Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-06-16
Speech of a Four Thousand Dollar n
Year Patriot. Special Plea
Against the AboIishment by Con-
gress of the Court of Claims.


States Court of Claims, who has, as such. an ap
pointment for life if he behaves himself, appeared
in the Hall Of the House of Representatives, af-
ter being announced by posters, small bills, hand
bills and in all the papers, and spoke follows to
one hundred and fifty people:
1t was in compliance with the invitation Of
number of citizens of different political parties,
for whom he entertained high respect, that he
appeared with becoming dfidence. No ordinary
question of party politics distracted the
try. His services were due and should be cheer
fully rendered to put down rebellion. He could
find nothing in the most fastidious code which
would prohibit him from this Inference. The
cause in which he raised his voice tonight was
the cause ofliberty, of the Union and the Consti
tuition. All, while our soldiers fighting on the
field should give their taxes, their voices, their
votes and their speeches for our country in this
great crisis. He might be permitted the fullest
liberty of speech in sustaining the Government at
home-that was our duty--a duty which rose
above all others. All questions considered in
this regard were subordinate to all questions of
administration, &c. They were subordinate and
insignificant.
The question was how should the loyal citizens
of Indiana be kept together to aid the Govern
ment? He should not address the passions of
his audience. lt was the path of error. He pre-
ferred to leave itand tread only the path of duty.
Loyalty was fidelity TO the Constitution Of the
United States. That was a written instrument
which we all think we can understand.
Courts we're Instituted to interpret this instru
ment, and that Interpretation was binding on the
States and the people of the several States.
The Constitution provides for frequent cleo
tons, for frequent return of power to the people.
No human institution can be perfect but with all
the past before us there can be no excuse for rev
olution. The people at the ballot box can RENE
dy the matter OF complaint The Supreme Court
can remedy the matter. If this fails the Consti
tuition has provisions for its amendment. If
third party chooses to take up arms, then to this
Constitution, fidelity which is loyalty, all can
take up arms to defend it. Loyalty was active
virtue And the man who was not actually ia
king up arms in favor of the Constitution may
talk lpyalty and shame into silence the lurking
traitor. Such had been our prosperity as a ma
ton, that the claim Of the Government upon the
| loyalty of the citizen has never been felt Low
atty had been transferred to parties and leaders.
| The people were not to blame for that But at
this time men who had been devoted 10 party or
| leaders must pause and see that these devotions
did not interfere with their loyalty to the Consti
tuition.
He had not been an admirer of Douglas. But
for its intrinsic truth he read from his last speech
on earth, whoever is not prepared" &c.
made a speech prior in which heNsaid that war
was disunion. 1t was plain that he had recon
sidered his position and found it was wrong. |
am not here to impeach the motives of any one,
but it plain that some people were not willing
that Douglas should correct his own errors.
During the last Presidential canvass anti-slave
~ ideas, pro-savery ideas and conservative ideas
aetuated the people. There were conservative
men in all parties. The Republican party COM
prised conservative men. There were extreme
men in it. But the prominent idea with them was
the non extension of slavery. The Douglas
party had conservative men North and South.
They embraced the doctrine of popular sover-
eighty. The Breckenridge party was, without
doubt, pro slavery party.
The Bell and Everett party was composed of
men who would maintain the Constitution as they
understood it.
There was also class of Observation-Disclosures
of the North-who proposed the overthrow of
the Constitutional least he had often heard this
said, but he had never seen anything of that kind
in any of their platforms. Here the speaker read
! from Abolition book advocating a peaceable
separation between the North and the South. so
that the North would lot continue to participate
in the guilt Of slavery.l
| The United States are remarkablebeyond eve
ry other country for association. De Tocville
said the law ofthe American mind is to associate
together. They had all associated together on
the ideas he had above indicated. The object of
these associations was to promulgate ideas for the
sake of practical application Every man in this
country had the right 10 his opinlon-even if he
was an Abolitionist-iust as much as a Democrat
or pro slavery man.
But, fellow citizens, war is upon us. The ques-
ton was now how TO preserve our Government,
our institutions. Loyalty-active not passive
| loyalty-must characterize every citizen. What
ought to animate our action now? Republican
ism? Democracyf He had been devoted to the
Democratic party. He yet devoted to its
soul and essence-much more than men who
would sacrifice its principles for a party name.
But was the country to be saved only by the
Democratic party so that it should have all the
honor and glory? There were now no parties.
There were only loyal men and the friends of
the Union, and disloyal citizens who would over
throw the Constitution and the Union. Those
who were loyal citizens had the right TO say to
all others, "He that is not for me is against me-"
Those in the North who desired the dismember-
ment of the Union were very few. We had
nothing to fear from them. But the danger was
that loyal men might remain quiet, and thus the
enemies of the Constitution might ultimately tri-
umph.
He would however, warn all loyal citizens
against the few disloyals. He would warn them
against mob rule. Let these men live ON. What
do they propose to do? Live under a Govern
not o: US. Let them go.
What sort of organization do we want
now? We can not prescribe line of policy for
the Government This doctrine of each mans
interpretation of the constitutional policy of the
Government for himself fungus growth
which had grown out of our too much liberty.
The President in crisis like this, must be
obeyed, whether he was Black Republican or
black nigger. III Lincoln had hestated, when
the crisis came, JEFF. Davis to-day would have
been King, our Emperor, our President.
| That not time to stop to discuss measures
of constitutional policy, when flag black with
treason and red with blood was about to wave
over the Federal Capital.
JEFF. Davis was clear out of the pale of the
Constitution. ALI who were fighting against
him were clearly within the pale of the Consti-
tuition. While the bones of the brave soldiers
laid bleaching upon the battlehelds of the coun-
try, it was our duty to cultivate loyal senti-
ment-to cultivate this cardinal idea of fidelity
to the Government. Let the preachers pray. Let
the little childien sing songs. Let the women
make bandages and provide comforts for the sol
dier. Let us have two fast days to jeff Davis's
one.
Had the men of the 9Th of January Conven-
ton any sympathy with our soldiers? He doubt
ed it. They could wind up long platform with
meaningless resolution. The soldiers who were
falling in the cause of the Union bad every pa
triot's tears. The Union was their monument.
| No matter what the difference between
parties. We must fight for establishing the au-
thority of the Government throughout the Union.
We must do this if we. whether Republicans,
Democrats, or Bell and Everett men want TO car
ry out our principles. The question which has
to rule in this country. the Constitution Of the
United States or the Confederate Constitution.
meets us at every turn. and nothing could settle
! il but the sword.
He smoke of the 9Th of January Democratic