Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-01-16


line and the channel of the Ohio river. The in
tensity of feeling. of heat, of prOvocatiOn in
creased as one recedeS from this line North and
South. The zeal of the fanatcism was in proper
ton, in fact, to the absence Of the knowledge in
the merits of the question in issue.
He referred to the common suiferings and sac
rafces in these border States, to confirm his mind
in the hope of the Union he saw here. He would
take no part in arms to make inroad upon the
institutions of Kentucky. Kentucky and Indiana
had been brothers in other days. Kentucky had
proved to US an elder brother. In our infancy her
shield had been over us to shield us in our hour
of danger On the battle field of Tippecanoe,
her sons had inscribed the brightest page upon
our history-their best blood had watered this
consecrated soil, and their bones still lie mOuder
ing in its dust, and if the day ever comes that
Kentucky and Indiana should be aliens to each
other, if he were a Kentuckian he would ask to
visit these shores once more, not as an armed
host but in the funeral garb, and gather from the
battle fields of Indiana the bones of her patriotic
dead and bury them friendly soil where they
could rest in peace.
He would take no part in such war, hoping,
of course never to be called upon for such "A SER
vice While our immediate Southern brethren
were dealing with their turbulent brethren farther
South to restrain them, we should restrain the
madness of the fanaticism of those farther North.
South Carolina was not alone in the feeling that
had led to her separation; and whenever she might
be touched by the hand of coercion the rights of
all the Southern States would be touched in a
vital part. The general desOatOn following such
an attempt would leave but charred remains, but
dead Goals and ashes of our common hopes and
of national greatness.
Hon. Norman Eddy followed Mr. Mcdonald in
"A thrilling and patriotic speech. He agreed with
Mr.. Mcdonald that the North had been aggressive,
and had created in them the bitter feeling that
now excited them. He did not despair of the Re
public. The Union must be preserved-but it
must and could only be done by justice and by
granting to each section their full and equal rights
in the Confederacy. If South Carolina was to be
coerced, Massachusetts must be coerced to. If
one Federal heel ground the erring sister of the
South, the other must crush the sinner in the
North. The Union, if saved, must be saved by
the border States, who knew each other and whose
interests were more nearly allied thin any other of
the members of the family. Mr.. Eddy said
after eloquently reviewing the intimate relations
of the two States-that he could not and would
not strike dagger to the heart of Kentuckian.
buttons, which returned to the hall while he was
speaking, and by their Chairman, Mr. Hendricks,
reported as follows-the first, second, third and
fourth resolutions were offered by Mr. Hendricks;
the fifth, SIXTH seventh and eighth by Col. ]. c.
Walker, and the ninth by Col. Horace Heffren:
The Democracy of the State of Indiana, as
sembled at this time in pursuance to usage, and
upon the call of the Chairman of the State Cen
trail Committee, to consider of public affairs, and
to assume and make known their position thereon;
in view of the fact that the peace prosperity and
happiness of the people are endangered-the har-
mony of the States disturbed-and the contnu-
of the Federal Upion itself threatened by
fanatical doctrines and revolutionary conduct;
and also in view of the fact that in no portion of
the country have the people larger interest in
maintaining friendly relations with ali sections,
and in preserving the political institutions as we
now enjoy them, than the people of Indiana
Resolved, That it IS the highest aim and most
imperative duty of patriotism and philanthropy to
preserve the union of the States in its integrity
and maintain the Federal compact in its spirit;
and that in consideration of the true interests of
Indiana, as well fidelity to the Union, it is de-
manded that we use all means and exert every
power to defeat the purposes of those whose spirit
and acts endanger the one impair the other.
2. That experience has shown that the slavery
question is disturbing element in our institu-
tons, and that its consideration by Congress only
brings dissensiOn and discord and can not result
in any complete aud final adjustment; and therefore
weddagree to and support that declaration of doc
trine made by the Democratic National Conven-
ton of 1856, mon interference by Congress with
slavery in State and Territory, or in the District
of Columbia and thereby we understood the en-
tire subject of slavery to be withdrawn from Con-
gress and referred to the people for their decision
that the principle so agreed to in accordance
with the spirit of the COnstitution-and as we be-
lieve wise and expedient-that it was "the basis
of the compromise of 1850, confirmed bv both the
Democratic and Wing parties in national conven-
tons, ratified by the people in the election in 1882
and rightly applied to the organization of the
Territories in 1854 T" and again ratified by the peo-
pie in the election of 1856; and in respect thereto
we repeat the sentiment of our platform of 1856,
THAT by the uniform application of this domo-
cratic principle to the organization of Territories
and to the admission of new States, with or with
out domestic slavery they may elect, the equal
rights of all the States will be preserved intact
the original compacts of the Constitution main
tanned inviolate, and the perpetuity and expansion
of this Union insured to its utmost capacity of
embracing, in peace and harmony, every future
American State that may be constituted or an
nexed, with a republican form of government"
3. That, whereas, sectional party based upon
sentiments of hostility towards the institutions of
the Southern States, has triumphed, and i'm CON
sequence the sections of our country stand in hos
tile position, upon the verge of disunon and civil
war; and, whereas the most dire calamities must
befal our country unless the sectional differences
are speedily and properly adjusted; and although
we have undated confidence in the doctrine
of non-interyention, in its wisdom aud
justice, vet to save the Union and avoid
the troubles now threatening the country.
willing to make any concession consistent
with generosity, justice, and honor, and that we
will accept and earnestly support any measure of
adjustment that is fair in its TERMS and that will
by constitutional provisions, forever remove the
slavery question from the field Of federal politics
and legislation, and that will in plain terms de-
fine and fix the rights of the sections touching
the Institution of domestic slavery; and because
we believe that it will attain these ends, and be-
cause believe that the Union must be pre-
served by the united action of the border and
conservative States, and because it comes from
border State of great influence in the Confede-
racy, and is understood TO be acceptable to the
conservative sentiment of the country, we accept
the propositions presented to the United States
Senate by the Hon. John j. Crittenden of Ken
lucky.
A. That while it is the duty of the Federal
Executive to maintain the possession and control
of the public property, and execute the laws; vet
in the discharge of that duty the highest consd-
erations touching the material and moral pros
perity of the country require that bloodshed
and civil war be avoided; that the Union is
to be preserved, if at all, by the cultivation of
fraternal affection among the people of the diff
ferent sections, and by the maintenance of equal
and exact justice. Upon this subject we adopt the
language of that great Statesman and pure pa
triot, Andrew jackson, who looking forward
with prophetic vision to scenes of dissenson that
now unhappily surround US, said:
''If such struggle is once begun, and the cit
liens of one section of the country are arayed iu
arms against those of another, in doubtful con-
fiict, let the battle result it may there triH be
an end of Union, and with it ends the hopes of
freedom. The victory of the injured would not
secure to them the blessings of liberty; it would
avenge their wrongs, but they would themselves
share in the common ruin
''But the Constitution can not be maintained,
nor the Union preserved, in opposition to public
feeling by the mere exerton of the cOerciue pocer
confded to the General Government. The
foundation must be laid in the affections of the
people in the security it gives to life, liberty,
property and character in every quarter of the
country, and the fraternal attachment which the