Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-14

at stake.
GEN. DUMoST's SPEECH.
Gov. Morton having concluded, Gen. Dumont
was introduced, who, having been received with
deafening cheers, spoke, in substance, as follows:
The proclamation of the President. the procla-
nation of the Governor, for more men to crush
this Infamous rebellion, together with what had
recently TRANSFERRED before Richmond, had assem-
bled the patriotic citizens of indianapolis here to-
night. What was money, what was fame, what
was life worth when the liberties of the country
were threatenedG A. jackson, one of his old
friends, had said that liberty and union we're one
and inseparable. When the South gained their
independence, If they ever should, it would be
tie independence of despotism. The South, as
Madam Polk had said to some gentlemen who
were talking to her about the crisis, had no indie
pendence TO acknowledge. Neither was the
North independent of the South.
Tn eloquent and graphic speaker here gave
an account of his further experience with Union
and secession ladies, while, as he expressed il, he
was High Constable at Nashville. Tennessee,
which made his audience laugh somewhat.
he continued: Some argued that this was an
unjust war. To accuse the administration in
some respects, in this regard. was said in some
quarters to be Democratic doctrine. Lord GodI
how Democracy had degererated since the days
of Andrew jackson 1t argued to him that the
men who talked in this way ought to volunteer
for the war-ought to be impressed into the ser
vice.
The South pretended to be able to carry on
this war to an unlimited extent financially. They
issue Confederate scrip and make it a %peniten-
tiary offense if people don't take them. They
base their payment on cotton, finally, and then
they burn up the cottonl This is ii beautiful, re-
liable, solid and substantial Confederate slave
ocracyl
The man who don't come up to the rescre of
/ Il -. =. III -. e %,
regards the prospect of his ever nesting in
Abraham's bosom-atl least it looked so TO Il man
up a tree.
Vallandigham was too big a fool to be bored
for the simples. He had said that this was not
an aggressive war. Could any war be not az
gressive either on one side or the other? "Mil-
lions for defence. but not one cent for an aggres-
sive war, was what this gentleman, entirely too
talented to have his hollow horn interfered with
by a p~icayune gimblet, had said. We must not
be aggressive on rebels and traitors. Well, it
put him in mind of what his old friend, Joe
Lane-now, he was sorry to say, on the other
side-said in Mexico, when somebody told him
the enemy was charging US on every side: "Then, F"
said Joe. "well have to charge theml" In spite
oil what VallandIgham SAYS, we, fellow citizens,
must henceforth do the charging.
The speaker went on, alluding to the campaign
on the Mississippi. He spoke, in this connection,
of Col. Graham N. Fitch. The appointment of
this officer turns out to be one fit to be made
turns out to be a most excellent one. Fitch had
formerly acted with Bright, Vallandigham &
Co. Ii might be promised from this remark that
he entertained malicious feelings towards the
Governor for appointing Fitch. He vindicated
His Excellency upon the hypothesis of the old
Baptist preacher, viz: that there were not so
many sent to the devil as ought to 60. Fitch
had turned his back upon bis old compeers,
Bright and Vallandigham, and was in arms for
his country.
He, the speaker, had no prejudice against any,
body. He had none even against the South if
they behave themselves. He was in the war not
because of prejudice but because of patriotism.
So because of patriotism was Indiana in this war.
Indiana! glorious hitherto, would prove herself
glorious hereafter Her quota would speedily be
filled. Not one single son of hers had ever
proved recreant on the battlefield to the banner
of his country. That spirit Indiana must keep
up. We must not meet the enemy with inferior
numbers. We must meet them with the over
towering numbers of freemen. Those who 90
about discouraging enliStments were murderers,
because they would have our sons. our brothers,
our fathers even, Oyerpowered by rebel numbers
and left dead upon the battlefield. They were
murderers as well as traitors. But they go about
saying that this is a niger war, &c. His senti-
ments had not undergone a single particle OF
change since he left the State of Indiana. Don't
be scared. am not going to turn Abolitionist
A niger is better off with a good master than 1t
he was free. But besides the Niger in the South
there was the poor white trash. Floyd, who af-
ter having received the honOrs and em0luments
of his country. had plundered it, belonged un-
dOubtedly to the latter class, even if he had Kin
folks in the former. But, as a mere Brigadier
General. entertaining whatever views he might
about niggers and poor Southern white trash, he
(DumOnt) could not set up his policy against the
policy of the administration
He did not think, because he had stripes and
shOulder-straps and was High Constable at Nash
Vile. Tennessee, that he ought to be raising a
whirlwind and an expansive ocean all in a tea
cup, and all about the immortal niger. How
ever, he would say that if he had been Abe Lin
coin, he would pursue a very different policy. 1t
is a mighty fine country about Nashville, Ten
nesSee. Crops are abundant, and there is every
thing beautiful for the eye to rest upon. Every
lady in and about there is a widow widow with
one, two, three or more niggers. He had, in his
Official capacity, been called upon TO administer
upon a certain widows estate, who owned a Ger
tain niger called Patrick. He found that she
was simply a grass widow. her loyal and true
hearted husband being in the secession army. He
kicked Patrick's case out of Court. That was
the way he administered on the estates of these
lovely widows, for when you come to investigate
it you find that these niggers and these widows
belong to fellows with knapsacks on their backs
and epaulettes on their shoulders fighting against
God and their country. These men could go to
the wars and stay there if they didn't get killed.
and their families, with their widows and niggers
at home, would not be the worse for it. He
would "cOnfscate" the niggers of these men if
they did not return to their loyalty within a gwen
time. Ii they understood that this would be
done, they wonld "skedaddle" from the secession
ranks quick. They would receive a new light as
if by Providential dispensatIon. They would
discover, like the young man from Kentucky,
one of the ''f0wers" Of Beauregard's army at
Corinth, who deserted, that he had his "rights'
before he started from home, if he had only
known il.
But what shall we do with the ~niggers? He
had "coniscated, as he said before eleven of
them, and with regard to the rest he was waiting
to see the salvation Of the Lord come along. He
didn't want to see them in the army, and he did
not particularly want to see them free.
Here the speaker, by way Of patriotic and pa
thetic episode, spoke Of his immediate p%aternal
ancestor in a strain of the tenderest 6lial regard
On the stone which marked his final resting place
the simple inscription was: Peter Dumont, a
Revolutionary Soldier"
Then Gen. Dumont proceeded to say that this
Government came from God Almighty. That he
(Gen. Dumont) stood under the stars and stripes
and did not stop to inquire to what party the war
belonged. The Government must be maintained
The flag must remain unfurled without the loss
of a single star. Unfortunately that could not be
done without the further expenditure of blood
and treasure, for, as respects the South, "whom
the gods wish to destroy they first make mad"
The General then gave a history of the gallant
exploits of Indiana troops in Western Virginii
and in Kentucky In the latter State there were
now left but a few rowing bands of predatory re-
bels having no connection with any civilized peo-
pie on the face Of the earth. He concluded by
saying that there was nothing in the news from
Richmond 70 discourage US. We were beginning