The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-11-27
SPEECH OF GEN. JIM LAME.

i the 24h Indiana Regiment, Thursday
Night. Oct 81, 1861.
GENTLEMEN AND FELLOW SOLDIERS ::
The reception of this compliment was as
far from my expectations as from my
deserts | am aware that these demon
strations are not Intended so much for
me as for the Kansas Brigade; yet |
should be the first to appreciate and ac-
knowledge any honors which come from
the noble State of Indiana. Can | forget
Indiana? Never! Cheers. IF | for
get thee let my right hand forget her Gun,
ming" 1t was the place of my birth, and
is tie place OF MY mothers grave. In
diana has given me Legislative, Exec
utive, Military, and Congressional honors;
she has nursed me as good mother
brings up her child; and let my heart
grow cold, and my tongue cleave to the
roof of my mouth, when | cease to be
grateful or fail to speak well of my hene
factors. [Cheers But the home of my
adoption, tolls, and strife, is Kansas. She
was a prairie waste when first set foot
upon her soil. but through desperate odds
she has fought her way up into the sis
terhood Of States, and already her little
army has become fanuus throughout the
nation for its bravery and patriotism. For
Kansas [ have wrestled as the mother
when she brings forth her first born.
Cheers. Indiana as part of the past
is eushrned in my heart Kansas, as the
living present, absorbs my thoughts and
sways my destiny. Once | obeyed the
voice of Indiana, and honored her; now
| go at the bidding of Kansas. and love
her. TCheers But, gentlemen, am
proud and happy to see the two sisters OF
our glorious Union striking hands with
each other on the soil of rebelious Mis-
souri,, determined that our uuited blows
; shall crush out this most wicked and
causeless rebellion, and preserve the pa
tional heritage left us bv our fathers.
Gentlemen, | shall not con 1eal the fact
that IN one respect differ from some of
NV compcers in command, as to the mode
of warfare which is best calculated 10
bring this wretched contest tc speedy,
durable, and honorable close The point
of difference refers, of course, to Slavery
the cause of all differences-the Pan
dora's box from which have issued all our
national troubles. Ny creed is, Lei
Sage,y tohe care Of itSeIf Ifit can sur
vive the shock of war, let it live, but if
: between an upper and neither mlll stone
it be ground to powder, and the wind
drive it away, it is not for ne to gather
up the dust again. do not propose to
: make war upon Slavery, bat upon rebels
: and in the meantime TO let slaves and
Slavery take care Of themselves. An oil
garchy more cruel and proscriptive than
ever scour2ed and cursed nation, an,
cent or modem, has brought on this war
for Slavery; aud If we are required to
protect, or i'll any way help Slavery, then
we are required to cooperate with the
enemy, to help him. to defend him, and
work for the same end Can we place
ourselves thus in alliance with our deadly
and barbarous foes and, at the same time
conquer them, subdue them, crush them
When lesser contradictions are recouciled
we will think of harmonizlng this. War
: at least, is terrible calamity to a nation
J. In all the country through which we have
passed mails are stopped, schools are sus
pended, churches are turned into hospitals
for the sick and wounded, and general
decentralization prevails. Protract the
war one year, and desolativD, 'Uoral and
material alone would mark the track OF
armies Justice, humanity, and mercy
require that the confict should be termi.
mated as soon as possible with the least
practicable shedding Of blood. Astonish-
ing as it may seem to you, gentlemen
from Indiana, it is fact we have repeat
edly demonstrated, that heavier blow is
dealt to the realm Of Secessia in the abb
duction or freedom of slave than in the
killing of soldier in arms. Yes, and
may put the truth in still stronger
light: aGduct from the same family a
slave, and kill son in arms, and the loss
: of the slave will be regarded as the great.
er mlsfortune-the calamity for which
there is no healing balm. could bring
; up mere than a thousand witnesses, whose
observation and experience qualify them
. to sneak of the truthful candor of my re-
marks. If, then, by allowing slave to
, fall INTO the wake of the army and find
the priceless boon of freedom, we avoid
blo.dshed save property frou. destrlc'io ion,
and strike death, dealing blows upon the
head and front of this rebellion, does not
: every good and just consideration require
that this policy be adopted? This war
is for Slavery let US make it the mighty
engine for Slagery's destruction, and the
rebels will soon cry enough" [Cheers.
They will see that, like Saturn in the ia,
liz Ahnu a rn ontinrr thni. nmn nl, :. LII rnr,