Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-06-26
SPEECH OF HON. JAMES HUGHES
DELIVERED AT INDIANAPOLIS ON WEDNESDAY
EvENING. JUNE IL. 1862.


is made up from condensed notes. and
though not ss sscomplete as If stenograph-
ically reported. gives in the. main the
points presented by the speaker.
FELLOW CIrrzENs:--It is in compliance
with the invitation Of q number Of citizens
of different political parties. for whom
/ entertain high respect, that appear. in
thisplace. 20 express some opinions. and
RI trust with becoming diffiience.) to offer
some counsel on public affairs. sTf
1t is superhuous to say. that it is no or
binary conflict of party politics. that now
distracts our country; in such one. l
should refrain from active. public partic-
| ipation. But in the case of civil war.
imperiling the. existence Of the Constitu-
| ton. where all true men have common
cause and common duty against rebell-
ff0n, my -sefvfces arc ute and shall be
cheerfully rendered. can find nothing
in the requirements OF the most fastidious
code of judicial department. to prohibit
me. here in the Capital of my own State.
otic gentlemen, from public expression
ofmy devotion to that high and holy cause
in which the lives Of our people are being
| freely offered up on the fields of battle
1t is the cause OF the Union and the Con-
stitution. the cause Of law and liberty, the
cause Of American nationality and self
preservation We do but little, indeed
we who are here at home. safe in the pro-
lection OF the Government, and surround
ed by the comforts and security of peace,
to give our taxes, our contributions; our
speeches and our prayers-let these be
given cheerfully and with unanimity; our
kindred and our friends; the men of lndi-
ana and her sister States. are giving their
health. their blood. their lives-and all
they have of earth.
Then away with all formal conventional
rules and opinions. that may trammel us
in the performance of our humble but in
ferior part in this great cause; let us en-
ploy the utmost freedom of speech in
Strengthening and encouraging one another
in the good work Of sustaining the Gov
ernment at home. That is our duty; the
one great duty that rises above all other
civil duties in this time OF war; and to
which all other questions of Administra-
tion. all party platforms, creeds and or
CARNATIONS. are secondary. subordinate
and insignificant.
! wish to impress upon you the impor
tance of uniting the loyal sentiment Of In
diana: and | shall endeavor to poin. ont
the manner in which it may be done to
best secure that unity Of feeling that shal
give the aid and encouragement to the
Government. the state Of The country and
our duties as citizens demand.
/ am aware that If shall. in giving ex-
preston to principles. step aside. to the
right or left. from the beaten path. an
fail to appeal to political passions, may
be less interesting to this audience. But
such paths are. in these times. paths Of er
ror and danger TO be avoided by ever,
good citizen. l shall pursue different
! way-the path Of truth and duty.
Loyalty. define to be Fidelity to th'
Constitution of the United States" 1t i
a written instrument which we all thinl
we understand. 1t provides for its owl
amendment and its own interpretations
The Supreme Court is the arbiter wherev
er the question is capable OF Judicial in
,quiry and decision, and in such cases. tn
decision is absolutely binding on all tn
people of the Union. and all the State
and Departments Of the Government
Story fully explains this in his work Oh
the Constitution. TO which refer thos
who may wish to further understand tn
/, true force and effect Of the decisions Of tina
court. See paragraph 313, 1st vol
: page 254
There is great and growing error o
this subject. which ought to be corrected
!, 1t is true there are certain matters of a
exclusively political. legislative. or execr
tive nature. wherein the decisions of thes
departments are clearly incapable of re
vision. The remedy in such casesis eitht
by appeal to the people in elections, or b
l. amendments of the Constitution. Ere
!. quens elections are provided for. there is
constant return Of power to the people. an
: the power of amendment is expressly pre-
vided for in the Constitution. These rem
edies will reach every case of great grie,
ance. and. whatever their imperfection'
:, will come sufficiently near to make thel
by far preferable to civil war and revolt
tion. In such a form OF Government ,
ours there is no excuse for revolution
;, Evils, If any there be, can be corrected
a. other and more peaceful ways. Fidelit
:. to the Constitution does not mean that q
re shall construe that instrument alike
ie Those men who agree to abiee by
a though constituting it differently. can stan
0. shoulder to shoulder in its defense.
ofl Loyalty is not passive virtue. Som
thing more is required than passive OBJ
ID dience. tits an active virtue. and the ma
r. who is not actually taking up arms in e
vor of the Constitution could act right
: home, could promote proper public SCI
timent that would shame to silence Il
= lurking traitor who is afraid to come o.
" boldly and express himself, but who a
e the time wishes the rebellion success.
he Such has been our prosperity as a natit
that the claim OF the Government upt
the loyalty Of the citizens has never be,
: felt. 1t has heretofore been given to pa
ties and to men. SO long as the Const
= tuition was not in danger. party leade
2 have had monopoly Of the loyalty Of &
e, !. people: Bot the time has come when tn
10 long sleeping. dormant claim of the Go
ernment upon the loyalty of its people
; asserted. and it is the duty Of the peop
: to respond. Substitute no party, no gre
1ooJo~ To- <~x.o .1lo~s>-.~ - r. -