Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-17

its former proportions, and make US once more a
united people, result that / would make any
sacrifice ON earth to effect. The honorable Sen
ator from Tennessee must allow me to take
counsel of my constituency as 70 what they con-
slider my duty on all these question:.
Mr.. President, my own sell respect and the re
spect entertain for the admitted constitutional
rights that every representative enjoys under our
form of Government of forming and expressing
his opinions in a decent and becoming manner,
forbids me from entering upon defense of the
opinions i have, during a service of seventeen
years announced and voted in this body. The
only tribunal ON earth that has right to arraign
and try me on these issues, is the people who sent
me here, and il under the excitement and preju
dice of the hour il is the pleasure of those who
have got the power 10 use it, shall appear again
before that tribunal and ask full, fair and i'm
partial heating, and judging the future by the past
] have no fear of the result. All ask Of each
and every one of nv constituents is the charity of
their silence until the time comes that can meet
them face 10 face.
From the hour this war actually commenced
have had in view in every act of my life public
and private, one single object-the reunion of
these States. have not to this hour, with all the
clouds that hang upon US, despaired entirely OF
this result; and there is no sacrifice that
could make that would not make to effect so
desirable an object. l may differ from Others not
less honest than myself as to the means to effect
this object, but trust | am none the less honest
in my purpose. or devoted TO form of govern
ment that, up 60 the commencement of our pres
ent troubles had conferred more of the blessings
of civil and constitutional liberty, regulated by
law, than any Government known TO history.
Every impulse of my heart, every tie that binds
me TO earth is interviewer with the form OF Gov
eminent under which / am living. and to which j
acknowledge my allegiance l will yield to no
man living in my attachment to it. Few men of
my years have enjoyed more of its glorious adj
vantages; none feel more grateful for them; and
though / have been assailed in the fury of party
spirit, my character unjustly aspersed and my
loyalty and devotion questioned. this shall not
ALLEVIATE me from the faith of my fathers or lesson
the obligations feel to devote the humble ener-
ges of my life to the support of the Government
of which form part, and which would not
exchange for any other on earth.
This may be the only opportunity shall have
of expressing my gratitude to the members of the
Judiciary Committee who have, from that innate
sense of justice that always governs Just Judge,
stood by their report, and rising above the storm
of passion that seems to control the hour, reso-
lutely maintained the total absence Of all guilt on
nv part They have done me Justice; and if nv
antecedents as private citizen and public servant
have not proved a shield against criticism, and
are not sufficient guarantee, give to them the
pledge of an honest heart that my future lite,
wherever fortune may place me- shall leave them
no cause to regret this act of Justice.
/ am not informed TO the opinions of Sena-
tors on this question, except as they have decar-
ell them in debate, or volunteered to make
them known. | have approached no Senator to
know his views, or sought to influence his vote
except in debate. have had no outside friends
soliciting the aid of the public press with which
TO manufacture public opinion in my favor. Con-
scious of the purity of my intentions and purpo
ses in all that relates to the interests of the Gov
eminent to which alone owe allegiance, had
a right TO suppose that my peers could rise above
the behests of party, and look upon this transac-
ton in its true light; but this is a matter that
have not attempted to control. If the Senate
has been polled, | see it stated in some of the
papers it has, and it is fOregone conclusion that
20 | must, | say to my friends and 10 my enc.
mics l will lose time in putting myself on trial
again before tribunal whose judgment have
ever found just, and who am sure will gveme all
the benefits resulting from acquaintance of
forty years standing coupled with service which
entities them to judge whether | am loyal or
dis. 'al citizen; whether | have been faithful
unfaithful representative of their rights in the
many and varied duties they have entrusted to me
10 per form.
| will go with INV record made i'm this Hall in
one hand, and the record of those whose voice
sends me from it IN the other, and will submit
to them the question of right or wrong in this
case. / will 90 with the platform of principles
laid down by the party that have acted with
through life, and which | referred TO yesterday
and in the name OF those principles, and in the
name of the Constitution that l have ever tried
to support in letter and in spirit and will ask
fair aun iunparfial haarnO This and this only
is the tribunal with whose judgment will becon-
tent.
have now said all that intended or should
have said, but for some remarks make yesterday
by the honorable Senator from Virginia, Mr..
Wiley His bearing and manner towards me
was in such striking contrast with that OF the
Senator from Tennessee, who is so similarly stu
ated and affected in his political and personal re-
lations by this unnatural war, that | could but
remark il. The former, with fairness and can
dor that sunk deep into my heart, did me the JUS
tice to say that he had seen nothing in my past
life that rendered me obnoxious to the charge of
contributing in the least degree to the deplorable
condition of affairs now upon us. If the honor
able Senator from Virginia had known my course
here as some others know it, he would have done
me justice in adding that the blood OF no one
man attaches to my skirts in this strife. / have
had but one countersign since ! have been on
duty here, and that has been-peace; war never
-never-for any real or imaginary grievance.
But how different was the tone and manner of
the Senator from Tennessee Causes of com
plant know he has; and l sympatkize with him
in his Affections, and would that had the power
to lift the load of sorrow that is bowling him and
thousands and tens of thousands of others to the
earth. Point me to the road that leads to peace,
the restoration of the Union, making us one Gov
eminent, with one flag, not star effaced, and
will travel it with you as long as there is CLEAN
of light to guide me on such path; and, forget
ting and forgiving, would even consent to take
"a travelling companion, with all his hereSies
the Senator from Massachusetts. Sir, the Sena,
tor from Tennessee has doneame great injustice
Smarting under the blows inflicted by the conduct
of those he called "a close corporation" when
here, he points to my personal and party associa-
tons with them-forgetting, at the same time,
his own-aIId undertakes to hold me responsible
for all that was said or done them, and has hap
pened since History, facts, living witnesses, re
pei these unfounded, absurd accusations
The honorable Senator from Maryland, Mr.
Kennedy moved by sense of justice and love
of truth, vndicates history in his late speech on
some of these points He well recollects the APP
peals made by himself, myself and other Sena-
tors, (some of whom still here,) to Southern
Senators to remain, give to the incoming Admin
istration fair trial, and seek a remedy for all
wrongs inside, not outside of the Union. If, sir,
/ had been priyy 70 any such purposes as have
since resulted in forcble resistance to the Govern.
ment OF the United States. why did join with the
honorable Senator from Maryland and others in
demonstrating against this suicidal stepg The
Senator from Tennessee can not believe, he
knolrs. that had no part or lot in any movement
having for its object the disruption of these States
/ have been as open in my opposition to secession
as any man living.
The honorable Senator from Virginia, in the
remarks have alluded TO, made yesterday, ask
ed me TO explain the concluding paragraph, in Il