96 their own impotency, envious of their more prosperous neighbors, conceived the scheme of taking from us, by inaugurating this rebellion . the glorious inheritance of our fathers, purchased by their blood freely spilled upon an hundred battlefields. We owe it to ourselves, to posterity, to the sacred memory of our fathers, to mete to them Hainan's fate. To do this, we should be as economical as possible of the lives of the loyal soldiers, and provide bountifully for those going to the field and for those they leave behind. Say to them when they go, " Use all the means God and nature and circumstances have put in your power to suppress the rebellion and punish traitors." Rebels' property, in the rebel sense of the word, of whatever kind, sensible or insensible, should be made to contribute to the suppression of the rebellion in any manner that it can be made available. This war has been inaugurated and prosecuted by the rebels without reference to the rights of Union men. It is not for them to claim constitutional guaranties. They have no rights under the Constitution, save the infliction of the penalty of their crimes. They have grown insolent by their dominion over their own slaves, until they have adopted as their political axiom, " that Slavery is the normal condition of the working classes." Upon that principle they are attempting to build their empire. This is in derogation of English liberty and American liberty, and of all that has raised the Anglo-Saxon race to its present greatness in this country and in Europe. It is an attempt to degrade every free laboring man in the nation ; not only the native born, but the German and Irishman, who seek an asylum in this land of the free, are denounced as only fit for slaves. Mr Jefferson has given us advice intended, doubtless, for occasions like the present. He says : " A strict observance of the written law is, doubtless, one of the highest duties of a good citizen ; but not the highest. The law of necessity of self-preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of higher obligation. To lose our country by a scrupulous adherence to written law, would be to lose the law itself, with life, liberty, property, and all those who are enjoying them with us ; thus absurdly sacrificing the end to the means." Here is a chart made for the occasion by one who comprehended our institutions and the enormities of rebellion. Gentlemen, this is the last contest our free institutions will have, if we put forth the strength of the nation, and punish rebellion as it deserves. But remember, there is but one time left to put down the usurpers that is the present. We cannot fold our arms this year, and fight the next. We must fight now, or all is lost. The contest is gigantic the result, the freedom or enslavement of the nation. It is the removal of the last fetter thrown around the thirteen old colonies. Redeemed and disenthralled, America will rise with new strength, and in sublime proportions, the beauty of the whole earth. This is the most gigantic rebellion the world ever saw. There is the most gigantic stake being played for. The question i : s Shall Saver y or Freedom be imtversal ? There is no concealing it. This is the issue. The rebels have presented and forced it upon the nation. We have accepted, and it is to be tried at the point of the bayonet and the muzzle of the cannon ; and were it not for the traitors in our midst, the verdict for freedom would be rendered in three mouths. Every device that the devil can invent and put into the heads of traitors, seems to be brought forward to keep men out of the field, and to paralyze the arms of those already there. These traitors are tolerated in high and low places. It is the grasp of their hand now upon the body politic that partially paralyzes our strength. They are endeavoring to enlarge their grasp. This is our danger. But there were traitors in the camp of Moses, in the social family of Jesus Christ ; in the army of the Revolution, and it would be wonderful if we had them not now in this our country's struggle. They have ever received their reward, and they will, doubtless, in the present instance. Gentlemen, everything depends on prompt, resolute and determined action, under the blessing of God. 1 am. yours. &c., F. II. PEIRPOINT.
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