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

to anarchy IN the seeding States as similar movements
IN similar have already resulted in Spanish
theles, that the citizens OF those States wei the
citizens Of the other States, too intelligent consider
and wise follow the headers that disastrous end.
dna dogma Of theirs namely that the Federal Govern
me could not reduce the seeding States to obedience
by conquest even although he were disposed 70 question
that proposition But, in fact, the President willingly
cepts IL true Only impartial despOtic Govern
ment could sulugate thoroughly disafeced and insnr-
rectonarY members Of the State. This Federal Republican
system Of is Of all forms Of Government, the very
which j. most untitled for such labor. Happily,
however this only imaginary defect The system
has within itself adequate, PEACEFUL conservative and
recuperative forces Frmness the part OF the Govern
ment in maintaining and preserving the public institutions
and property and IN executing the laws where authority
can be exercised without wagng war CONFINED with such
measures Of JUSTICE moderation and foTbearaace will
disam reasoning IMPOSITION, win be sufficient to secure
the public safety until returning reflection concurring
with the fearful experience Of social evils the inevitable
fruits Of faction shall bring the members cheer
fully back into the family, which, after all, must prove
their best and happest, it undeniably Is their
Constitution United States pro-
vdes for that by authorizing Congress- on appca
ton to be made by certain majority Of the States
semble national convention in which the organic law
can, fit be needfu, be revised all real
obstacles TO reunion so suitable TO the habits OF the peo
pie, and eminently conducive to the safety
and wefare.''
In view of all these historical facts, how can
any candid, impartial mind reach the conclusion
that the LIST of March. 1861, knew there was
war existing or that war was inevitable? Add to
this the iimid and time serving policy of the late
Administration, in frequent consultation with the
immediate friends and commissioners of the
Southern organization, allowing his political
friends and the press of the country TO announce
and reannounce daily that there would be no war
that fort Sumter would be evacuated and peace
full relations established; and you have another
key TO the delusion under which thousands and
hundreds of thousands of loyal Union men i'm the
South, as well as in the North, were laboring
Up to the day that Fort Sumter fell / believed
with the President that eve were friends, not
enemies" wrote of them and to them; | spoke
of them and to them, as ever had; but here, sir,
the curtain fell; this was act of war and from
the date of the Presidents proclamation we were
enemies, not friends. in the belligerent sense of
the term Acts which before the happening of
this event were legitimate and lawful, become
now Illegal and in some instances reasonable.
The shipment of provisions, the sale of all kinds
of munitions of war that had been publicly carried
on between the North and the South, and was an
very-day occurrence up to this time, suddenly,
aud by this act of war, and by virtue of the
proclamation of the President, became illegal
and reasonable; and after the occurrence of
these events, / should never have felt myself ut
liberty to address letter of introduction to Mr..
Davis
that every man who engaged in trade, commerce
or correspondence with the South prior to this
time is disloyal and guilty of treason2 Are YOU
prepared to assert this principle of post factO
tyranny II so, who can fix a limit to offend
ers, and to what a farce do YOU reduce that prin-
ciple OF eternal justice which has in all ages of
the world been the shield and protection of the
citizen?
return again to my letter, and after short
I'LL 81. H.,
ton of what said before the committee, will dis
miss it as tar as | can from my mind
i have not the most distant recollection of hay
ing written either Of these letters. said so in my
letter of explanation to Mr.. Fitch which has been
introduced here and criticised with such severity,
because of the bold avowal of opinions which
honestly entertained | said the same to the
committee, and | repeat it here to-day. So lit
tie impression did this act of courtesy for friend
make my mind, that to this hour l cannot call
TO mind when, where, or under what circumstan-
ces the letter was written, and | may say the
same of the letter TO Captain Franklin. When |
the letter published marked private and con-
fdental,' | said that the language of the letter
was NV style, that Lincoln was an old friend and
that if he said l had given him such a letter it
must be so; that the words private and conf
Dental | seldom put on any letter, never in
letter of Introduction. A friend soon after wrote
~
gone 70 the world in that FORM and all the preiu-
dice that such an addition to the letter would
create, has attached, and my enemies have the
benefit of it, in swelling the volume of opposition
that arrays itself against me.
Another argument against me is that, after
took my seat here, | said that would do the
same thing again under the same circumstances,
and defend it here or anywhere else did say
SO, and repeat it; and meant by that Just this,
hat I hat iatfa NJ The
idea of war or of hostile collision with any one
or more OF the Southern States never entered my
mind. 1t could not; know it did not. LII even
CLEAN OF such suspicion had entered my mind,
every instinct of my nature would have deferred
me, to say nothing of those prudential cOnsidera
tons which trust have governed me in all the
relations of lie.
l was asked by one o: the honorable commit
tee whether | would have given such letter af-
ter the fall of Fort Sumter unhestatingly an.
swered: mo, sir; l would have regarded the re
quest ON the part OF an intelligent man, under
such circumstances, as an insult"
Mr.. President, it is Only since grave Senators
have geen betrayed into dignifying this matter
with public examination that | could bring my
self to realize that any man Who knew me be-
ieyed that was faithleSs, in any sense of the
term, to the obligations owe the Government of
which form a part; but | am no longer left to
c.
from what / see passing around me, that there
are those who think | am less loval than them
selves; and while laugh to scOrn such an absurdi
ty, shall not, under the present frenZed state of
excitement, attempt TO wreste with or alter those
opinions influence thei. votes nor will any con
cluSion that may be reached here or elsewhere
alter my opinion of myself, or change the quo
amino of my heart coupled with this transac-
tiOn God and myself know that, and not sus-
-. ell I -
more time to this letter than it merited at my
hands, for no one who has observed the direction
this debate has taken believes that the letter forms
any part of the reason Tor my expulsion. i wish
now to call the attention of the country to the
various phases this case has assumed in its pro
gress.
The resolution for my expulsion was based
solely on the letter. Both were referred to the
Judiciary Committee; and after hearing the
facts, six out of seven members reported against
the passage OF the resolution; whereupon the
mover of it asked TO have it made special or
der; and then commenced party drill prepared
speeches, and general plan of attack on my
fitness and qualifications to sit in a legislative
council with such patriarchs in their countrys
service as the Senator from Massachusetts, Mr..
Sumner and the Senator FROM New Hampshire,
Mr.. Clark;] even the nerves of the honorable
Senator from PENNSYLVANIA Mr. Wilmot and the
not less distinguished Senator from Tennessee
Mr.. JohnsOnl are affected by my presence here.
am not loyal enough for either of them Oh!
] must have degenerated in the last ten yearsl
In 1850, was elected by vote of the Senate as
one of the Committee of Thirteen, of which the
patriot and statesman, Henry Clay, OF Kentucky,
was chairman, and having as part of its members
Webster, Calhoun. Cass, Clayton, Berrien, and
others, and contributed my humble efforts (yery
humble, admit, when compared with theirs,) 10
effect general adjustment of all sectional issues
then exciting the country. | voted for all the
compromise measures embraced in thereport of
Nj. Clay, and against the honorable Senator's