Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-02-20

the withdrawal of the mails from those portions
of the country where the mails themselves are
habitually violated; would any or all of these
things be coercion? Do the lovers of the Union
contend that they will resist coercion or invasion
of any State, understanding that any or all of
these would be coercing or invading State? If
they do, then it occurs to me that the means for
the preservation of the Union they so greatly
love, in their own estimation is Of a very thin
and airy character. Applause If sick. they
would consider the little pills of the homepathist
as already too large for them to swallow. In
their view, the Union, as family relation, would
not be anything like regular marriage ut all, but
only as a sort of free love arrangement laugh
ter, Ito be maintained on what that sect calls
passionate attraction. Continued laughter
But, my friends, enough OF this.
What is the particular sacredness of State? |
speak of that position which is given to State
in and by the Constitution of the United States,
for that all OF US agree tO-we abide by but that
position assumed that State can carry with it
out of the Union that which il holds in sacredness
by virtue Gifts connection with the Union. ! am
speaking of that assumed right of State as
primary principle, that the Constitution should
rule all that is less than itself, and ruin all that is
bigger than itself. Laughter But, l ask,
wherein does consist that right? If a State, in
one instance, and a county in another, should b
equal in extent of territory and equal in the
number of people, wherein is that State any better
that the county? Can change of name change
the right? BY what principe of original rights is
il that e-fifteth or one-ninetieth of great ma.
ton, by calling themselves a State, have thought
to break up and ruin thrt nation as a matter of
original principle? Now, | ask the question:
am not deciding anything laughter, land with
the request that you will think somewhat upon
that subject and decide for yourselves, if YOU
choose, when you get ready where is the mys-
terious original right, from principle, fer GER
tain district of country with inhabitants, by merely
being called State, to play tyrant over all its
own citizens, and deny the authority of everything
greater than itself. [Laughter.l / say l am de-
Gliding nothing, but simply giving something for
you to reflect upon; and, with having said this
much and having declared, in the start, that |
will make no long speeches, thank you again
for this magnificent welcome, add bid you an af
fectonate farewell. Cheers
Thus ended the ceremonial of the reception
and it then devolved upon the President elect to
Bates House was of course large and almost un-
manageable. At seven O'Clock the members of
the Legislature presented-so at least the
programme said--but they were considerably
mixed with other citizens, and at eight the public
generally were presented. The crowd flowed in
and around, and the hand shaking was done in
much the same way that it is managed at the
White House-an unmeaning form and tedious
ceremonial. Mr.. Lincoln was thus initiated into
one of the grave duties of the Presidency, and we
are told that he remarked that it was harder work
than to maui rails.