The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-02-20
NUMBER 4-WHOLE No. JOS.

orable committee whether | would have
given such letter after the fall Of Fort
Sumpter. | unhesitatingly answered.
No. sir; would have regarded the re.
quest on the part OF an intelligent man,
under such circumstances. as an insult
L will go WITH my record made in this
Hall in one hand. and the record of those
whose voice sends me from /, In the other
and | will submit TO- them the question of
right or wrong. will 60 with the
platform Of principles laid down by the
party that have acted with through life,
and which l referred to yesterday. and in
the name of those principles, and in the
name of the Constitution that have ever
tried to support in letter and in spirit. 1
will ask a lair and impartial hearing. This
and this only. is the tribunal with whose
judgmen: will be content
[ have ever been opposed to the princi-
pie of coercion. 1 believed, in the lau-
guage of the present Secretary Of S,ate.
used on the 10th Of April last, that this
Federal Republican system Of ours. Of all
forms of government, is most untitled for
such labor Coercion was war. aad iu
the language of the late Senator from Hi
nois, war was disunon. Earnest in these
opinions, joined others in urgent appeals
TO the late Administration to withdraw our
forces from Fort Sumter, and make our
differences the subject Of peaceful arbi:ra-
ment. And, sir, down TO the day this
letter is dated, and even down to the Sd of
March, the day the late President left the
executive mansion. believed this would
be done; and had every reason to think
so from the course Of those who alone had
the power to do it.
But when hostilities commenced at Fort
Sumter, an eutire new feature presented
ITSELF This act, followed by the procla-
nation of the President. was war, and
while my..Opinfops as to the policy of resort
ing to coercion, even then, as a remedy
in the first place. remained unchanged:
and while l differed entirely with the line
of policy pursued by the late as well as the
present Administration in the conduct Of
affairs at Charleston. never hesitated az
to my duty towards my own government.
Il fhaf 20 80 ., \ 4
in all that related to its efforts to defend
the remaining States from invasion, and
in all its efforts TO enforce obedience to the
laws of the United States, within consti-
tutional limits, within all the States.
One other remark, and am done. This
outrage upon the right of represention of
sovereign State, is the volunteer offering
of partisan prescriptions. aud intended as a
condemnation of my political opinions.
and consequent of my endorsement of
the platform of principles which has SO
lately been declared by the great party
that claim 10 represent, and whose action
/ A>"fS "'N"N A4y tNi p~SS W mAihtaHi-
Let the courtry bear witness that no legis.
lative body IN Indiana, no conventional ac-
ton. no appeal from the gallant men Of her
army have pettioned ycu to strike this
blow; still, say. let il come. The decree
of that remorseless tvraat. Caucus, has
been issued, and I bare my person TO the
blow, unawed, | trnst. even though coup.
led with the threat Of Punishment made on
yesterday by the brave. gallant, cbivalric.
polished, classic Senator from Massachu.
setts. If am TO fall. of which enter
tain no doubt, it will be with my face to-
ward my accuserS. and into the arms of q
people that have ever found jus, and
swift to vindica;e the right