Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-11-05
Voice from the Army.-A Stirring
Union Speech.

Voice from the Army--A Stirring
Union Speech.
| Colonel L S. Joskin, of the State of Illinois.
made speech ut Bryan Hall Chicago, the other
evening. That speech is so full of the palhos OF
Democracy. that we transfer it to our columns
as evidence of how the soldiers feel. and hat
they are fighting for The Colonel said:
| Mr.. President and GeBfiemeR:-I did not sup
pose was to make IL speech to night | or
dered to join my regiment in Kentucky, to fight
the battles of my country. | have been year
and half engaged in fighting for what | under
stand 10 be the constitution and laws of this coun-
try. [Cheers.l have left my home. have
lett my vile, have lett my children; have bid
den them all acieu believing that | loved my
country more than loved my family. Cheers
| believed that was fighting for All del; | have
fought for an idea; | am willing vet TO fight for
an idea; that idea is the constitution OF America
| fought Tor nothing else When you ask man
to risk his life, his honor and every thing that
pertains 10 him this side OF eternity. you must
ask him 10 Ilsk il for some great, magnificent
purpose. Ii must not be that risk my life. and
that IL should be sacrificed without aim aud with
out purpose. | am willing to be sacrificed;
have been shot at, / IN wiling To be again shot
at, if for the grand idea of my country nothing
else, nothing else
| 60 not know but that I, and the men who
have gathered here TO night, may be wrong; pos
siby We are; but we do believe that government
cannot be maintained upon any fanatical idea.
Great applause Ii you seek to maintain a
magnificent structure, government based upon
a idea, that idea must be based common sense
and good judgment Cheers When you de
part from that and 20 upon chase after the Ito
erty OF men who do not understand, and cannot
appreciate that liberty, then YOU lose your own
liberty. Renewed cheers. | find no fault with
my government; love it too well. / was born,
educated. and brought up to manhood to my pres
ent age. in America. / love my country; love
its institutions; love my government; love my
officers because they arc exponents of my gov.
eminent: not of themselves lcheers | do not love
the officer love his office. have no fault TO
find. | submit 10 any thing that my superior
officer shall order; but | desire simply that he
shall be governed by the laws OF reason and com
mon sense.
would to God that he Governors of Ameri
ca to day would come here in this hall and gather
the spirit of the man whose immage stands yon-
der. Applause. 1t they would come here and
listen TO the silent teachings OF S ephen A Doug
las cheers il would be far better for the beloved
country that love much. IL is not tor me to
say that my Government Is wrong. ! am obliged
to say it is right | have been taught to believe
that my county, right or wrong, is worth more
than all things else in the world. | was taught
by Stephen A Douglas that my country was all
u
gone. ali was gone. and he illustrated that idea
when he said there were but two parties in the
country, the patriots and the traitors. he did not
tell YOU that the niger wor>hipng population
were traitors. but think ne believed H. Euthu-
Sastic cheers think Stephen A Douglas be-
lieved that the vino tbog- lit more o; this
race of people than his own was d traitor to the
test interests OF America
As am in the house OF my friend tell YOU
what honestly believe and what | think; but
when this friend shall arrive NJ that position that
he thinks the Government must be made subser-
Went 10 race OF people that never established it,
anc have not the ability to day TO do one thing
TO preserve it. that moment this Government and
this people have gone TO perditon. Immense
cheering
| know that we are in the midst of trouble;
know other nations have risen aud fallen; know
that the republics of the past have fallen from in
festival discussions. | know that the republics OF
the old world have goue to oblivion, and do not
know but we may 90 at the same rate; il is bare
liz possible; forbid IL, heavenl
had hoped that, with our free schools dssem.
mating know ledge; our commerce dottng every
lake. river and ocean; with our intelligence, free
Institutions, and free thou 1ht-l had hoped that +
that proud, prosperous America could maintain
the grand idea that the people should govern
themselves Immense applause | nope so
still | am rsking all there is of me in life to
maintain tnat bc3- uad rather be Ouried than
believe dat American citizens cannot maintain
themselves Cheers A people who undertake
10 govern themselves must understand the prin- (
cpieS upon which they are governed Men can
not govern them>e elves who wild upon fanat-
ci>m and folly, and who will hot take tine 10 T
spend evening in six months to read the
Constitution OF America.
| ordered back to fight; am willing to
fight u | have in my rear men who love their
country well as ! love it, that is all / ask
do lot want 10 20 cut ard hear the booming can
non. the kissing shell and viii Ting bullets. and
have man tell me that am fight Tor what
believe To he a sublime. inierhal ridiculous lie .
Great applause As said to a friend At Wood
stock, not long ago. y GU send your children: the
mother makes morning aud evening prayers COR
her boy; the ialher gives him his blessing and he
goes to the war. and perhaps (as many good
boy has done under my notice. has been shot
down and killed. and what do YOU expect in re
turnl
The poor boy you sent out to fight, at the time
you sent him, give all his heart u the red white
and blue, and vas proud 10 be uI,dOr tie stars
and stripes of America. he could give up faith
err mother sister and brother everything for
the stars and stripes. Tie is dead. What shall
be returned for your son. | suppose you desire.
In return FOR that son, the triumohal march of
the Constitution and laws Of America DeaIen-
ing cheers
ftlis Government is 10 be preserved from
desiru -iiDn. ir0m anarchy. from cOpfa~iOn aud
inevitable ruin it mu be by thinking. C3nsiitu-
ton and law loving Democracy fCheers Men
may talk as much they please about pressing
the war To The exteTmiha tion OF the enemies,
but tell you that 10 externinate eight millions