Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-08-04

greater than We ever played for before. If the
Republican party is retained in power in Con-
gress We are gone. If we send a different class
of men they can but lose all, and they may save
all.
This much | will say for IlIinois-we intend to
maintain cur ground in that State. We shall ad
vance our line somewhat; and | think that when
we shall come TO present these great issues TO our
people, duty to the dead, duty 70 ourselves, and
duty to those who are to come after US, will rally
around US men enough to drive most Of these
men from Congress in the State of Illinois.
One thing know will be dOne-the issue tciI be
presented. lie will be presented in no cowardly,
trucking spirit. IL will be presented by men
who are rot afraid to speak their true sentiments.
with the panOply OF American citizens around
them.
Ny fellow citizens, | can hardly express TO you
my feelings when | have seen these terrible dis
asSers coming upon my country, and when / re-
hected that her free Institutions were al! the her
itage l nave to bestow upon my children |
have seen more OF the good results that have
flowed from our instItutiOnS-more of prosperity
and happiness among ms fellow citizens than
many men of my day. And now, in the decline
of life, with a sun tending towards the twilight;
no lOnger with a vigorous arm To defend or assail,
/ shall endeavOr cheerfully to accept whatever
the Aim ghty may place upon me. But if it is
in the providence of God that he is to punish US
with Affections, to destroy our Government, then
/ care not how sOOH the summons may come TO
60 hence. l would not desire to live longer.
Hence il is that l say that in the diSearge of the
duty before our peOplethere is no power on earth
that shall prevent me from telling plainly and
candidly what | think ought to be done for the
welfare of our beloved country.
But not only does every consideration of patri-
otism urge Us to the vigorous prosecution OF this
war, if restricted To It's legitimate objects, but
every consideration of interest also.
As for me, | feel that all that l hold dear is
at stake-all is involved in the safety of my
country, and / would be willing even now to
close my eyes forever, If / knew that / was be-
quedthing TO my children, unimpaired, the civil
liberties which | have enjoyed under the COnsti-
tuition. / desire to live long enough to see
peace restored over all the land, from the great
lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. Idesire to see all my
cOuntrymen worshipping once more at the same
altar, and all united in the effort 10 transmit to
~posteriIy unimpaired the glorious privileges won
for US by the blood of our patriotic ancestors.
loud cheers
Nv fellow citizens, you have doubtless heard a
great deal OF talk about the Presidents PROPOSE
ton in regard to the emancipation Ofall the blacks
in the slave States of this Union. The practical
effect Of the adoption of that measure will be
neither more nor less than to enslave the white
man in order that the negro may go free. Even
now, my hard working. honest friend, must you
toll from early morn till dewy eve, day after day,
in order to pay the taxes which have been i'm
posed upon you; but if you had to work side by
with the freed slaves of the South, as the PreSi-
dent would have you dO-if they were permitted
TO cone into competition with you aud thereby
reduce your already scanty earnings, you would
not be table to pay your taxes at all.
A word Il OF two about these treasury notes. /
suppose you have, most of you, seen them; per
haps you have one of them in your pocket now.
The Government has kindly given us these
notes in order to assist US in paying our taxes.
Laughter. Well this is all very well; but we
must not forget that sooner or later pay day
must come. No nation in the world has ever
maintained its independence that repudiated
Its debts. Although Great Britain is more
heavily burdened than our Government,
still she pays her three per cent of
of interest punctually year after year. We of
course must pay the interest on our debts if we
can rot pay the principal; and. in order to do
that, taxation must increaSe-the country must
grOan beneath a mighty load.
Now, so far as we of the Western States are
concerned, these Yankees down East have
shreWdly managed to get US pretty well taxed
already, in advance. so to speak. They are ex-
coed ngly sharp fellows-thOse Yankees. Why,
my friend. you never supposed. did you, that all
their professions Of sOlicitude in regard to the
welfare of the negro were sincere? NOta bit of
it. They are merely running" the negro be-
cause they can make money on him-nOthing
else | assure you. Laughter. And so far they
have succeeded pretty we'll. They got forty six
millions of dollars from the Government last
yen for making arms, and managed so. as TO give
Us the taxes to pay by way of compensation for
not being equally favored with them in the mat
Ter Of contracts. Laughter The effect of the
war II, that we are selling all our home prOduc-
tons much more ehedply than usual. while the
Yankee gets a little more than usual for all of
his.
Now. these Yankees are able to support them
selves Just about thirty days out Of three hun
drei and sixty hve-they are dependent upon the
West the remainder OF the time; aud yet they
exercise a very powerful influence at Washington
City. Where the Yankees paw three per cent. by
way of taxes, we pay five. They have probably
a. many men in the field as Indiana or Illinois
they have all the contracts. They are getting
ricl; we are not. Fellow citizens, that should
be corrected. The Government should be Just
20 all its parts. IL is a disgrace to the Govern
ment that while we Of the West have more popu-
latlOn, as much wealth, and a great deal more
genuine devotion TO the cause of the Union and
the Constitution. we should be made "hewers Of
wood and drawers of water" to the inhabitants
OF another section of our country.
But how do they manage TO do all this? The
answer Is plain. These eastern men are all Re
pUblicans. A Republican is elected to Congress
from the West-frOm Indiana or Illinois, and
Nucn ~ cues III takes his seat IN the Mouse OF
tie Senate, II he begins to show the least dispo-
stiOn TO think for himself, and do what is best
for his constituents at home, those men who are
lenders OF that party in Congress 90 to him and
tell him. "if you do not vote for and with your
Plrty. you will not be regarded as loyal to the
Government" Ii is thus. my fellow citizens,
that you destroy your own interests when you
place a Republican in power.
Mr.. RIoHARDsOS's speech, like the others, call
ed forth the loudest applause at its completion,
with cheers on cheers for Illinois.
The following resolution was passed by accla-
nation:
RssOlUed. That the Democracy of Indiana ten
der to Hon. G. A. Wickiife, Hon. John s. Car
lille and Hon. W. A. Richardson, their sincere
thanks for the stateSmanlike and patriotic speeches
delivered to them this day.
Mr.. HESDRIcKs apologised for the absence Of
Mr.. CRirrESDES. That gentlemen lad written
% say that his heart was with the Convention,
and be heartily Endorsed the movement, but una
Eoidable circumstances prevented him from being
present.
Mr.. HESDRIcKs then read a letter from Captain
BESJAMlS HARRrsOS, of the 10th regiment, call
ing the attention Of the Convention to the subject
of recruiting in Indiana. Mr.. HESDRIcKs said
the Democracy we're ready to respond to the de-
mands Of the Government with men and money,
and he earnestly directed the subject matter OF
the letter to the members of the Convention.
Loud calls were made for Mr. VOORHEES,.
Mr. VooR4rra in reznonse snoke with his