M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1862-08-21
SPEECH

cTnIic State Convention, july
80, 1862.
FellOso-oitisens of hdiGna-ThC
allusion just madetothe former friend
ly relations of Kentucky and lndi
ana has calledt TO my mind early ro
collections, connected with the pres
ent troubles of our unhappy country
1t was then a conflict between the
JGovernment and a foreign foe-a wal
waged by the United States, or rath
er | should say, by the Democracy oI
the United States against Great Bri,
tain, in favor of free trade and sail.
ors' rights. Kentucky and Indiana
had no sailors upon the high seas.
They had no merchantmen to be cap.
tured and destroyed; but they had a
nations rights to MAINTAIN, and right
gloriously did the people of this
western valley rally to their country's
flag to fight her battles. We came
out Of tnat contest gloriouSly victo
rious. God blessed Us then-may de
bless cur efforts now mailing to save
the Government our fathers have left
to MS. . ... ...- ......
como here, my fellow citizeus, not
to advocate the claims of candidate
for the Presiooncy-not to ask your
vote for some man for Cover nor, or
for some other Office but / nave
come to advocate the cause Of our
country, her Constitution, her institu-
tions and her Union, already en-
dangered by the wicked Secessionists
of the South and more wicked Aboli
tionists of the North.
come to say that while we have
our domestic troubles in Kontucky,
vet at this moment no State is more
deeply loyal than my own. Kentucky
stands today the devoted advocate OF
the "Constitntion as it is, and the
Unicn as il was" Kentucky authori-
zes me to say to you, citizens OF lndi-
ana. that upon that great principle
she has staked her all, and for it she
is ready and wiling to sacrifice her
life, her property, her all. Under no
circumstances am authorized to say
or to believe for one moment will
Kentucky and Indiana consent to be
separated otherwise than by the Ohio
river. ...t ... .,...
With these general remarks let MS
now turn our attention to the present
condition Of affairs.
NV countrymen-l have sail be-
fore that | did not think it necessary
to discuss the cause Of the present
difficulties. They are upon us, and
our duty is to MAINTAIN the Constltu-
ton anu the authority Of the Govern
ment first, and inquire afterwards
what caused the trouble, ard settle
with those who are found to be guilty
when peace is restored. But now it
becomes necessary distinctly to un.
derstand for what purpose Indiana is
willing to pour out, as she has done
heretofore, her countless thousands OF
brave mon, and, her precious blood
ahd treasure for the prosecution of
this war.
She has already done this. She is
reaGy to do the same thing again, up.
on proper principles, ! trust. This
country must be saved from the
violence of Secessionists in the South
and from the corrupt machinotions Of
Abolitionists In the North. The peo-
pie must come forth with the flag of
our country in cne hand, the Corsti.
tuition in the other, and say-For this
we will spill our blood, for this we will
expend our treasure; but we will not
do it to carry out the sectional aim of
any party that may seek to aggran.
disc itself under the name of the
United States and by means Of its
armies.
1t has often been charged-nay, it
has been made the very watch word
Of party, that slavery causeed this war,
and that slavery must be extinguished
before we can ever have peace and
quiet under the present Constitution.
When was tina! position assumed by
the party now in power : Was it in
July, 1861, when by an unanimous
vote of all the Republicans in both
Houses OF Congress it was declared
that the war had been broush on the
country by the Secesionists of the
South, and that we wageG it In no
spirit of revenge but to MAINTAIN the
Constitution and tue Government, and
| to secure the enforcement of the laws,
the restoration of peace, the reduction
| of the rebellion in arms, the protec.
| tion OF each State when thus con.
iquered in all her rights under the
! c constitution, and to protect the citi-
zenesi Of every State inthe enjoyment
OF all their personal rights and do