there was any just cause on God’s earth that I could see that was within my reach of honorable release from any such pretended grievance, they should have it; but they set forth none; I can see none.  It is all a matter of prejudice, superinduced unfortunately, I believe, as I intimated before, more because you have listened to the enemies of the Republican party and what they said of us, while, from your intolerance, you have shut out all light as to what our real principles are.  We have been called and branded in the North and in the South and everywhere else, as John Brown men, as men hostile to your institutions, as meditating an attack upon your institutions in your own States—­a thing that no Republican ever dreamed of or ever thought of, but has protested against as often as the question has been up; but your people believe it.  No doubt they believe it because of the terrible excitement and reign of terror that prevails there.  No doubt they think so, but it arises from false information, or the want of information—­that is all.  Their prejudices have been appealed to until they have become uncontrolled and uncontrollable.

Well, sir, if it shall be so; if that “glorious Union,” as we call it, under which the Government has so long lived and prospered, is now about to come to a final end, as perhaps it may, I have been looking around to see what policy we should adopt; and through that gloom which has been mentioned on the other side, if you will have it so, I still see a glorious future for those who stand by the old flag of the nation.

But, sir, I am for maintaining the Union of these States.  I will sacrifice everything but honor to maintain it.  That glorious old flag of ours, by any act of mine, shall never cease to wave over the integrity of this Union as it is.  But if they will not have it so, in this new, renovated Government of which I have spoken, the 4th of July, with all its glorious memories, will never be repealed.  The old flag of 1776 will be in our hands, and shall float over this nation forever; and this capital, that some gentlemen said would be reserved for the Southern republic, shall still be the capital.  It was laid out by Washington; it was consecrated by him; and the old flag that he vindicated in the Revolution shall still float from the Capitol.

I say, sir, I stand by the Union of these States.  Washington and his compatriots fought for that good old flag.  It shall never be hauled down, but shall be the glory of the Government to which I belong, as long as my life shall continue.  To maintain it, Washington and his compatriots fought for liberty and the rights of man.  And here I will add that my own father, although but a humble soldier, fought in the same great cause, and went through hardships and privations sevenfold worse than death, in order to bequeath it to his children.  It is my inheritance.  It was my protector in infancy, and the pride and glory of my riper years; and, Mr. President, although it may be assailed by traitors on every side, by the grace of God, under its shadow I will die.