damental principle
of all free government, namely, that the majority shall govern under the
forms of the Constitution. It was an attack upon the right of suffrage,
an assault upon the ballot box and the great principle of an elective
President, as provided in our Constitution, and which lies at the very
basis of free institutions. That principle is the vital element of our
existence. It is 'the casing air' of liberty. Take it away, and freedom
instantly expires. The right of suffrage is the great American right of
every citizen, rich or poor, humble or exalted. It is the great
palladium of our liberty. It is a Government, like a mighty pyramid,
reposing on its broad and immovable base, the will and affections of the
people. It is the people's Government, and therefore the people maintain
it, and with us two millions of volunteers have rushed to its support.
Therefore, while it is the best Government in peace, it is the strongest
in war. But secession because of the election of a President, is not
only war upon the Union, but war upon the elective franchise, the great
fundamental principle of free government, and without which it is but a
fleeting shadow. Democrats--people of all parties--my countrymen, while
you are asked now by the Chicago Convention to vote against Mr. Lincoln,
you would nullify by that very vote the right of suffrage, because, what
is that suffrage worth, what is your vote but an empty form, if it may
not elect your President? But if, because the minority who have voted
against you, dissatisfied with your choice, can rebel, make war upon
you, because you thus voted, and set up another President for that
minority by force of arms, what is that but to say that the majority
shall not rule; that the right of suffrage shall be nullified; that the
Constitution, under which that vote was given, shall be overthrown? This
is what the rebellion has done in attempting to destroy the Republic,
merely because of the election of Mr. Lincoln. This arrogant and
insolent slave-holding oligarchy would not even wait to hear what the
President of your choice would say. They treated the President of your
choice, and therefore they treated you and the Constitution under which
you acted, with scorn and defiance. So long as you would act with them,
so long as the Northern parasites would adhere to the Southern upas tree
of Slavery, so long as the 'mudsills' of the North, as they arrogantly
called you, would obey the orders of