxpayer, and a lover of my country, would be present, and give my views on the subject which so profoundly agitates the public mind.

In the years gone by, we have held many a mass-meeting in this Court-Room.

Nearly thirty years ago, we started, in this room, the great fight on the Jute Bagging Trust - a fight which spread from this county, to other counties throughout the State - and from this Stte to other States, until all Dixieland was in revolt against an oppressive combination, which was remorselessly victimizing the cotton-growers of the South; and as you well remember, the movement which we started, here in this Court House, finally brought that insolent Trust to its knees.

That was nearly thirty years ago: many of those who are here today, were not here then; and many of those who were here then, are not here today, nor will they ever meet with us again, in this world.

Man of you, like myself, have lived out the greater part of your lives - there are more years behind you, than there are before you.

Personally, I have perhaps less interest in the recent acts of the government, than almost any citizen, for I am too old for military service, have no son who comes within the act of conscription, and my only grandchildren are little girls. Therefore, long before the most of the consequences which I fear, from this new Congressional legislation, can come upon the country, my dust will have mingled with that of my ancestors, who, like yours, fought and suffered and bled, to establish those liberties that are now endangered.

All over this country roundabout - on hill and plain, and valley, those heroic forefathers of ours marched - hungry, tattered, barefooted - leaving bloody footprints to tell which way they marched, on their route to the battlefields where they won the glorious right of independent self-government.

Are we a lot of degenerates?

Have we lost the spirit of robust manhood?

Are we such cowards that we dare not re-assert our historic rights, and demand that the government respect them?

All over this country you hear people say they are afraid to speak out against what Congress has done.

They are afraid to sign a petition for the redress of grievances.

In some cases, those who have signed, become frightened, and they send word to have their names taken off.

They are afraid they will be arrested; they're afraid they'll be put in jail.

They are intimidated by the word "Treason."

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