Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-05-01
From the Terre Haute Journal
A Card.

Mr.. EDIToR:-Having waited until the clamor
of detraction and denunciation has in some meas
ure subsidized, now desire to say few words to
the public.
Nv position, in regard to the awful crisis in
which the Government is involved, has mt no time
been doubtful or equivocal. 1t has only been
made so by those who were never my friends and
who have seized upon the exasperated impulses
fthe hour to assail me.
Before hostilities commenced, was for peace,
prayerfully and most earnestly. Who was not?
If there was being in the land who did not pray
God to spare us the bitter cup which we are now
draining, he must be a monster of universal NAL
ice against the human race. spoke for peace,
and gave my opinions publicly and privately in
regard to the means by which that blessing could
be secured and the calamities of war averted.
Those opinions / have not changed and hence
they will not be retracfed nor explained atray. |
have also given my views, on all proper occa-
sions, as to the causes which have led to the
present state of the country They are given
from an honest heart, after mature reflection, and
Hey must stand
take nothing back that have ever said on
that subject
Having said this much of what is past, have
a word for the present and future. The Govern
ment that live in and that protects my wife and
children, expect to support, by the faithful and
conscientious discharge of every duty imposed on
me by the Constitution and the laws. An armed
usurpation seeks to DESTROY the existence of the
Government. Ii is certainly not necessary for me
| to say that am for the maintenance of the Gov
eminent. have often sworn to support the Con
stitution of the United States and expect to do So
again when take my seat in Congress and
shall do so with no mental reservation in favor oil
a higher taw than that instrument, but with the
full determination to abide by my oath in every
particular.
A certain class of people now claim to be the
peculiar patrons of the American flag / have q
hereditary right to be its friend, and my politica
teachings have always been in favor of its honor
and glory. Whether it has been put in peril now
by my act or the act of another, we NAV se,tl,
hereafter For the present, we see it in peril, anC
every impulse of my heart is for its rescue
| Inever spoke word at variance with the in
tegFiiy and perpetuity of the Union On the con
| trary it has ever been TO me an object of cher
ished love and veneraton. and for its presetva
ton would esteem il happiness to lay down m,
| life to day.
The report industriously circulated, that | hav,
announced that j would not vote supplies tn on
troops in the field, is basely false as the thou
sand other calumnies to which have often here
tosore been subjected 1t originated, presume
in the remark which | made at Greencastle. tina
| would not vote money or men to bring on o
inaugurate the present state of affairs Woul,
any of my busy dsfamers have said anythin,
else?
| shall vote supplies, always, to onr brave me-
in the field, and avoid the association of m
name with that of COrwin and Others who vote
to starve innocent men for the aledged mistakes
policy of an Administration
As to the future, 10 one can forsee it, | fer
venty hope for peace. The horrors of civil wa
are beyond the scope of the human mind to com
prehend- That some angel of mercy NAV stay
within our once happy borders, should be tn
prayer OF every christian heart
shall embrace every opportunity, i'm nv pub
lie capacity, to bring about an honorable settle
ment of our fearful controversies If war is I
rage, however, and it to be war for the govern
ment and against it, the path of duty is plain, an
| shall follow it to the end
Perhaps | should alude 20 one other matte,
| have been informed that the present excitemer
has been made the occasion, on the part of som,
to utter threats of personal violence against m,
If such is the fact have only to say: such threat
T and their authors / despise alike Brave me
never make them, and towards never execut
them. / shall pursue the even tenor of my wa,
do my duty to my country, and appeal to the Fl
! ture to determine the purity and fidelity of m
conduct. ID. w. VOORHEES,