Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-03
SPEECH OF
HON. DANIEL W. VOORHEES,
House Of Representatives,
FEBRUARY 9TH.

Mr.. Chairman, the first duty, perhaps, of one
who attempts TO address deliberative body, is
clear and candid definition of his own pO-
sitiOn on the subject under discussion. | am
willing and ready To meet that requirement on this
occasion. l propose to discuss the duty of the
Federal Government in its relation to the unhap
DIV war which now affiists the nation, and the OBJ
jects for which alone that should be prOsecu-
ted. And standing here a loyal and faithful
citizen, recognizing to the fullest extent the bond
of my allegiance, declare my purpose to sustain
the Government with all my energies in all its
constitutional efforts to maintain unbroken the
union Of these States as our fathers made it, that
j will sustain it with all my energies in so con
Quoting this war that it shall mot be waged in
the spirit of conquest of subjugatiOn, nor for the
purpose of OverthrOwing interfering with the
rights Or Institutions of the States; but to defend
and maintain the supremacy Of the Constitution,
and to preserve the Union with all the dignity,
equality, and rights of the several States unim-
pairied;" but that | shall oppose unalterably, in
all constitutional METHODS and to the utmost OF
my ab lity, the prosecution of this for the
purpose of subjugating the Southern States, re
ducing them to the condition of Territories, sub
Verting their institutions and laws, or lberating
their slaves. This position / conceive to be one
on which every lover of the Union, every disciple
of the Constitution, every friend of humanity
can stand. It is the rock of the Constitutions
and he who places his foot upon it may defy the
storm which RACES around him.
Sir, a sympathy with the rebelliOus and seced-
ed States is now a favOrite charge to bring
against men in public life; and to relieve them
aelves of such Odium the brief hour which is
allotted to members on this floor is usually Occu-
pied in fierce denunciatiOns and labOred invec-
tive against the crime and folly of secession.
shall follow no such example Hard words or
brave threats neither weaken our enemies nor
strengthen This viii not be brought to
close by strong expressions of hate, nor is such
a course consistent with high order of states
manship. If Mr.. Seward could instruct our
Minister at the Court of ST. James to Indulge
in no expressions of harshness or disrespect, or
even impatience, concerning the seeding States
their agents, or their people, / will certainly be
pardOned for turning my attention to the con-
sideratiOn of our own duties, and the questions
within our own control, rather than consume my
time in idle and harmless display of indigna
ton against the wickelness of the southern re-
bellion. L shall proceed at once to that consider
alton.
Otler nations, Mr.. Chairman. have undergone,
well we. the heavy strokes of adversely.
The visitatiOns of God have fallen upon the
children of men in all ages The trumpet of the
sixth angel, arOusing the spirit of slaughter has
pealed an unbrOken strain from the beginning of
the world 70 the present hour. We not alone
OF clliEultE cur except IN tue mag
nituCe Of the interests involved. In the value of
these we stand alone, without parallel. We
hold in trust for pOsterity interests more vast,
righ-s more dear, and hopes more infinite and
stretching further into futurity than were ever
before given to he custody of a Government;
and our fall as a nation, if fall we must, wi be
from a loftier height OF happiness than any peo-
pie ever trOd before, and into depth of woe and
darkness as hopeless and despairng as that murky
Il II. l. 4 - 4. z
in hs eternal fall, never 10 hope again. When |
speak of our fall, however, as a nation, | do not
allu1e simply To the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of our terri
tOry-the dissolution OF the Union. This, il is
true, is a disaster too fearful to contemplate, a
vision, which l pray may never "sear mine eye
balls" with it, awful fulfillment. The Union was
established by the prayers tue tears, the groans,
the blood of generation which stands exalted in
all hat ennObles the human all the other
generations Of men winch the earth has witness
Ell. IL comes down to US rich with the odor OF
blessed memories. To preserve it in its purity, TO
restore il 70 IT. glory. to lift it up once more tor
the civilized world 70 look at and admire. to be
queath il uuimpaired in its benefcent grandeur to
OuT children is a cause IN which every sacrifice
save that of eternal truth, becomes cheap and
easy. For that cause desire in nv humble ca
paeity, to speak to-day. For that Cause can say,
with the eve Of Omniscence for my witness, no
life between the two oceans that bound this con
tinent would be more willingly offered than
nine.
But greater evil, more fatal calamity 10 us
AM posterity than a hostile line of divis
ion across the heart of the nation is, in my udg-
ment here threatened on this floor. The fall oi
this Republic can never be complete until the Con
sttutiOn is Overthrown. A portion of its territory
mly be torn away, treason may rob it of much oil
it treasure, the lightning may descend and scat
te' some Of its beautiful branches. and seam and
scar its stately trunk; but if the immortal princi
pies of the Constitution left, the sap os life
will rise again, and the leaves will come in the
spring. Destroy them, and the tree of liberty
like a girded tree of the Western forests, viii
hi.sten to decay, and fall to the earth, TO be re