Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-27
SPEECH OF
HON. DANIEL w. VOORHEES,
House Of Representatives,
RUARY 20TH.

Mr Chairman. the first duty, perhaps, of on,
Who attempts - address deliberatite body, il A
clear and candid definition OF his own 20
sItOR on the subject under discussion. / am
willing and ready % meet that requirement on thi.
occasion. ! propose to discuss The duty Of the
Federal Government in it, relation 10 the unhap-
py war which now aftil Is the nation, and the oh.
Jects for which alone that war should be prosecu-
tel And standing here loyal and faithful
citizen, recognizing 70 the fullest extent the bond
OF my allegiance. ! declare my purpose TO sustain
the Government with all my energies in all its
Constitutional olfprts 10 maintain unbrOken the
union of these States fathers made H. that
] viii sustain il with all my energies i'm so con
Quoting this war that il shall no; be waged in
the spirit Of conquest OF subiuga:ion. for the
purpose OF 0vertilrOwing or interfering with the
rights or Institutions of the States but to defend
aEd mlnt,in the supremacy OF the Constitution.
and TO preserve the Union with all the dignity.
equslity. and rights Of the several States unm-
piir'ed;'' but thit shall oppose dnalterably. in
all constitutional methods. and to the utmost OF
my ability, the persecution OF this war for the
purpose of suIjugating the Southern States. re
ducing them 10 the condition of Territori,s :, sub
serting their Institutions and laws, or liberating
Their slave. This position conceive to be one
on which every lover of the Union every disciple
OF The Constitution, every friend of humanity
stand. Ii j. the rock OF the Constitution
and he who places las loot upon it may defy the
storm which RACES around him.
SIR. sympathy with the rebellious and seced-
ell States Is now favorte charge to bring
against men in public life aud To relieve them
selves of such an odium the brief hour which IS
allotted to members on this floor Is usually occu
pied IN fierce denunciations and labored invec
tive against the crime and folly of secession.
shall follow no such example Hasd words or
brave threats neither weaken our enemies nor
strengthen Us. This war will not be brought to
a close by strong expressions OF hate nor is such
course consistent with high order of states
manship. Ii Mr., Seward could instruct our
Minister ut the Court of ST james To Indulge
in no expressions of harshness or disrespect, or
even impotence. concerning the secedSig States,
their agents, or their people, will certainly be
parloned for turning my attention to the CON
sideration of our own dloes. and the questions
within our own control, rather than consume my
time in an idle aud harmless display of indigna.
ton against the wekeiness of the southern re-
beliion. | shall proceed at to that consider
alton
Other nations, Mr.. Chairman. have undergone
as well as we. the heavy strokes of adversely
The visitations of God have fallen upon the
children OF men in all ages. The trumpet Of the
sixth angel, arousing the spirit of slaughter. has
peaied an unbrOken strain from the beginning of
the world TO the present hour. We are not alone
or singular in our Affections, except in the mag.
nituie of the interests involved In the value OF
these We stand alone without parallel We
hold IN trust Tor posterity interests more vast,
rights more dear and hopes more infinite and
stretching further into futurity than We're ever
before given to he custody of a Government:
and our tall rs nation, it fall must, wi be
from ioitier height OF happiness than any peo-
pie ever trod before, and into depth Of woe and
darkness a. hopeless and desparing as that murky
cline TO which the bright son of the morning fell
IN his eternal flll. never to hope again. When
speak OF our fall, however rs 4 nation 10 not
allude simply to the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF our terri
tary-the dissolution ot the Union This il is
true l. disaster too fearful to contemplate a
vision. which | pray may never "sear mine eye
balls with is awful fulfllment. The Union was
established 10y the prayers, the tears, the grOans
the blood OF generation which stands exalted in
all that enn0bles the human race over all the other
generations of men which the earth has witness
ell. II comes down To Us rich with the odor Of
blessed memories To preserve il in IL purity To
restore il to its glory to lift it up once more Tor
the civilized world 10 look AT and admire. 10 be
queath II unimpaired in lis benefcent grandeur to
ouF children, j. cause IN which every sacrifice
save that OF eternal truth becomes cheap and
easy. For that cause desire. ia my humble ca
paciiy. To speak to day. For that cause can say.
with the eye OF Omniseience for my witness. no
llic between the two oceans that bound this con
tnent would be moie williI ely offered than
NINE.
But greater evil. more fatal calamity 10 us
anil our poSteFity thln ever "A hostile line ct diviS
ion across the heart OF the nation i. m my iuic-
meat. here threatened on this floor The fall of
this Republic can never be complete until the Con
StitutiOn j. oecrthrown \ portion of IL territory
may be torn away, treason may rob il OF much OF
It's treasure. the lightning may descend aud seat
ten some OF liz beautiful branches and seam and
scar rs st,tey trunk. hut Il the immortal prinri
pies al the Constitution are LETT. the sap OF life
will tie again. aud the leaves viii come in the
spring. Destroy them. anu the tree OF liberty
like grdlel tree of tl,e Western forests. viii
hasten 20 decay. and fall to the earth to be
moved a., rubbish by the hand Of some tyraat and
usurper. Sir what Is il that constitutes the value
of American citizenship l. it vast possessions
and extensive boundariesg What To me-
what t. you. i the possession of the -four quar-
tiers ct tie globe. and all the islands of the
ses, It We have not n our shield. our buck
Ter AMI our defense. the Constitution o. our
ttthersg Within Is sacred folds are sarnerel up
the great crown jewels o, hum N freedom FirSt,
aud above al. At every ,nzlrl and in the face of
all consequences. permit nat the citizen 70 be
robbed 81 these Jewels. They constitute his all:
they render his person sacre.l. they make hs
root protect him At home they enable him when
abroad 10 exclaim With more weight than the Ro.
man 81 old. that he i ~ American citizen: they
open hi> rsou doors in time of trouble the,
place him before his accnSers. they give him A
trial es his peers, they protect him IN the enjoy
ment oi the hard earned lahOr OF his hands they
tell him, ia tones Of angelic sweetness. u cit IN
peace the bread which he has earned in the sweat
OF his face. They are all. all. sir. that render
american citizenship sgn hcaut Of liberty. siCni-
Meant OF tree bora. upright glorious minhood
Throughout TIE world For me. let me wesr and
enjoy them. though ny possessions should be no
broader than tie narroS limits 20 which We all
hasten, and where the weary heart finds rest
But We are CONSTANTLY reminded h, those Who
propose 10 violate the Constitution. that We are
IN the midst of national crisis which calls for
the exercise Of powers not contained IN that in
struneut deny this proposition aud assert ON
the contrary that the restoration 81 the Union
sitbesccomphshei ts and through the iustru
mentality 81 the Constitution, and strict ob
servance OF IL provisions or not At all. And
nov, sir, IA this connection prOpOsc % discuss
ia some OF IL most important bearings one Of
the measures introduced into this House a. the
highest Offering which. IN the judgment Of il
friends. craftsmanship bring at this time to
the cause Of our unhappy country.