Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-11


Mr.. Mayor and Geaiiem.n Of the City Council:
Had felt ut liberty To consult my own incIina-
ton alone. should have asked YOU excuse me
from taking part in the proceedings OF this day
At a much earlier period Of life | enjoy ed the
distinction OF being placed the long roll of
those who have successfully spoken To the people
OF Boston, ut the bidding of their municipal
thorites. on thi-, Cur national anniversary. AT
this particular juncture, could well have desired
To be spared from the performance OF any such
pub &c duty. / hid prepared myself 10 bear
Whit Is now upon us. in silence and obscurity-
do ng the Infinitely little that may, to alleviate
personal suffering, sustaining the hopes OF those
" no are nearest To me, and eDdesvoriDg to cher
ish IN my own breast living faith in the strength
"a perpe'uiry OF our republican forms Of gov
ernmeut.
But private wishes are no,hing-privatc tastes
are nothing-in the presence OF great public
trials aud dangers. We cannot, il We would, es
cape the responsibilities which such trials and
dangers entail upon ". Ii We Il to the utter
most parts OF the earth. the thought of our coun
try Is with Us there, Ii we put the robes OF
the stole, or wrap ourselves in the philosophy OF
the fatalist, the heart beneath will beat for the
land OF our birth Tapplausel in spite Of the out.
ward man. There is no peace. there Is no hope,
there Is no happiness. in state OF Indifference To
the welfare and honor of our country The
most sordid of men, whose sole delight consists
in laying, day by day, one piece OF gold upon his
already swollen heaps, has no more assured rest
from anxiety for his country, in times OF real
peril. than he whose sole beng quvers oeneath
the blows which public disasters or diSgraces in
fiict upon refined and sensitive nature. To
love our country; TO labor Tor it, prosperity and
repo~e; to contend. in civil liie Tor the
which believe essential To It's good; to yearn
for that long. deep. Tranquil flow OF public affairs,
which we iondly hope IS to reach and bear safely
on its bosom those in whom We are to have All
earthly hereafter; these are the nObler passions
and tie higher aims which distinguish the civil
lied frvIn the savage man. Even II did hot
feel such emotions deeply. how could | bring
here at such IA time this. the doubts and mis-
givings oi one fearful for HIMSELF The thickly
crowded memories oi the FAR off dead. Who have
fallen in the bitter contests OF this civil adj
monish me OF the insignihcance OF such fears.
Who shall bring thought oi the exertions. the
sacrifices or the responsibilities OF public dis
course into the presence vi the calamites ol his
country.
ain here for far other purpose. l come To
pie "a Tor the Constitution of our country. APP
plarse AIN here TO show you, from my own
earnest CONVICTIONS, how dangerous u may he to
iorego all care tor the connection between the
political past aud tie political future i am here
to state 10 YOU. rs have read them on the page
OF history. the fundamental conditions on which
alone. ~ believe. the people oil these Sates can
he nation aud preserve their liberties. am
here to endesyvr To rescue the idea OF union from
here-ies as destructive as the uIsorganizing AMI
justly reprubated hetesies OF secession. | wish Ia
do what can To define to rational and intelligent
minds the real nature ami limits the national
supremacy; and Ia vindicate Il from the zorro
d ~ influence OF doctrines. which are leading MS
away from the political faith and preeepts of
tree people.
d. YOU say that there Is no need OF such dis.
cu~siony Reflect for moment. | pray you. OF
what has already crept Into the common uses OF
our political speech. We hear men talk about
the '.old" Constitution; ~ IL that admirable
frame OF government. which is not yet older than
some Who still live under it, sway. aud Which hiss
bestowed on this nation vgor unexampled in
history. were already In ts decrepitude. or "
h,d become suspended from its functions 10y gen
srsl consent, IN await at respectful distance the
a,lveat ol some new authorize. IA vet unknown.
We hear men. talk OF the "ola" Union; a. ii
there were a choice about the terms on which the
Union can sub-ist or rs II those terms were not
o. be taken a. having been fixed. on the day on
which Washington and his cOmpairots signed the
Constitution OF the United States. Applause
You will not say that this tendency--ths appar
ant willingness 10 break ava, from the past and
= obligations. aud Ia throw ourselves upon
-eless tempting OF the iutute-does hot demand
eiore You another symptom OF these unsettled
res. With an extravaganza partly habitual TO
and partly springing from the intense cxer-
81 the year which has Just passed, We have
cred tie doctrines oi secession aud dis.
th many theories about The national unity
resierai authority. which are not founded
or In law Are YOU not conscious that
has been poured forth from hundreds OF
can pulp.ts. platforms aud presses. and ON
yOrs Of Congress. species oi What J. call
rgumsut, IN defense OF the national Suprem
-. whis. III BELTS the nature OF our republican
-lstitu,iobsy When hear one of these courtier
he preachers or writers, Tor our American
>vereign~. resting the authority OF our Govern
- on doctrine that might have gained him
ion at the hand OF James OF Charles STU
not hep wishing that he had IL, ell ia an
sueh teachings. il not actually believed
= were, at all events exceelngl, use
.achers NV friends. ! can not befr
of sindicaung the supremacy oi our
seEment by nsthirg bur the jus,
a il Was founded; aud will not lie
grpund OF our republican constilu
Tor any purpose earth, While
rope of maintaining IL Applause
no just foundation for the title vt
la this country. but conscnt-that
.eh resides in compact. contract, slip
ssion-the do 81 eoRc,do" vi pub
live me solemn ces-on OF politi
powers evidenced by apuhlic trans
public charter. and YOU have
.ivil contract. 10 which can apply
OF public lac and the obligations Ji
between and man; ON which | can
the legitimate powers Of the Govern.
iron the rights OF the people on which |
:. with pertect l,eopriety. assert the authority
law IN the halls Of criminal Jurisprudence, or.
need be. az the mouth o: the cannon. But
when your-reak Of any other RICH, OF one colec
ton OF people oe States 10 govern another col