Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-02-13
Patriotic Sentiments ElOquentiy Ex-
nresScd.

Patriotic Sentiments ElOQuentiy Ex-
pressed.
To the exclusion OF other matter, we publis |
this morning the eloquent and patriotic speech
ex-President TYLER, upon taking the chair of the
peace convention, in Washington, as its perma-
nent President. If the patriotic sentiments ofthe
venerable ex-Presdent animate and govern the
convention, we shall have some hope that its de
alterations may help to avert the dangers which
now threaten the country;
GENTLEMEN: fear uhave committed great
error in appointing me to the honorable position
YOU have assigned me. A long separation from
all deliberative bodies has rendered the rules of
their proceedings unfamiliar to me, while should
find in my state OF health. variable and tickle
as it is, sufficient reason TO decline the honor of
being YOUR presiding officer; but, in times like
these, one has but little option left him-personal
considerations should weigh but lightly in the
balance. The country is in danger-it is enough
-one must take the place assigned him in the
great work of reconciliation and adjustment. The
voice of Virginia has invited her COZ States to
meet her in council. In the institution of this
Government that same voice was heard and com
piled with, and the results of seventy odd years
have fully attested the wisdom of the decisions
tHeii adopted. Is the urgency other call now less
great than it was then? Our gOd-like fathers
created-we have to preserve. They built up.
through their wisdom and patriotism, monuments
which have eternalized their names You have
before you, gentemen,a task equally grand. equally
sublime, quite full of glory and immortality.
You have to snatch from ruin great and
glorious Confederation, to preserve the Govern
ment, and to renew and inyigorate the Constitu
ton. If YOU reach the height of this great occa-
sion, your childrens children will rise up and
call YOU blessed. | confess myself ambitious of
claa i'm no krlo of nd
and magnificent result. To have our names en-
rolled in the Capitol to be repeated by future
generations with grateful applause, this Is an
honor higher than the mountans-more enduring
than monumental alabaster. Yes, Virgnia's
voice, as in the olden tune, has been heard. Her
sister States meet her this day at the council
board. Vermont is here, bringing with her the
memories of the past, reviving iu the memories
of all, her Ethan Allen, and his demand for the
surrender of Ticonderoga in the name of the
| Great Jehovah and the American Congress. New
Hampshire is here-her fame illustrated by mem
orabe annals, and still more lately as the birth
place of him who won for himself the name of
deteniler of the Constitution, and who wrote that
letter to John Taylor which has been enshrined
in the hearts of his countrymen. Massachusetts
/ is not here-(some member said she is coming
/ hope So said Mr.. L yler, and that she will bring
with her her daughter Maine. ] did not believe it
could well be that the voice which in other times
was familiar to her ears, has been addressed
to her in vain. Connecticut is here. and she
J comes, ] doubt not, in the spirit of Roger
/ Sherman, whose name with our very child
rem has become household word, and who
was in life the embodiment of that practical
sense which BELTS the great lawgivers and
constructors of Governments. Rhode Island,
| the land of Roger Williams, is here, one of
the two last States in her jealousy of the public
liberty to give in her adhesion to the Constitu-
ton, and among the earliest TO hasten to its res
| cue The great Empire State of New York
represented thus far but by one-delegates to-day
fuller force to join in the great work of healing
the discontents OF the times, a,.d restoring the
| reign of fraternal feeling. New Jersey is also
here, with the memories of the past covering her
all over. Trenton and Princeton live immortal
in story-the plains of the last encrmsoned with
the hearts blood of Virginia's sons. Among her
delegation j rejoice to recognize gallant son OF
he signer of the immortal Declaration which an
ounced to the world that thirteen Provinces had
ecome thirteen Independent and sovereign
States. And here, too, is Delaware, the land Of
! the Bayards and the Rodneys whose soil at
Brandywine moistenei by the blood of Vir-
ginia's youthful Monroe Here is Maryland,
whose massive columns wheeled into line with
those of Virginia in the contest for glory, and
whose State house at Annapolis was the theater
of spectacle of a successful commander, who,
after liberatng his country, gladly ungirthed his
sword and laid it down upon the altar of that
country Then comes PENNSYLVANIA, rich in rev
dictionary lore bringing with her the deathles.
names of Franklin and Morris, and, trust, ready
TO renew from the belry of Independence Hall
the chimes of the old bell which announced
freedom and independence in former days. All
hail to North Carolinal with her Mecklenburg
declaration in her hand. standing erect on the
ground of her own probity and firmness in the
cause of public liberty and represented in her at
tributes by her Macon, and in this assembly by
her distinguished son, at great distance from
me. -Four daughters of Virginia also cluster
around the council board, on the invitation 0
their ancient mother, the eldest Kentucky, whose
sons, under that intrepid warror-Anthony
, Wave, gave freedom of settlement to the territory
of her sister, Ohio and extending his hands daily
and hourly across La Belle Riviere to grasp the
hand Of some one of kindred blood of the nobl,
States ofIndiana and Illinois aud Ohio, who have
grown up into powerful States already grand. po
tent and almost imperial Tennessee is not Gre bu
is coming, prevented from being here orf fOy the
g floods which have swollen her rivers. Men sh,
, arrives she will wear the badges on her warricl
crest of victories won, in company with tn,
Great West, on many an ensanguined plain
; and standards torn from the hands of the con
querors at Waterloo. Missouri and Iowa anC
Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota still lin
ger behind but it may be hoped that thei
hearts with in the great work we have t
/, do. The eyes of the whole country are turned
to this hall and to this assembly in expectation
> and hope | trust, gentlemen, that you ma,
prove yourselves worthy of the great occasion
2 Our ancestors probably committed blunder
in not having fixed upon every fifth decade 70
call of general Convention to amend an'
reform the Constitution. On the contrary, they
4 have made the difficulty next to instrumental
: BILE to accomplish amendments to instrument
which was perfect for five million OF people
but not wholly SO as 10 thirty million. You
patriotism wiz surnount the difficulties, howeve
+ great, if you will but accomplish but one tri
4 umph in advance, and that is triumph over party
6 What is party when compared to the task of res
cung ones country from danger? Do that, AM
one loud. long shout of joy and gladness will
7 resound throughout the land.
This was followed by general congratulation
; from most of tie States.
Mr.. CHASE of Ohio, expressed himself as pa
e ticularly grati6ed. and assured Mr.. TYLER, a
/ most Of the other Commissioners did, that the
were ready to follow where Virginia led.