Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-11

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Southern organization. SLOWING his political
friends and tie press OF the country 70 announce
aud reanno0nce daily that there would be no war
that fort Sumter would be evacuated aud peace
FOL relations established; aud you have another
key to the delusion under which thousands and
hundreds Of thousands Of loyal Union men in The
South "a we'll as IN the North. we're labOring
Up to the day that Fort Sumter fell believed
with the President that eve we're friends, not
enemies" | wrote of them and 10 them; ! spoke
Of them and TO them, as ever had; but here, SIR,
the curtain fell; this an act OF war, and from
the date OF the Presidents PROCLAMATION We
esemies. not friends. ia the be!lsgeFent 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
every dav 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 at
liberty 10 address letter OF introduction to Mr.
Davis.
No man disputes this; bus you going to say
that every man who engaged in trade. commerce
or CORE pondence with the South prior to this
time Is dlslOyal and guilty OF treason! Are YOU
prepared 10 assert this principle of post factO
tyranny. If so, who fix limit to offend
ers, and TO what 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
citizeny
return again to my letter. and after a short
statement. which shall be substantially repeti-
ton of what said before the committee, will dis
miss it as tar as can from my mind.
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 ayowa of opinions which
honestly entertained. | said the same TO the
committee, and | repeat it here to-day. 50 lit
tie impression did this act of courtesy for friend
make on my mind. that To this hour cannot call
to mind when, where. or under what circumstan-
the letter written, and | may say the
same OF the letter TO Captain franklin. When
saw the letter published marked private and con
tdental," ! said that the language of the letter
Was INV style, that Lincoln was an old friend and
that il he said ! had given him such letter it
must be so; that the words private and conf
dental" | seldom put on any letter. never in "A
let er OF introduction. a friend soon after wrote
me that / WAS correct on that point. Still, it has
gone to the world in that FORM and all the preju-
dice that such an addition to the letter would
create, has attached. and my enemies have the
benefit OF II, IN swelling tie 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
80, and repeat it; and | meant by that just this
that when gave that letter to Mr. Lincoln, the
idea OF war or of hostile collision with any one
or more of the Southern States never entered my
mind. Ii could not; know it did not. Ii even
"A CLEAN of such 4 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 la all the
relations oil lite.
| was asaed by one o: the honorable commit
tee whether | would have given such letter at
ter the fall of Fort Sumter. | unhesitatingly an
swered No, sir; | would have regarded the
quest on the part of an intelligent man, under
such circumstances, as an insult"
Mr.. President, 1t Is Only since grave Senator's
have geen betrayed into dignifying this matter
with "A public examination that could bring my
self to realize that any man who knew me be-
lIeved that | taithleSs, in any sense of the
term, To the obligations owe the Government of
which form a part; but am no longer left to
conjecture on this point; | am bound to believe,
from what ! see passing around me, that there
are those who think am less lOval than them
selves: and while laugh To such absurd
". shall not, under the present frenzied state of
excitement attempt TO wrestle with or alter those
opinions or influence their votes; nor will any con
clusiOh that may be reached here or elsewhere
alter my opinion of myself. or change the quo
ammo of my heart as coupled with this transac-
ton God and myself know that and not sus-
pcious. lalible man. | have already devoted
more time 10 this letter than il merited nj my
hands, for no one who has observed the direction
this debate has taken believes that the letter forms
any part OF the reason for my Expulsion. | wish
now to call the attention % the couutry to the
various phases this cnse has assumed'in its pro
greSs.
The resolution for my expulsion was based
solely OH 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; wheredpon the
mover OF IL asked To have il made special or
der; and then commenced party drill. prepared
speeches, and general plan OF attack my
fitness and qualifications 90 sit in u legislative
council with such patriarchs in their couniry's
service as the Senator from Massachusetts Air
Sumnerl 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.. Johnson are affected 10y my presence here.
am not loyal enough for either of them OH
! must have degenerated in the last ten years.
In $50 | was elected by a vote OF the Senate a.
one OF the Committee OF Thirteen, of which the
patriot snd statesman, Henry Clay, OF Kentucky,
was chairman, and having a. part OF its members
Webster. Calhoun. Cass. Clayton Berrien and
Others and contributed my humble efforts very
humble, | admit, when compared with theirs,) To
effect general adjustment of all sectional issues
then exciting the country. ! voted for all the
compromise measures embraced in the report OF
Mr. Clay. and against the honorable Senators
odious provso. n | have against all sectional
issues, whether they came from the North or the
South, ever since entered this body. | voted
on every call OF the roll where wits present last
session for the peace propositions ct the Senator
from Kentucky MIR Crttenden. and used
whatever of influence had with Southern Sena-
tors all To do the same thing. Though repre-
sentug free State. ! have never given a vote
that can be called sectional. 20 the best OF my
knowledge have named these TWO measures
as atlordng some evidence that ! would rather
have peace than war, and hoping il may have
soothing influence on the excited state OF mind
the Senator from Pennsylvania is laboring un-
der
The Senator from Tennessee has criticised
with great severity letter | wrote 10 one OF the
best and truest friends any man ever had Mr..
Jonathan FIich,) IN which | represent myself a.
standing on tic subject OF coercion Just where
the President stood IN his inaugural address
where the Secretary OF State stood on the 10Th
OF April last and where understand other Sen
ators and members now stand. Ia may be very
wrong, but ~ | am thirty years of age. the Con
4 1 q -.