The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1861-01-24

heucc-A Suouiu CncerIuly 8QvoO coov0u'
tion of the people. to be assembled in pus-
suance OF the Constitution. 10 consider and
decide whether any and what amendments
OF the organic national law ought to b made.
A Republican now-as have heretofore
been a member Of other parties existing in
my day nevertheless hold and cherish.
as have always done. the principle that this
Government exists in its present form only
by the consent of the governed. and that IL
Is necessary it is wise, to resort 10 the
people for revisious of the organic law when
the troubles and dangers Of the State cer-
,aiuly transcend the powers delegated by 1t
to the public authorities. Nor ought the
suggestion to excite surprise. Government
In any form is a machine; this is the most
complex one that the mind Of man has ev-
er invented. or the hand Of man has ever
framed. Perfect as it is, it ought to be ex.
pected that i, will. at least Is often rs onoe
1 IN century, require some modification to
adapt it to the changes Of society and alter.
nations of empire.
| Fourthly. l hold myself ready now. a
always heretofore, to vote for any properly
guarded laws which shall be deemed nscss-
ssry to prevent mutual invssions Of States By
ci'izens of other States. and punish thocs
who shall aid and abet them
Filthy. Notwithstanding the Arguments
OF the gallant Senator from Oregon, (Gsn-
eral Lane. l remain Of the opinion that
hysical bonds. such as highways. railroads
rivers. and canals. are vastly more powerful
for holding civil communities together. than
any mere covenants. though written on
parchment or engraved upon iron. ! 10
main, therefore. constant TO my purpose 70
secure. If possible. the construction Of two
Pacific railways, the one Of the Mississippi.
and the other the towns of the Missouri
and the Lakes, with the harbors on our weo-
tern coast
II, in the expression OF these views. I
have not proposed what is desired or expeo-
ted by many others, they will do me the
justice to believe that am as far from hav-
ing suggested what in many respects would
have been in harmony with cherished CON.
,victions Of my own. l learned early from
Jefferson, that in political affairs we cannot
always do what seems to US absolutely best.
Those with whom We must necessarily act,
ent ertaning different views. have the pow.
Ter and right Of carrying them into practice.
We must be content to lead when We can.
and to follow when We cannot lead. and if
we cannot at any time do for our country
all the good that we would wish. We must
be satisfied with doing for her all the good
that we can
Having submitted my own opinions on
this great crisis. it remains only to say that
shall cheerfully lend to the Government
my best support in whatever prudent YET
energetic efforts it shall make to preserve
the Union; advising. ouly. that it practice a.
tar as possible the utmost moderation. and
conciliation.
| Aud now, Mr.. President, what are the au-
spices OF the country? know that we are
F., in the midst of alarms, and somewhat ex-
! posed to accidents u lavoldable in seasons Of
ttempestuous passions. We already have
disorder, and violence has begun. know
, not to what extent it may go Still my faith
IN the Constitution and in the Union abides,
because my faith in the wisdom and virtue
OF the American people remains unshaken.
Goodness, calmness and resolution. are ele-
ments of their character. They have been
temporarily displaced: but they are reap
pearing. Soon enough, trust. for safety,
II will be seen that sedition and violence are
only local and temporary. Whatever dam
ger there shall. be. there will be the deter
minatlon to meet them; whatever sacrifices,
private or public. shall be needful for the
Union, they will be made. feel sure that
the hour has not come for this great nation
to fall. This people. which has been stud
ying to become wiser and better as il has
grown older is not perverse or wicked
enough TO deserve so dreadful and severe Q
punishment as dissolution. This Union has
Lot yet accomplished what good for man.
kind was nanifestly designed by Him who
appoints the seasons and prescribes the du-
ties Of States and empires. No, sir: if il
ware cas-, down by faction to-day it would
rise again and reappear in all its majestic
proportions to morrow. Il is the only Gov.
81
the man that madly lifts his hand against
1t. 1t shall continue and endure; and men.
in after times. shall declare that this gener.
alton, which saved the Union from such
sudden and unlocked for dangers. surpassed
in magnanimty even that one which laid
its foundations 10 the eternal principles Of
liberty. justice, and humanity.
A FATHER DENIED raE DsAp BopY OF
HIS Sos.-A few weeks since Mr.. G ".
Bowdle, old and highly respectable cit
izen of Piqua, Ohio. went to Memphis fos
the purpose of taking home the dead body
of his son. who had died there. Immsdi-
ately after registering his name at hotel.
he was waited on by committee. and asked
what his business was. He stated il. and
was further asked for his views on the quss-
ton of slavery. He replied that morally
D
extension, but with it. where it existed. he
had nothing to do. He was then informed
that he must leave the city immedistely,
and that without accomplishing the object
Of his visit. or suffer the consequences. He
asked TO see several persons whose names he
had. aud whom he knew to have been sc-
quaintances and friends Of his son vhilo
living. After some resistsaee 70 this y.
quest il was granted. The persons he wish
ed 70 see were sent for, who came aud ~
monstrated with the committes in their pro-
ceedings. Afler considerable persuasion
the committee permitted Ar. Bovdls to take
possession Of his dead son and proceed with
1 II homeward- Ali his novemsnts vsso
closely watched. and everything doos. sp-
parentiy to aggravsss ths anguish that the
bereaved paren, was suffering.
! Such is one of the features" Of m inGei.
tuition whose admirers our OomooSato