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


ercise of power. But he always maintained that
this was a remedy within the Union, and not an
act of revolution, or violence, or secession.
This memorable example OF the mode in which
opinion respecting the nature of our Union is af.
fected, is full of instruction at the present time.
But, let no one misunderstood or misrepresent
the lesson that | draw from il; and, that no one
may have an excuse for so doing, let me be as
frank and explicit as my temporary relation to
this audience demands. | do not say that the
course and result of the late Presidential election
furnishes the least justification OF excuse for
what the South has done. / have never believed
that any circumstances of a constitutional cleo
ton, could of themselves afford Il Justification to
any State, or any number OF States, in with
drawing from the Union. Neither do | say, or
believe, that any condition of opinion respecting
. right to withdraw, can afford the slightest apol-
ogy for that conduct on the part of individuals,
Ia or out oil the Government, IN respect to which
there must always remain in every sound mind a
great reSiduum of moral condemnation. Neither
do | doubt at all the existence or a long cherished
purpose on the part of some Southern political
men, to seize the first pretext for breaking up the
Union of these States. [Applause.
But, my fellow citizens, it does not appear to
me-and there is practical Importance in the in
curry, in reference to 4 future restoration of the
UniOn-tIat we ought soberly to consider, whether
any mere conspiracy of politicians could have
found Il tciHin9 people, If causes had not long
been in operation. which have promoted the
growth of doctrines and feelings about the na-
ture and benefits of the Union fatal to its present
dominion over their minds and hearts.
What has been going on here in the North
during the last twenty or twenty five years? We
have had a faction, or sect, or party-call il what
you will-cOnStantly increasing, constantly bee
coming more and more an element in our poll
rios which hn- r,ado NOT aOr,-t - -1..-. -
open and undisguiSed war upon the Constitution,
its authority, its law. and the ministers Of its
law, because its founders, for wise and necessary
purposes, threw the shield of its protection over
the Institutions OF the South. Ii there is a dis
organizing doctrine, or one diametricallv hostile
to the supremacy of the Constitution, which that
faction has not held. inculcated and endea vored
to Introduce into public action, l know not where
in the whole armory of disunion to look for it.
Applause They never cared whether the Con-
%stitution WAS "A compact between independent
States, or an instrument of sovereign government
resting on the voluntary grant and stipulation OF
the people OF each State. Destroy it, they said;
destroy IT, for, be it one thing or another, it con-
tains that on which the heavens cry cut and
against which mIn ought to rebel. And so they
went on doing their utmost to undermine all re
spect for its obligations, and to render of no kind
OF importance the foundations on which its au-
thority rests. The more that public men in the
North, from weakness, or ambition, or for the
sake OF party success, as>imilated their opinions
to the opinions of this faction, the more it be-
came certain that the true ascendancv and supre-
macy of the Constitution could never be regained
without some enormous exertiOn OF popular
energy, following some newly enlightened condi-
ton of the popular understanding. When the
country was brought to the sharp and sudden ne
cessity of vindicating the nature and authority of
the Union, there was throughout the North a
general popular ignorance OF its real character,
and Il widespread ~in6delity to some or its impor-
tant obligations.
What has been going on in the South during
the same period? On this point there is much to
be learned by those who seek the truth. If yon
will investigate the facts, you will find that no
such opinion rs a right of secession had any gen.
erai acceptance ia the South. No general sup
port was given in the South to the conduct of
South Carolina in the matter of notification.
Very few southern statesmen or politicians of
eminence. not belonging to that State, followed
Mr.. Calhoun and Mr.. Hayue; and when the great
debate on the nature of the Constitution was
closed, the general mild of the South was salts
fed with the result.
How is it now? The simple truth is, that Sc
cession-understood by Southern politicians as a
right resulting from the nature OF the Union-is
Il growth of the last twenty five years; and il has
become the prevalent political faith with the most
active of the educated men of the South who
have come into public life during this period. 1t
is my belief. founded on what l have had occa-
sion TO know, that the great body of Southern
opinion respecting the Constitution, its nature,
Its obligations and its historical basis, has under
gone a complete revolution since the year 1885.
What Mr.. Calhoun never contemplated as a rem
edy against supposed unconstitutional legislation,
has become familiar to mems mind as Il remedy
against that which was striking deeper than leg
islation: which might never take the form of
Congressional action, but was constantly taking
every form of popular agitation; which might
never become the tangible and responsible doc
trine OF administration, but was yet all the more
fOrmi liable and irritating because it lay couched
in an irresponsible popular sentiment, fomented
by appeals which were designed to deprive con-
stitutional ties and obligations of their binding
moral force. Applause.
Are we told that these things do not stand in
any relation of cause and effect? Are we so sim
pie, so uninstructed in what influences the great
movements of the human mind, that We can not
see how intellect and passion and interest may be
affected by what passes before our eyes? Must
| wait until the whole fabric of free constitutional
government is pulled down about my head, and |
am buried beneath its ruins, before | cry out i'm
its detenseI Must | postpone all judgment re
speeding the causes of its disintegration until il
has gone down in the ashes of civil war, and his
tory has written the epitaph over the noblest com
monwealth that the world has seen? l ieAr that
there is a too prevalent disposition to surrender
ourselves as passive instruments into the hands
of fate-too much of abandonment to the current
of mere events-too great a practical denial of
our own capacity to save our country by a manly
assertion of the moral laws on which its preser-
walton depends. Can it be that we are losing
our faith in that Ruler who has made the safety
of nations to depend on something more than
physical and material strength, who has given
US moral power over our own condition and has
surrounded us with countless moral weapons for
its defense? Applause
1t is marvellous through what a course of in
struction, through what discipline of suffering
and calamity. the people of this country have had
to pass. in order fully to comprehend the truth
that the nature of their government depends upon
sound deduction from Il series of historical facts:
and that it must, therefore, be defended by con-
siStent popular action. 1t is now somewhat more
than thirty years since Ddniel Webster, (app.)
combining in himself more capacities for such a
task than had ever been given TO any other Amer
lean statesman, demonstrated that our national
Government can have no secure operation what
ever. unless the obviously true and simple deduc-
ton from the facts of its origin is accepted as
the btsis of its authority. You know what he
t,ught. You know that he proved-if ever NOR
tai intellect proved a moral prop0sition-that in
the exercise of its constitutional powers the ma
tional Government is supreme. because every in
habitant of every State has covenanted with ev-
cry other inhabitant OF every other State that it
snail DE so; that even when the national Ltgis-
lature is supposed to have overstepped Its coBsti-
tutiOnal limits, no State interposition, no State
legislation, can afford lawful remedy or relief;
and that all adverse State action, whether called
by the name of Notification, or by any other